3.23 In addition to the quantified estimates of economic benefits, the Department expects that the Link will lead to wider benefits, which have not been quantified. The Government sees the project as one of national prestige as it provides a high speed rail service to Europe. France and Belgium already have such links to the Channel Tunnel, and the Link is one of a number of high priority projects for the development of high speed rail routes across the EU known as the Trans-European Transport Network. This has given the Link priority status in the Government's overall transport policy and led to support from the European Investment Bank. Although such a consideration was not formally included in the Department's stated objectives, it was an important consideration in Ministerial announcements on the project.