Expert Workshop on Dual-Use Projects and Transportation Resilience, Featuring CEUTP

On June 19, 2026, an expert workshop titled“Dual-Use Projects and Building the Resilience of the Railway System with the Support of European Funds”was held in Warsaw, organized by the Center for EU Transport Projects, the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, and the ProKolej Foundation. Among those participating in the event was Sylwia Cieślak-Wilk, deputy director of CEUTP, who presented the Center’s perspective on the role of dual-use infrastructure in the current and future EU financial frameworks.

In her opening remarks, the Deputy Director of CEUTP emphasized that transportation infrastructure today cannot be viewed solely as a factor in development and mobility, but also as part of the national security system and Europe’s resilience. In this context, investments that combine civilian and military functions, increase network flexibility, and improve readiness to respond to crises take on particular significance.

– Roads, railways, intermodal transport, airports, and seaports—these are not merely elements of transportation today. They are also integral to national security. “That is why future investments must combine infrastructure development with resilience, military mobility, and crisis preparedness,” said Sylwia Cieślak-Wilk, deputy director of CEUTP.

The workshop provided an opportunity to discuss the most important challenges related to the European Union’s new financial framework for 2028–2034. CEUTP pointed out that in the coming years, the importance of dual-use projects—that is, those that simultaneously support the development of civilian infrastructure and enhance national security and resilience—will grow. An excellent example of this shift in perspective is the CEF 3 budget, where spending on military mobility is set to increase tenfold.

– After years of rapid expansion of the transportation network, we are entering a new phase: we are asking less about how much more to build, and more about how to build wisely, resiliently, and with the security of our country and Europe in mind – emphasized Sylwia Cieślak-Wilk, who also participated in an expert debate on “Shared Responsibility for the Development and Resilience of Critical Infrastructure. The role of international institutions and external financing (including the EU), the role of the state and business.”

During the panel discussion, she noted, among other things, that CUPT is already implementing measures to support dual-use infrastructure. The FEnIKS 2021–2027 program has launched initiatives for dual-use rail, road, and port infrastructure, while the FEPW program includes the initiative “Resilient Civil and Military Mobility.” At the same time, Poland is also participating in the implementation of 14 dual-use projects under CEF Military Mobility, with a total EU contribution of nearly 991 mln zł.

It also noted that many of the investments currently underway in Poland already meet the technical parameters characteristic of dual-use infrastructure, even if they are not formally designated as such. This is an important foundation for further preparing the project portfolio for the new funding rules after 2027.

– Already today, all strategically important transportation projects financed by European Funds meet the requirements for dual-use infrastructure. “This means we now have additional rail, intermodal, and road infrastructure that can also be used to transport military equipment,” noted the deputy director of CEUTP.

The workshop confirmed that, in the coming years, dual-use should become a permanent feature of transportation infrastructure planning and financing, rather than an exceptional solution. From the CEUTP’s perspective, this means that development investments must be combined with system resilience, security, and new requirements stemming from EU policy.