Ukraine has been part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) since 2017, when the European Union officially extended it to Eastern Partnership countries. For the first time, Ukrainian roads were included in the TEN-T map as part of a network ensuring strategic connections with EU member states. This became the foundation for integrating Ukrainian infrastructure into the unified European transport space.
The next significant update occurred in 2023, when the EU adopted new TEN-T maps under Regulation (EU) 2023/745. This document explicitly defined the TEN-T structure for Ukraine, with a clear division into core and comprehensive networks.
As an EU candidate country, Ukraine is obligated to gradually adapt its infrastructure to European Union standards. In 2024, the EU adopted new Regulation 2024/1679, which significantly changes technical requirements for roads within TEN-T networks—both for member states and candidate countries.
In June 2025, Ukraine completed the legislative screening process for Chapter 21 of EU accession negotiations, which covers TEN-T issues, and is now transitioning to the practical adaptation phase of norms, both in legislation and in engineering design and construction.
What Does the New Regulation Entail?
Regulation 2024/1679 establishes mandatory technical specifications for roads within the core and comprehensive TEN-T networks:
- Minimum of two lanes in each direction (four total)
- Physical separation of traffic flows (barriers, central strips, guardrails)
- Limited access from secondary roads
- Lane width of at least 3.5 meters
A key concept is “traffic separation lanes”—separate traffic lanes or engineering solutions that reduce the risk of head-on collisions. These requirements apply not only to new roads but also to those already part of the TEN-T network, which must be modernized by 2030 (core) and 2040 (comprehensive).
Current Situation in Ukraine
The total length of the Ukrainian TEN-T road network is approximately 7,372 km: 4,753 km in the core network and 2,619 km in the comprehensive network. Requirements differ between categories, but both must have: at least 2 lanes in each direction, physical traffic separation, a lane width of at least 3.5 meters, and limited access from secondary roads.
Currently, most Ukrainian roads within TEN-T do not fully comply with these standards. Some sections, particularly on routes M-06 Kyiv-Chop and M-05 Kyiv-Odesa, already have traffic separation and sufficient lanes. However, a significant portion of both core and comprehensive networks consists of roads with one lane in each direction and without physical separation.
During a thematic event in Kyiv on July 30, 2025, experts and government representatives confirmed that only about half of the core TEN-T network meets the new Regulation requirements, with even fewer roads in the comprehensive network complying. Experts noted that some new sections are already being designed according to updated requirements, but mass transition has not yet occurred.
Legislative Changes Required
Implementing EU Regulation provisions requires reviewing numerous Ukrainian regulatory acts. Priority changes include:
- Law of Ukraine “On Motor Roads” – defining TEN-T roads as a separate category with clearly established technical requirements
- State Construction Standards (DBN V.2.3-4:2015) – regarding lane width, traffic separation, access limitations, and safety engineering solutions
- DSTU B V.2.3-12-2004 (State Standards of Ukraine) – concerning the design of structures on TEN-T roads
It is also advisable to establish a regulatory definition of “traffic separation lanes” and update road classification approaches based on TEN-T requirements (with core/comprehensive network divisions). These changes should create a legal foundation for developing a state network modernization program.
Industry experts confirm that current state construction standards only partially meet Regulation requirements. For example, the “two lanes + traffic separation” standard is not mandatory in national design, creating barriers to systematic implementation.
Estimated Modernization Cost
According to research conducted by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, the estimated cost of bringing Ukraine’s TEN-T network to new EU standards exceeds €110 billion. The assessment used comparative data from EU countries, particularly Slovakia, where highway construction averages €14-17 million per kilometer. For Ukraine, a calculation rate of €15 million/km was conditionally adopted.
Bringing the core network to European requirements could cost approximately €71 billion, while the comprehensive network would require another €39 billion. Total costs exceed €110 billion, though this sum does not include expenses for bridges, tunnels, land issues, or environmental measures.
For comparison, in 2020, the average cost of new road construction in Ukraine was about €5.3 million per kilometer, while major repairs cost approximately €1.9 million per kilometer. Under the “Great Construction” program (Велике будівництво)—a large-scale infrastructure initiative launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in March 2020—projects primarily involved current or major repairs rather than full reconstruction to TEN-T standards.
Despite the massive cost estimate, significant funding could potentially come from the EU. During the event, industry experts emphasized that Ukraine can already begin preparing projects for funding through instruments such as the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), Pre-accession Assistance Instrument (IPA), and European Investment Bank (EIB) loans. In the future, during accession negotiations, Ukraine will also be able to apply for specific grant programs available to other candidate countries during their EU accession period.
Timeline Requirements
Modernizing Ukraine’s entire TEN-T network is a task requiring at least 25 years. With construction rates of up to 250 km per year after the initial period, bringing the core network to standards could take until 2050. An additional 10-11 years would be needed to complete work on the comprehensive network, with partial parallel implementation.
These timeframes may vary depending on available financing, contractors’ technical capacity, and state organizational support.
Conclusions
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 is not merely an infrastructure task but a comprehensive reform of the regulatory and institutional road management system. This involves not only construction but also introducing new logic of safety, mobility, and integration with European space.
Even at a slow pace, the process establishes new quality in road policy—focusing on safety, durability, and European integration.
Transport infrastructure experts emphasize that, despite significant costs, bringing Ukraine’s TEN-T network to European standards is necessary and strategically important. This project aims not only to integrate Ukraine into the EU’s unified transport space but also to significantly reduce accident rates, decrease cargo delivery times, and ensure better logistics for post-war recovery economics.
This material was prepared within the “Assessment of Economic Impact of EU Law Adaptation on Selected Sectors of Ukraine’s Economy” project, supported by the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation as part of the joint “European Renaissance of Ukraine” initiative. The material represents the authors’ position and does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or the International Renaissance Foundation.
Written by Anastasiia Kropova, Research Fellow, Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting
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