Germany extends border controls until September 2025
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced the extension of temporary border controls for another six months, until September 2025, in an effort to reduce irregular migration and combat cross-border crime. The controls, initially introduced in September, aim to prevent unauthorised entries, particularly of asylum seekers from neighbouring EU countries, in accordance with the Dublin regulations, which require asylum applications to be processed in the first country of arrival within the EU. According to Scholz, these measures have resulted in the refusal of entry to 47,000 people at the borders, a one-third drop in asylum applications in 2024 compared to 2023, and the arrest of 1,900 human traffickers.
Two Cosco ro-ro vessels for electric vehicles
Two new ro-ro vessels have entered service in Cosco Shipping's fleet on the Hainan Strait between the ports of Zhanjiang Hai’an and Haikou Xiuying. Named Luyuan No.1 and Luyuan No.2, they have been specifically designed for the transport of electric vehicles. From spring 2025, at least twenty trips will depart daily from each of the two ports, with additional shipments to be scheduled based on operational needs. Each vessel has a width of 28 metres and features a bow ramp for vehicle loading and unloading. Cosco Shipping has stated that their vehicle transport capacity is at least 60% greater than that of the existing ro-pax vessels operating on the same route.
Freight railway corridor between Russia and Pakistan now operational
A pilot project for railway freight transport between Russia and Pakistan will commence on 15 March 2025, following a memorandum signed in the summer of 2024. The train will follow a route through Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The initiative aims to facilitate the export of textiles, food products, and agricultural raw materials from Pakistan, while Russia will supply oil, gas, steel, and other industrial goods. The service will be managed by the Pakistani rail operator Prftc, with 22- and 44-tonne containers handled at the Qasim International and Pakistan International terminals.
Turkey completes second Asia-Europe railway tunnel
In Istanbul, the second railway tunnel between Halkalı and Ispartakule, linking Asia and Europe, has been completed. Although relatively small in scale, the infrastructure is part of the future high-speed railway line to Bulgaria, designed to facilitate freight transport between Asia and Europe. The first tunnel was completed in November 2024.
Committee to double Mont Blanc tunnel
A binational technical committee will be established to study the feasibility and costs of potentially doubling the Mont Blanc Tunnel. The decision emerged during the regional council meeting of the Aosta Valley, where President Renzo Testolin responded to requests for clarification from the leader of Rassemblement Valdôtain, Stefano Aggravi. Testolin emphasised that France's absence from the consultation on the 2035 Transport Plan would not impact the project, which is considered merely an "evolutionary scenario." The region reaffirms the tunnel's importance for safety and strategic connectivity between Italy and France.
Embraer E-freighter receives Easa certification
The Embraer E-Freighter E190F has received full certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (Easa), making it eligible for global operations. The aircraft had already obtained approval in 2024 from the Federal Aviation Administration (Faa) and Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac). Its maiden flight took place in April 2024, followed by a public debut at the Farnborough Airshow in July. Launched in 2022, the E190F programme aims to fill a gap in the air cargo market, addressing e-commerce demands with increased efficiency and speed. The aircraft offers 40% more cargo capacity than turboprop freighters and 30% lower operating costs compared to larger narrowbody aircraft.
