Transport: EUR 7 billion available for infrastructure projects across the European Union

Calls for proposals launched today under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Transport programme make EUR 7 billion available for projects targeting new and improved European transport infrastructure.

Projects funded under these calls will help to increase the sustainability of the trans-European transport network, putting the EU on track to meet the European Green Deal objective of cutting transport emissions by 90% by 2050.

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A sustainable and smart mobility for the future

The calls support the European Commission’s vision of a future sustainable transport system, with smart and resilient solutions implemented to interconnect Europe.

The EU needs an efficient and interconnected multimodal transport system for both passengers and freight. This includes an affordable, reliable and performing rail network, an enhanced inland waterways navigation and infrastructure in maritime ports, a balanced interconnection between transport modes and an increased automation and interoperability for greater efficiency and safety of the transport network.

The calls cover the Core and Comprehensive TEN-T networks in the following areas:

railways
inland waterways
maritime and inland ports
road safety
rail-road terminals
multimodal logistics platforms
multimodal passenger hubs
smart and interoperable applications for transport
safe and secure mobility
infrastructure resilience

Who can apply?

Applications are welcome from:

One or more Member State;
International organisations or public or private bodies established in an EU Member State, with the agreement of the Member State(s) concerned.

Applicants should submit their proposal electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System before 30 January 2024 at 17.00 CET.

Who decides which projects will receive grants?

Proposals will be evaluated by the European Commission/CINEA, assisted by external experts drawn from an independent expert database. Applicants will receive the evaluation results no more than six months after the submission deadline, and grant agreements will be signed within nine months after the submission deadline.

To expand its database of experts, the Commission has launched a call for experts in a range of fields. To be considered as a proposal evaluator, applicants should sign up via the Participant Portal and send an email to CINEA-CEF-Transportec [dot] europa [dot] eu (CINEA-CEF-Transport[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).

Background

The CEF Transport programme is the key EU funding instrument for the development of high performing, sustainable and interconnected Trans-European transport networks, with a focus on the nine Core Network Corridors. The programme co-finances projects that enhance multimodality, improve infrastructure and advance innovation and new technologies.

Under the CEF programme, EUR 25.6 billion is available for grants from the EU’s 2021-2027 budget to co-fund Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) projects in the EU Member States. Since 2014 the CEF programme has supported over 1,300 projects with a total of EUR 29.8 billion in the transport sector.

The call for proposals supports projects under the General and Cohesion envelopes of the CEF Transport programme.

The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) is managing the promotion and evaluation of the call and supervises the implementation of projects.