Some 135 transport infrastructure projects have been selected for EU grants with a total value of €5.4 billion. The financing will support the post-pandemic economic recovery in all EU Member States while also contributing to building missing transport links across the continent, supporting sustainable transport, improving safety and interoperability, and creating jobs. The selected projects were submitted in response to calls for proposals issued within the framework of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the EU financing instrument for strategic investment in transport infrastructure.
All projects selected for support are located on the trans-European transport network, the system of roads, railways, inland waterways, short sea shipping routes, ports and airports connecting EU member states and beyond. The Commission’s goal is to complete the TEN-T core network by 2030 and the comprehensive network by 2050, while ensuring that its infrastructure helps the EU achieve its climate goals, as set out in the European Green Deal.
“Today we are allocating €5.4 billion to projects across Europe that will improve missing infrastructure links, make transport more sustainable and efficient, increase safety and interoperability, as well as create jobs,” said EU Transport Commissioner Adina Ioana Valian. These are difficult times, the importance of the EU transport sector and the importance of a smooth and well-connected infrastructure network. In particular, projects such as the development of the rail transshipment station in Haniska pri Košicich will facilitate our links with Ukraine.
Her comments were echoed by the Director of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Agency (CINEA), Dirk Beckers: “The European Union is once again investing in the future of its citizens by supporting the creation of a sustainable, green, safe and eco-friendly intelligent transport system. The projects we have selected, which cover all modes of transport, will help Across Member States, we will support the EU’s post-Covid-19 recovery by injecting billions into the real economy and ensuring next-generation transport infrastructure for our businesses and citizens.
Several projects would strengthen the EU’s railway network, including cross-border links and connections to ports and airports. Rail infrastructure projects on the TEN-T core network that have been selected for financing include the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel, which will connect Denmark and Germany.
Another major project is the upgrade of the existing rail and road transshipment station at Haniska pri Košicich near the city of Košice in Slovakia. The upgrade will facilitate the transport of goods between rail and road, and adapt the railway gauge so that it can accommodate trains designed to use gauges of different widths, including those used in Ukraine.
Other projects will enhance maritime navigation by upgrading basic port infrastructure and installing onshore power supplies. Ports will then be in a position to help docked ships reduce their emissions.
Inland waterway transport improvement projects include the cross-border waterway link between the Seine and the Scheldt, which will help establish a cross-border inland waterway link between France and Belgium.
Deploying ITS on certain sections of the road network will improve road safety and create safe parking infrastructure for heavy goods vehicles in Spain, Romania, France, Hungary and Italy.
For smarter, interoperable and safer railway services, several projects will digitalise operations across Europe through the European Rail Traffic Management System. A series of digital demonstrations of European skies in the field of green aviation and urban air mobility will support air transport.
background
In total, 399 applications were submitted under the CEF Transfer Calls which closed on 19 January 2022. Following evaluation, 135 proposals were selected and retained for CEF funding, worth approximately €5.4 billion. These numbers do not include alternative fuel and military mobility calls, which were launched at the same time but evaluated separately.
Under the CEF Transport Program for 2021-2027, €25.8 billion is available for grants to co-finance TEN-T projects in EU Member States. Since 2014, CEF has supported more than 1,030 projects with a total value of €23 billion in the transport sector.
The European Union contribution will take the form of grants that will co-finance the overall project costs.
Next steps
After EU Member States approve the selected projects on 21 June 2022, the Commission will adopt a funding decision. CINEA will begin preparing grant agreements with beneficiaries of the 135 selected projects. Additional funding opportunities exist at CEF Transport, with calls open for the Military Mobility and Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility, and further calls to be launched in September 2022.
