Strong infrastructure makes Europe more secure

Last week, the first tunnel element for the Fehmarnbelt tunnel was immersed in the strait between Denmark and Germany. It marks a tangible step towards a new, strong connection across Europe.

When the Roman Empire dominated Europe 2,000 years ago, infrastructure was a major part of what made that possible. The Romans built more than 80,000 kilometres of roads because they knew – just as we do today – that mobility is the lifeblood of a society. They built roads to expand and protect the empire, but greater freedom of movement also brought economic development. The faster, safer and easier it is to trade with other regions, the more economic activity increases.

In Denmark, we have already come a long way in developing shared infrastructure – the Storebælt and Øresund links are good examples that are already strengthening cohesion in the Nordic region. The Fehmarnbelt link is Denmark’s next major contribution to strengthening cohesion in Europe still further. That is also why the project is supported by the EU.

The Fehmarnbelt tunnel will not only connect Denmark and Germany economically, but strategically as well. It will become a cornerstone of Europe’s future transport network, which is why the link is not only the world’s longest immersed tunnel and the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken in the Nordic region – it is also one of the most important.

Progress is the highest priority

Following the immersion of the first tunnel element, it is worth taking stock of one of the most challenging infrastructure projects Europe has ever seen, and of the obstacles that arise in a megaproject such as ours.

There is nothing unusual about megaprojects taking a full generation to complete, but the world does not stand still while we plan, negotiate, carry out environmental studies and build. Since the contracts were signed 10 years ago, the project has had to navigate a historic epidemic, a full-scale war in our neighbouring region, a financial crisis and new trade barriers.

Added to that are German regulatory requirements that were not known when the construction contracts were signed 10 years ago, as well as the technical challenges that arise when something is being attempted for the first time.

However, much has gone better than expected. That applies both to the financial support from the EU and to the fact that we secured a large part of the project’s financing while interest rates were low. This matters because the Fehmarn link, like the ferries that currently sail between Rødby and Puttgarden, must be paid for by its users and not by taxpayers.

The Fehmarnbelt tunnel is, in every respect, a European project. The client is Danish, the legal framework is both German and Danish, and the contractors come from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium and Denmark. The engineers come from all over Europe, and many of the thousands of construction workers are from Poland and Romania. In this way, the day-to-day reality of the project reflects European cooperation and demonstrates Europe’s ability to deliver world-class innovation.

The elements for the Fehmarnbelt tunnel are wider, heavier and longer than those used to build the Øresund link, and we will be working in significantly deeper water. Each element is longer than two football pitches, and engineers must position them with millimetre precision in pitch darkness on the seabed. Nowhere in the world has this been done before on this scale.

The immersion of the first of the 89 tunnel elements was undoubtedly a major technical achievement of which we can all be proud. But the beginning of the tunnel is also a manifestation in concrete and steel of what is possible when politicians have the will to think strategically and for the long term. We will need more of that if, like the Romans, we are to strengthen trade, mobility and security in Europe.

Mikkel Hemmingsen, CEO, Sund & Bælt