CEF IN BRIEF
The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is a key funding instrument for more growth, jobs, and competitiveness in Europe. CEF supports projects that focus on the development and construction of new and modernised infrastructures in the transport, telecom, and energy sectors.
CEF programmes focus on sustainable investments in European infrastructure. The new CEF (2021 – 2027) will focus more on climate change, digital connectivity, and renewable electricity.
For whom?
- Governments (state, provinces, municipalities)
- Companies (port, industrial, logistics and service companies)
For what?
- Studies or study projects with pilot activities
- Implementation projects
Grant budget and percentages
- The budget for CEF Transport 2021-2027 is € 25.81 billion, this is divided into:
– General envelope: € 12.83 billion.
– Cohesion envelope: € 11.29 billion (not for the Netherlands).
– Military mobility: € 1.69 billion. - The budget for CEF Energy 2021-2027 is € 5.84 billion.
- The budget for CEF Digital 2021-2027 is € 2.07 billion.
Studies or study projects with pilot activities: 50% of total project costs.
Implementation projects: 30% to 50% of project costs.
Themes within CEF
CEF Transport
- Shifting to innovative energy-efficient and low-carbon transport technologies.
- Making transport systems more sustainable and efficient.
- Solving missing links in the network.
- Removal of existing infrastructure bottlenecks.
- Better interconnection of the railway networks and transport services of the Member States.
- Improving cross-border infrastructure.
- Alternative Fuels Infrastructure facility (AFIF).
CEF Energy
- Connecting, digitising and making energy systems smarter in Europe for a powerful energy network.
CEF Digital (Telecom)
- Improving digital connectivity.
- Creating very high-capacity broadband networks.
- Increasing the resilience and capability of backbone networks.
- Improving the digitalisation of transport and energy networks.

- To be eligible for financial support under CEF, your project must be classified as a Project of Common Interest.
- You can only submit a project if the country in which the project owner is located supports it.
PURPOSE OF THE GRANT
The aim of CEF is to create a strong and sustainable Europe by promoting competitiveness and stimulating economic growth. To achieve this goal, CEF supports projects that improve or renew infrastructure in the transport, telecom, and energy sectors.
Types of projects
- Studies or study projects with pilot activities: These are projects that prepare for large-scale implementation projects, so-called works. These projects generally receive a grant of 50% of the project costs.
- Implementation projects: These receive grant percentages ranging from 30% to 50% of the project costs.
APPLICATION ROUNDS
The next CEF Transport call is likely to open in September 2022.
CEF Transport AFIF currently has a rolling call for proposals which will remain in effect until 2023.
The CEF Energy application round is currently open, closing on 1 September 2022 (5:00 PM).
The way in which we will travel and transport goods in the coming years is going to be more sustainable, and I am excited to be able to contribute to these physical changes. My perseverance in turning projects into a good-news story and bringing the right parties together is my main asset.
The way in which we will travel and transport goods in the coming years is going to be more sustainable, and I am excited to be able to contribute to these physical changes. My perseverance in turning projects into a good-news story and bringing the right parties together is my main asset.
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