The EU is supporting with EUR 425 million a total of 37 projects that will help deliver a transport network which is environmentally sustainable and with key infrastructure sections fit for dual civil/defence use. The projects have been selected among those submitted under calls for proposals issued under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme, the funding instrument for strategic investments in transport infrastructure in the European Union.
The EU continues to focus its attention on projects that will help it deliver on its climate objectives as laid out in the European Green Deal and that support the adaptation of its transport infrastructure to ensure it is fit for civilian-defence dual-use.
EU Commissioner for Transport Adina-Ioana Vălean said: “Europe’s Transport infrastructure is critical for our security, this is why we are taking concrete measures to support investments that make it fit, not only for civilian use, but also for our defence. We are funding projects worth 425 million that will facilitate the movement of military troops and assets leading to more efficient deployment of our missions on the ground. In addition, we also decided to advance the 2nd Military Mobility call originally planned for later this year. ”
Her comments were echoed by the Director of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), Dirk Beckers, who stated: “The EU is committed to the decarbonisation of the transport sector and shows it is sensitive and reactive to the ongoing geopolitical crisis. These new CEF co-funded projects signal the EU’s continued determination to deliver a better transport infrastructure for all Europeans.”
Under the first cut-off date of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) call for proposals, which closed on 19 January 2022, 15 projects were selected for a total EU support of EUR 86 million. The projects range from the installation of electric recharging stations along the European TEN-T road network to the deployment of hydrogen refueling stations for cars, trucks and buses and the electrification of ground handling services in airports. The call remains open with further cut-off dates at regular intervals until 19 September 2023. The next cut-off date is 7 June 2022.
The Military Mobility call, which was open for the same time-period, will support 22 projects with EUR 339 million and will ensure that infrastructure is adapted to improve jointly civil and military mobility within the EU, making it compatible for dual-use. Examples of projects include railway infrastructure upgrades to allow for circulation of larger and heavier trains, increase of the capacity of ports and airports, and strengthening road bridges. The next Military Mobility call will be launched in May 2022.
Background
The EU’s financial contribution comes in the form of grants with different co-financing rates or Unit contributions depending on whether the project is located in a country eligible for Cohesion Fund support or not.
Under the CEF Transport programme, EUR 25.8 billion has been made available for grants from the EU’s 2021-2027 budget to co-fund TEN-T projects in the EU Member States. Since 2014 (under the 2014-2020 budget), CEF has supported over 1,000 projects for a total amount of more than EUR 23 billion in the transport sector.
Next steps
Following the EU Member States’ approval of the selected projects on 7 April, the Commission will adopt formal financing decisions in the coming weeks. The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) has started the preparation of the grant agreements with the project beneficiaries.
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