Results of the Report at a Glance - Sector Performance by Modal


  • Road Infrastructure: 
    The region has seen significant expansion in motorway density. Poland leads with a projected addition of 2,500 km of motorways and expressways under the National Road Construction Programme, while Hungary's ongoing road projects include the M4 expressway expansion. However, road quality disparities persist, particularly in rural areas and secondary roads across Romania and Slovakia.

  • Railway Infrastructure: 

    CEE countries are modernising their rail networks to meet EU interoperability and sustainability standards. Romania plans to refurbish 8,500 km of rail lines by 2030, while Poland's high-speed rail projects, including the Warsaw Solidarity Transport Hub, will transform regional connectivity. Slovakia and Hungary also prioritise electrification and integration with EU rail corridors.

  • Inland Waterways:
    Despite their potential for sustainable freight transport, inland waterways remain underutilised. Croatia and Romania have initiated projects to enhance the navigability of the Danube, supported by EU co-financing.

  • Sea Port Infrastructure:  

    Ports in CEE countries are expanding capacity to support rising trade volumes. A prominent example is the Port of Gdansk, which is adding deep-water terminals to handle increased container traffic, while the Port of Rijeka in Croatia is undergoing modernisation to serve as a gateway to Central Europe.

  • Airport Infrastructure: 

    Regional airports are enhancing capacity to accommodate rising passenger and freight volumes. Poland's Warsaw Solidarity Airport is the flagship project, designed to handle 45 million passengers annually by 2028. Other countries, such as Romania and Hungary, are upgrading existing terminals rather than constructing new facilities, emphasizing functional infrastructure over expansion.

Key Metrics and Trends

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Investment Evolution:



Investment in infrastructure across the CEE region has grown consistently over the past decade. According to the 2024 Investment Survey published by the European Investment Bank (EIB), most CEE countries (excluding the Czech Republic) invest more in land, business buildings, and infrastructure relative to the EU average, highlighting the sector's strategic importance. In 2023, infrastructure investments reached EUR 34.2bn, a 15% increase year-on-year. However, this figure still falls short of addressing the region's estimated funding needs of EUR 100bn annually through 2030 to meet EU decarbonisation and connectivity goals.
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Transport  Infrastructure  Quality:


While the quality of transport infrastructure varies significantly across the region, the availability of high-quality motorways and rail networks has improved in countries like Poland, Hungary, and Romania.

In contrast, investment gaps remain pronounced in less-developed networks, particularly in inland waterways and cross-border rail connections.

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Funding Mechanisms:



EU grants, cohesion funds, and loans from institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB) play a critical role in financing large-scale projects.

 

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are gaining traction, with Poland and Croatia leading in the number of successfully completed PPPs.

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