The Rail Baltica joint venture, RB Rail, hosted an informal briefing in Riga for representatives of the diplomatic corps, bringing together Heads of Mission and senior embassy representatives from EU Member States and key strategic partner countries.
The meeting took place at a particularly significant moment for Rail Baltica, as the project enters a phase of accelerated construction. More than 40% of Phase I is now construction-ready, supported by key milestones such as the signing of the mainline electrification contract and ongoing discussions on securing continued financing through the Connecting Europe Facility and the next EU budget cycle.
The gathering provided an opportunity to present the latest developments and outline strategic priorities for the year ahead. It also served as a platform for open dialogue and exchange with representatives of the Baltic states and the project’s closest partners and allies.
Welcoming participants, RB Rail CEO and Chairman of the Management Board, Marko Kivila, noted the strong level of interest from the diplomatic community, underlining the project’s growing strategic importance:
“It is encouraging to see so many distinguished members of the diplomatic corps here today. This level of engagement reflects the strong international interest in Rail Baltica. It is a project of clear European strategic significance – one that can only be delivered through close cooperation across countries and partners.”
Discussions focused on the progress of project implementation, with approximately 267 kilometres, or around 43% of Phase I, currently under construction. In 2025, a major milestone was reached with the signing of the electrification contract. In Estonia, all mainline civil works are now under contract, and the procurement of consolidated materials has been completed.
Participants were also briefed on the financial outlook. To date, approximately €4.4 billion in funding has been secured. Ensuring predictable EU funding under the next Multiannual Financial Framework will be essential to safeguard delivery. The first phase aims to establish an operational cross-border corridor linking Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania with Poland, while further development will continue in subsequent phases.
The event brought together more than 20 representatives from EU and strategic partner embassies, primarily at the ambassadorial, deputy head of mission, and attaché levels, reflecting broad international engagement and continued interest in the progress of Rail Baltica.
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