CEF – Connecting Europe Facility – 2021-2027

The general objectives of the CEF are to build, develop, modernise and complete the trans-European networks in the transport, energy and digital sectors and to facilitate cross-border cooperation in the field of renewable energy, taking into account the long-term decarbonisation commitments and the goals of increasing European competitiveness; smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; territorial, social and economic cohesion; and the access to and integration of the internal market, with an emphasis on facilitating the synergies among the transport, energy and digital sectors.

Objectives

• Transport sector:
  • To contribute to the development of projects of common interest relating to efficient and interconnected networks and infrastructures for intelligent, sustainable, inclusive, safe and secure mobility
  • To adapt parts of the TEN-T for the dual use of the transport infrastructure with a view to improving both civilian and military mobility
• Energy sector:
  • To contribute to the development of projects of common interest relating to the further integration of the internal energy market, the interoperability of networks across borders and sectors, the facilitation of decarbonisation and the guarantee of security of supply
  • To facilitate cross-border cooperation in the field of renewable energies
•  Digital sector:
  • Contributing to the deployment of very high capacity digital networks and 5G systems, to the increased resilience and capacity of digital backbones in EU territories by linking them to neighbouring territories, and to the digitisation of transport and energy networks

Structure

• Transport sector:
  • Specific objective 1: Efficient, interconnected and multimodal networks and infrastructure for smart, interoperable, sustainable, inclusive, accessible, safe and secure mobility
  • Specific objective 2: Adaptation for the dual-use of transport infrastructure
• Energy sector:
  • Specific objective 1: Contribution to interconnectivity and integration of markets
  • Specific objective 2: Security of supply
  • Specific objective 3: Sustainable development through enabling decarbonisation
• Digital sector:
  • Specific objective 1: Contribution to the deployment of digital connectivity infrastructure throughout the Union

Financed Actions

1. Transport sector

• Actions relating to efficient, interconnected, interoperable and multimodal networks for the development of railway, road, inland waterway and maritime infrastructure
• Actions relating to smart, interoperable, sustainable, multimodal, inclusive, accessible, safe and secure mobility
• Actions or specific activities within an action, supporting parts, new or existing, of the TEN-T suitable for military transport, in order to adapt the TEN-T to dual-use infrastructure requirements

2. Energy sector

• Actions relating to projects of common interest
• Actions supporting cross-border projects in the field of renewable energy, including innovative solutions, as well as storage of renewable energy, and their conception

3. Digital sector

• Actions supporting the deployment of and access to very high capacity networks, including 5G systems, capable of providing Gigabit connectivity in areas where socioeconomic drivers are located
• Actions supporting the provision of very high-quality local wireless connectivity in local communities that is free of charge and without discriminatory conditions
• Actions implementing the uninterrupted coverage with 5G systems of all major transport paths, including the TEN-T
• Actions supporting the deployment of new or the significant upgrading of existing backbone networks, including submarine cables, within and between Member States and between the Union and third countries
• Actions implementing digital connectivity infrastructure requirements related to cross-border projects in the areas of transport or energy or supporting operational digital platforms directly associated to transport or energy infrastructures, or both