Baltic states could receive requested level of funding for Rail Baltic
The Baltic states hope they can still receive additional funding for Rail Baltic via the EU's 2021-2027 budget, which initially would have tied support to budget participation, but is now setting limits on state participation at 15 percent.
At the Thursday's government press conference, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas (Center) commented on the proposal made by President of the European Council Charles Michel: "We can say that the offer has become better for us."
The Baltic states asked for an additional €1.5 billion of funding to compensate for the Rail Baltic project becoming more expensive. The requested support was initially set on a different row in the EU's budget for 2021-2027, assuming state participation would be at twice the rate than previously expected.
The Prime Minister explained that Michel's proposal clearly states that the requested additional resources are set under the Connecting Europe Facilities Cohesion Fund.
Ratas said: "At the moment - and I emphasize - at the moment because we have not agreed to anything yet, it is set under the Cohesion Fund and the EU will support it up to 85 percent."
The percentage of EU support for Rail Baltic is important because the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) has promised they will give up support for the project if Estonia's budgetary participation exceeds 20 percent.
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Editor: Kristjan Kallaste
