The route is a prolongation of the former pan-European transport corridor VI, identified at the Crete (1994) and Helsinki (1997) conferences which connected Gdańsk via Katowice to Žilina (Slovakia) and through a western branch via Brno to Vienna. The corridor was identified as a multimodal north-south axis to create a complex multimodal transport system for goods and passengers with the port of Gdańsk, rail and roads. PP25 touches upon four Member States: Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia. Its western branch passes through Brno, the second largest city of the Czech Republic on its way to Vienna (950 km), while its eastern branch passes through Žilina, a city of growing importance regarding automotive production in Slovakia, to the countrys capital Bratislava (890 km). It involves the construction of a new motorway with two lanes in both directions. On some sections between Katowice and Brno/Žilina, existing roads will be upgraded. The project also includes the construction of an access link to the port of Gdańsk where a new container and ferry terminal is planned. The motorway projects are included in the respective national development plans of the four Member States. Works have already started on most sections; some subsections in all four countries are already completed. Achievements: The motorway projects are included in the respective national development plans of the four Member States. Formal (environmental) impact assessments have been completed for most of the sections. Works have already started on some sections. The completion date for works in the Polish section will be a year later than anticipated in the 2004 guidelines. The alignment of the section from Brno to the Czech–Austrian border is not yet decided, due to its crossing a Natura 2000 area in the Czech Republic. This could delay the end date to 2013, although the guidelines scheduled it for 2009. The cross-border section between Vienna and Brno is likely to be set up as a public–private partnership (PPP), extending the existing PPP in operation in the Austrian section.