The Alliance CorREDores.eu has achieved a significant milestone by getting the European Parliament to process its request to include the Central Pyrenean Crossing (TCP) as a priority infrastructure in the «Connecting Europe» Mechanism (CEF) 2028–2034. This project, which will be defended on February 26 in Brussels, aims to improve rail connectivity and European military security through a new rail tunnel in the Pyrenees.
The Central Pyrenean Crossing: A Strategic Link
The Central Pyrenean Crossing (TCP) is a project for a new low-level rail tunnel, designed to complement the historic Pau–Canfranc line. This tunnel is conceived with modern parameters that ensure interoperability, capacity, and resilience, presenting itself as a strategic link that is currently missing in the center of the Pyrenees.
The proposed infrastructure would not only improve rail connectivity between the Iberian Peninsula and Europe but also reduce dependence on extreme border crossings. Additionally, it would strengthen the Iberian logistical corridors, increasing their competitiveness and accelerating the modal shift towards rail transport, leading to significant climate benefits by reducing CO₂ emissions.
Impact on European Defense and Security
The request from the Alliance CorREDores.eu underscores the value of the TCP as a dual-use infrastructure, essential for European defense and security. It would facilitate rapid and large-scale movements of troops and material from the Algeciras/Sines–Madrid–Zaragoza axis towards France and Central Europe. This would diversify routes, reduce bottlenecks, and reinforce European strategic autonomy.
Furthermore, the service gallery of the tunnel would allow for the deployment of critical infrastructures, such as secure fiber optic communications and the strengthening of energy interconnections, thus increasing the resilience of the European transport network.
Legislative Advances and Next Steps
The request is part of legislative proposal COM(2025) 547 final of the new CEF Regulation 2028–2034, which calls for the inclusion of the TCP in the list of projects of common interest for the global TEN-T network. If the Regulation is approved without this inclusion, it is expected that the European Commission will adopt a delegated act to modify the corresponding Annex.
On February 26, representatives of CorREDores.eu will present the technical, strategic, and legal foundations of the request in Brussels. They will seek to refer it to the Transport (TRAN) and Security and Defense (SEDE) Committees for their consideration and support, marking a crucial step in the realization of this ambitious project.
