On 30 July, the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting presented an analytical note entitled ‘Implementation of TEN-T road standards in Ukraine’.
According to the study, the reconstruction of the main TEN-T network in Ukraine with a total length of 4,753 km (covering key international transport corridors — the Kyiv–Chop, Kyiv–Odesa, etc.) to the level of dual carriageways with separate traffic lanes in accordance with EU standards will cost approximately €71.3 billion.
A similar upgrade of the extended network, with a length of 2,619 km, which provides connections between regional centres, border crossing points and less congested sections, will require approximately €39.3 billion.
The total cost of bringing the Ukrainian TEN-T network fully up to EU standards will be around €110.6 billion.
Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) – It is a trans-European transport network that includes the most important connections between major cities and hubs in the EU.
European policy on TEN-T is governed by Regulation (EU) 2024/1679, which aims to improve road safety, reduce road accidents and ensure the smooth quality of infrastructure across the EU.
The estimated amount of €110 billion does not include potential costs for bridges, tunnels, interchanges, land issues or environmental measures, which could significantly affect the final budget. However, even a basic assessment demonstrates the scale of the investment resources required, which can be implemented with the support of international financial institutions such as the CEF, EIB, EBRD and other donors focused on Ukraine’s integration into the European transport system,” notes the author of the study and IER research fellow Anastasia Kropova.
According to the researcher, who based her calculations on the experience of Slovakia, bringing Ukrainian TEN-T roads up to EU standards will take approximately until 2047–2050.
“The core network, with a length of 4,753 km, will take about 21-22 years to complete, taking into account the preparatory stages and an average construction rate of 250 km per year after the first years of launch. The implementation of the comprehensive network, which covers an additional 2,619 km, will require an additional 10–11 years,” Anastasia Kropova concluded. At the same time, the expert noted that with effective mobilisation of resources, international funding and contractors, these deadlines could be reduced by a third.
In June 2025, Ukraine completed the screening of its legislation under Chapter 21 of the EU acquis, which covers the development of trans-European transport, energy and digital infrastructure (TEN-T, TEN-E and TEN-Telecom, respectively). This paved the way for our country to move on to the next stage of negotiations on accession to the European Union.
This study and its presentation were carried out as part of the project ‘Assessment of the economic impact of adapting EU law to specific sectors of the Ukrainian economy’ with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation as part of the joint initiative ‘Joining the EU Together’.
Link to the expert discussion and online presentation of the study ‘TEN-T for Ukraine: a challenge worth billions or a path to integration?’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe5IG2tXm6Y
Text of the analytical note: http://www.ier.com.ua/files/Projects/2025/UA_EU/Cost%20of%20TEN-T%20in%20Ukraine.pdf
Source: IER
