ensuring enhanced accessibility and connectivity for all regions of the Union while taking into consideration the specific case of islands, isolated networks and sparsely populated, remote and outermost regions;

ensuring optimal integration of the transport modes and interoperability within transport modes;

bridging missing links and removing bottlenecks, particularly in cross-border sections;

promoting the efficient and sustainable use of the infrastructure and, where necessary, increasing capacity;

improving or maintaining the quality of infrastructure in terms of safety, security, efficiency, climate and, where appropriate, disaster resilience, environmental performance, social conditions, accessibility for all users, including elderly people, persons with reduced mobility and disabled passengers, and the quality of services and continuity of traffic flows;

implementing and deploying telematic applications and promoting innovative technological development.

ensuring fuel security through increased energy efficiency, and promoting the use of alternative and, in particular, low or zero carbon energy sources and propulsion systems;

mitigating exposure of urban areas to negative effects of transiting rail and road transport;

removing administrative and technical barriers, in particular to the interoperability of the trans-European transport network and to competition.