Connecting Europe Days 2026

From 28 September to 1 October, Brussels will host Connecting Europe Days 2026, the European Commission's flagship event for transport and mobility. Bringing together policymakers, financial institutions, industry representatives, transport stakeholders and the European Commission, the event will explore how Europe can build a competitive, resilient, safe and sustainable transport sector while strengthening connectivity within Europe and beyond.

This year's discussions will focus on the future of Europe's transport networks, including competitiveness, resilience, strategic autonomy, infrastructure investment and financing, digitalisation, and innovation. Against a changing geopolitical landscape, the programme will also examine the resilience of essential supply chains and the role of transport infrastructure in supporting military mobility and Europe's connectivity with international partners.

For ERTICO, Connecting Europe Days provides an opportunity to connect policy priorities with the innovation and deployment work taking place across its Partnership and EU-funded projects.

Connecting policy and innovation

On 29 September from 09:00 to 10:30 (Studio 314+316), Joost Vantomme, CEO of ERTICO, will contribute to the official programme, moderating the session “Removing the Steering Wheel: Enabling Autonomous Vehicles in Europe”. The session will examine the work being developed under the EU's Automotive Action Plan to support the development and deployment of autonomous driving, including the role of testbeds and regulatory frameworks in bringing automated vehicles closer to market readiness and integration into existing transport systems.

Additionally, on 30 September (09:00–10:30, Studio 313+315), Joost Vantomme will participate as a panellist in the official session “Road infrastructure support for future vehicles”, organised by the European Union Research and Innovation for the Automotive Sector (EURIAS) Expert Group. The session will explore how road infrastructure can support future vehicles through digital infrastructure, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) solutions, cybersecurity, and trusted data exchange, while fostering greater integration between mobility, energy, and digital systems.

Read more about the session  

Innovation for Europe's future mobility

SMARTIN will join forces with sister projects MITHOS and MOVEO at a shared booth in the Digital Innovation area, highlighting how the three projects are working together to contribute to the future of European mobility. The SMARTIN coordinator will also take the stage at the Marketplace on 30 September, during Session 2 from 12:30 to 14:00, for a project pitch.

In the Road area, CAMBER will showcase its work at a dedicated booth, offering visitors an opportunity to discover the project's contribution to the future of connected and sustainable mobility. Its coordinator will also present the project at the Marketplace on 29 September, during Session 2 from 12:30 to 14:10.

The boostEDIC M&L project will also play a strategic role in the exhibition area. Supporting the EDIC M&L, the project is helping build a more connected, interoperable and sustainable European data infrastructure for mobility and logistics. Visitors can stop by the booth to learn more about the project's work and its upcoming Open Calls for mobility and logistics innovators.

Meanwhile, CHORUS will be represented in the exhibition area by its coordinator, I-SENSE Group (ICCS), providing an opportunity to discover more about the project's work and its contribution to the evolving European mobility landscape.

periASTY will also be represented in the exhibition area. The project will share a booth with its sister projects BIIO-INTEL-MOB, ALTHEA, and SpurUp, showcasing innovative solutions helping peri-urban areas in their decarbonisation efforts.

metaCCAZE will present solutions shaping the future of urban mobility, together with MOBILITIES FOR EU at a shared booth in the exhibition area. As part of the Marketplace programme, Martina Ferrara Snider, Senior Support Manager at ERTICO, will give an overview of the project on 30 September during Session 2 from 12:30 to 14:00.

Finally, MACBETH will join the AEVETO cluster booth at Connecting Europe Days 2026 in Brussels, taking place from 28 September to 1 October. On Wednesday 30 September at 09:00, the AEVETO cluster will present its white paper during Session 28: Road infrastructure support for future vehicles. The session will explore V2G, connectivity, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and trusted data exchange to support the deployment of future vehicles.

Looking ahead

Connecting Europe Days 2026 comes at an important moment for European transport. As Europe looks to strengthen its competitiveness and resilience while continuing its green and digital transitions, collaboration between policymakers, industry, research and transport stakeholders will be essential.