The government of Emmanuel Macron faced questions about commitments to complete the European Union’s Atlantic and Mediterranean rail corridors, but officials did not confirm a finalized joint declaration detailing the timelines. On a recent occasion, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told the Congress of Deputies that France would be urged to honor the deadlines it has set and to work with Spain to finish the high‑speed link between the two nations by 2030. Sánchez indicated that progress results from conversations with France’s minister of transport and from a meeting with the French president at the Barcelona summit.
Regarding the Atlantic Corridor, French officials stated that the timeline for 2030 was not part of the Barcelona discussions or the Spain–France summit held in Barcelona on January 19. They attributed a misstatement by the Spanish Ministry of Transport to a wider misunderstanding and clarified that 2030 has been used as a target for the Mediterranean Corridor in Barcelona, but not in a joint statement by the two presidents.
Following his meeting with France’s transport minister Clément Beaune, Spanish Transport Minister Raquel Sánchez celebrated France’s commitment to cross‑border rail links. A note published on the government’s site asserted that France planned to complete both European rail corridors by 2030, with the Montpellier–Perpignan section of the Mediterranean Corridor and the Great Southwest Project of the Atlantic Corridor identified as priorities for completion by that date.
Representatives from the Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda reiterated Sánchez’s remarks in Congress, noting that France’s readiness to meet the 2030 deadline was conveyed in the minister’s bilateral discussions and in her encounter with the French leadership at the Barcelona gathering. They also mentioned that the commitment was conveyed verbally in front of Macron and was not tied to a separate bilateral session but to the plenary assembly.
In a plenary address during the Spanish–French summit, Sánchez emphasized Spain’s reliance on interconnected transport networks and its efforts to link with France. He urged similar leadership from France to ensure that the two countries adhere to commitments and the 2030 deadline for completing the Atlantic and Mediterranean Corridors.
The Atlantic Corridor serves as a high‑speed link from the French side to the Basque Y region, connecting Madrid, Vitoria, and French cities such as Dax, Bordeaux, and Paris. The Mediterranean Corridor mirrors this effort on the southern coast, linking cities like Malaga and Cartagena with Barcelona and Gerona, and extending toward France. Both corridors require adjustments to track gauge and alignment to guarantee seamless cross‑border operation.
date 2042
A French Ministry of Transport document dated before the summit suggests that the Dax–Spain segment would be completed within the five‑year window from 2038 to 2042. This memo was cited by a political representative in Congress to seek clarity about possible delays. The Basque politician asked whether the assembled facts would mislead the public and stressed the importance of accurate assurances. Sánchez responded that Spain would defend national interests and push for deadlines that align with its own schedule while pressing France to do the same.
The press has described some published timelines as speculative. Officials from France indicated that certain figures arose from parliamentary advisory materials and were not yet finalized, saying that the section not yet finished could be handed to the French authorities in the near future.
Madrid–Vitoria–Dax–Paris remains a Strategic EU project expected to receive Brussels funding. Along with the Mediterranean Corridor, the Atlantic Corridor represents a long‑standing priority for the Levante communities. The ambitious rail projects are viewed as major European infrastructure milestones tied to cross‑border cooperation and regional development.
Border crossings and interconnections
Spain and France continue to contend with several border‑crossing issues and interconnection questions. Recent tensions centered on a joint water canal project intended to connect the Iberian Peninsula with France and Germany. The H2Med plan, conceived to carry hydrogen and electricity, would link Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany, and include a major undersea segment between Barcelona and Marseille. It supersedes MidCat, a project Macron ultimately withdrew after political debates.
Criticism has also focused on Spain’s electrical export capabilities. French officials have disputed claims about blocking energy flows, noting that current cabling allows only a fraction of Spain’s electricity to reach France and the broader European grid. Geological challenges, such as a deep trench off the Bay of Biscay, were cited as a factor slowing certain offshore interconnection work.
Another diplomatic friction point is France’s unilateral border controls with the Basque Country and Catalonia. While many crossings are closed or temporarily opened for day use, passport checks are conducted to deter illegal immigration. These measures are not permanent; they fluctuate with security assessments and policy considerations.