Skip to main content

EU releases first transport infrastructure funds

Following its decision in March to make the first US$16.4 billion tranche of funding available for trans-European transport network projects, the European commission has now adopted the first work programmes within this framework: a multi-annual work programme covering larger projects with a total budget of US$15.1 billion and an annual work programme for 2014 addressing smaller projects with a budget of US1.3 billion. The funding priorities set out in these programmes include: The closing of missing lin
April 8, 2014 Read time: 3 mins
Following its decision in March to make the first US$16.4 billion tranche of funding available for trans-European transport network projects, the 1690 European Commission has now adopted the first work programmes within this framework: a multi-annual work programme covering larger projects with a total budget of US$15.1 billion and an annual work programme for 2014 addressing smaller projects with a budget of US1.3 billion.

The funding priorities set out in these programmes include: The closing of missing links at border-crossing points between member states and the removal of major bottlenecks, in particular along the nine corridors of the TEN-T core network; The promotion of interoperability to overcome technological barriers at national borders, notably in the rail sector; The strengthening of multi-modality in order to facilitate seamless transport chains for passengers and freight (including freight transport services), as well as the full integration of urban nodes into the network and notably in the core network corridors; The stimulation of innovative approaches in line with future technological trends (also covering the indispensable "communication" between infrastructure and vehicles, between hardware and software); The strong emphasis on EU transport policy and legislation, in fields such as railway policy or maritime policy, "clean power for transport", urban mobility, safety and telematics applications for all transport modes; and the opening of funding possibilities for third countries, notably for cross-border projects and participation in major European projects such as SESAR, intelligent transport services, river information services or motorways of the sea.

The budget will boost key projects of the nine core network corridors and help advancing transport policy objectives such as the achievement of interoperability, the promotion of inter-modality and the stimulation of innovation. It is vital for bridging the gap between the East and the West of the Union.

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), which governs EU funding for infrastructure projects in the fields of transport, telecommunication and energy during the period 2014–2020, foresees an allocation of US$35.7 billion for transport infrastructure out of which US$15.5 billion is earmarked for projects in member states which are eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fund. Funding will be concentrated on priorities which have been set out in the Union Guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network and further specified in the CEF Regulation.

Calls for project proposals will be published by 1 September 2014.

Related Content

  • December 18, 2013
    EU triples funding for rail innovation
    The European Commission has adopted Shift2Rail, a new public-private partnership to invest around US$1.3 billion in research and innovation to get more passengers and freight onto Europe's railways. Rail is amongst the most efficient and climate-friendly forms of transport, but currently it only carries about only 10 per cent of European cargo and 6 per cent of passengers each year. Shift2Rail is an ambitious public-private partnership which will manage a seven-year work programme of targeted research an
  • January 21, 2015
    EU to support European ITS and cross-border traveller information services
    The EU's TEN-T Programme will provide over US$58 million of co-financing for the deployment and use of intelligent transport systems (ITS) on European highways to improve their safety, security and efficiency. The projects will address several ITS services, including intelligent truck parking, travel time and real-time traffic information. Close cooperation among 20 EU Member States, road authorities and private stakeholders will improve and support ITS on the main European road network. It will provide
  • December 10, 2012
    TEN-T funds modernise French rail line
    A section of French rail network from Mulhouse to Chalampé on the German border has been inaugurated to passenger traffic as part of a European Union supported project. The TEN-T funded project involves a 17.5 km section of French single-track rail infrastructure; the modernised section, supported by US$903,000 of EU funds, will allow faster connections to and from Mülheim in Germany. The project contributes to the TEN-T Priority Project 24 Lyon/Genova-Basel-Duisburg-Rotterdam/Antwerp railway axis, an esse
  • September 7, 2015
    EBRD connects Kosovo to European Railway network
    The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a senior loan of US$44.5 million to finance the modernisation of Kosovo’s railway infrastructure, deepening regional integration and strengthening the country’s economic development. The loan to Infrastruktura e Hekurudhave të Kosovës (Infrakos), the national railway infrastructure company, will provide funding to upgrade Kosovo’s only international rail link, Rail Route 10. The 148 kilometre-long line is divided into three section