This is the first time CEF proposals have been combined with funding from EFSI, the European Investment Bank (EIB), national promotional banks or private sector investors. Applicants for CEF grants must show evidence that the project is ready to obtain complementary public or private funding.

 

“Selected projects must contribute to sustainable, innovative and seamless transport along the Trans-European Transport Network,” says the EC. “Particular emphasis will be placed on projects removing bottlenecks, supporting cross-border links and accelerating the digitalisation of transport, especially in areas with higher potential and market gaps such as in Cohesion countries, sustainable and efficient transport systems, and enhancing inter-modality and inter-operability in the transport network. This includes new technologies and traffic management systems such as ERTMS."

There are two deadlines for the call for proposals: July 14 and November 30 2017.

“The mobility of the future must be clean, connected and competitive, and requires new ways of financing,” says Mr Maroš Šefčovič, the EC’s Energy Union vice-president. “Today's call for proposal is an important first step. We will build on it, this year, in our work to implement the Low-Emission Mobility Strategy for Europe.”

“Achieving our vision for seamless, intelligent, and sustainable mobility in Europe requires investments that public funds alone cannot provide,” says the EC’s transport commissioner, Mrs Violeta Bulc. “That is why we are launching an innovative solution to make the best of our resources, and unlock untapped private investments, with particular focus on Cohesion countries”

Under the CEF, €24bn is being made available from the European Union’s 2014-2020 budget to co-fund TEN-T projects of common interest in the EU member states, of which €19.3bn has been committed so far.