The European Commission announced that the EU will co-finance with over €12 million from the TEN-T Programme three Spanish projects forming part of a new high speed rail line in the Basque country (Spain). The main aim is to help bring high speed rail travel to Spain.

Three Spanish projects, which were selected for funding under the 2011 TEN-T Annual Call, will support track bed works on three sections of the Madrid-Basque country-French border high speed line, reducing travelling times and improving transport links in the region. In January 2013, the Commission also announced that €5 million from EU funds to construct nearly 8 km of high speed railway track bed in Valladolid (Spain).

According to the European Commission, the first project will receive EU co-financing of just over €4.1 million and involves a 4.6 km rail section between Durango and Amorebieta/Etxano, where five viaducts and three tunnels will be constructed. The second project, which receives EU support of nearly €3.3 million, involves a 5 km rail section between Amorebieta and Bernagoitia and concerns the construction of five viaducts and four tunnels. The last project will receive EU co-financing of €4.8 million and includes the construction of one double viaduct, three viaducts and five tunnels on an 8.8 km rail section between Amorebieta and Galdakao.

These projects, which are part of the "High speed railway axis of southwest Europe" (TEN-T Priority Project 3), will help to bring considerable benefits for rail travel in the region, says the Commission. The three projects are set to be completed by December 2014.