Press Release: European Commission welcomes the breakthrough in the east tube of the Gotthard base tunnel and congratulates Switzerland

Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, commented: "Switzerland deserves praise for making an outstanding effort to deliver its share on time. When completed, the Gotthard base tunnel will form part of a larger trans-Alpine rail system, which currently includes the Lötschberg base tunnel and, later, will be completed by the Brenner and the Mont Cenis base tunnels."