In the context of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and on the basis of the multi-annual work programme, the 2020 CEF Transport MAP call for proposals has been published on 15 December 2020. This call will be the last call in the current 2014-2020 CEF Transport budget period and provides an opportunity to finance the preparatory study phase prior to a future application for the works phase in the upcoming CEF2 programme.
About the CEF programma
With the CEF Transport programme, the European Commission is building the core network and the comprehensive transport network for goods and passengers in Europe. This network will connect the most important nodes, transhipment terminals, (air)ports and cities. The calls are increasingly focusing on sustainable, safe and smart (passenger) transport.
Main objective for this call is to prepare for the implementation of TEN-T core network projects by supporting studies, addressing the necessary preparatory steps for the forthcoming infrastructure works. These steps can relate to technical design, permitting procedures and preparation of the tendering process.
Who can apply?
Two types of applicants can submit a proposal under the 2020 CEF Transport MAP call:
- One or more EU Member States
- With the agreement of the Member State(s) concerned, international organisations, joint undertakings, or public or private undertakings or bodies established in an EU Member State
Grant contribution and call budget
This call for proposal has a total budget of 200 million EUR, of which 160 million EUR under the General envelope and 40 million EUR under the Cohesion envelope. For project submitted under the General envelope, the amount of EU financial assistance shall not exceed 50% of the eligible costs. In order to ensure efficiency in EU funding interventions, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications for actions with a total requested EU contribution to the eligible costs of no less than 500,000 EUR.
Which projects can be submitted and when?
The 2020 CEF Transport MAP call is only available for proposals that address studies: activities needed to prepare project implementation, such as preparatory, mapping, feasibility, evaluation, testing and validation studies.
This call for proposal addresses actions related to the funding objective “removing bottlenecks, enhancing rail interoperability, bridging missing links and, in particular, improving cross-border sections”. The envisaged actions need to contribute to completing pre-identified projects on the core network corridors and on the other sections of the core network (railways, inland waterways, roads, maritime and inland ports).
Deadline is 22 March 2021
A project submitted under the 2020 CEF Transport MAP call shall be completed 31 December 2024 at latest. Priority will be given to studies leading to the start of works between 2021 and 2024. Studies for new or extensions of projects leading to the start of works after 2024 are also eligible, but will be given a lower priority. The deadline for the submission of proposals is 22 March 2021.
