Europe Day: Rail is one of Europe’s great connectors

Today, on Europe Day, we mark a way of working and thinking together.  

On 9 May 1950, the Schuman Declaration proposed something radical for its time: that Europe’s shared challenges should be addressed through practical cooperation, trust and common approaches, rather than fragmentation and rivalry.  

That spirit remains deeply relevant today. Our challenges can become our strengths when we are united.  

Rail is one of Europe’s great connectors. It brings citizens closer, strengthens our economy and supports a more sustainable and independent Europe.   

With the great team at the European Union Agency for Railways, we work to ensure that rail remains safe, interoperable across borders, and ready for the future. We do that with motivation and passion, together with our key partners – European Commission, European Parliament, Member States, National Safety Authorities, European rail sector & industry, as well as with countries on the EU accession path.  

One shared objective: a strong, competitive and resilient Single European Railway Area!  

Happy Europe Day! We are better and stronger together.

This article is part of On Track with the Director, offering a personal window into the thoughts, insights and experiences of Oana Gherghinescu, Executive Director of ERA.