Unlike the USA, in Europe it is not yet possible to buy high-speed (i.e. 34 Mbit/s and above) international connectivity as a standard product from the PNOS. As about half of the Western European national research networks have already deployed high-speed pan-European backbones nationally, there is a growing demand for a backbone supporting line speeds of 34 Mbit/s and more on a European scale. This paper describes the requirements of the European R&E community for a high-speed backbone, as well as the plans for the development; it also explains the difficulties in getting such lines or services. The first section of this paper outlines the technical issues. It describes the requirements of the national research networks in Europe for a high- speed European infrastructure, as indicated in a survey carried out by DANTE in October 1994. The available technical options for implementing the backbone are discussed and an overview of the proposed implementation strategy is given. The second section covers non-technical issues in relation to the deployment of a high-speed pan- European backbone. The major problem there is the unavailability of high-speed lines from the PNOS, which, in most of the European countries, still have a monopoly position. The EuroCAIRN project was initiated by the national governments to find a solution for these problems. This section also gives an overview about the EuroCAIRN project, its objectives, strategy and goals. Keywords: High-Speed Backbone, IP, ATM. Technical Implementation, EuroCAIRN