Applications under CEF2
The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) manages the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) EU funding programme on behalf of the European Commission. It concludes grant agreements with beneficiaries, evaluates reports and processes interim payment claims and final reports. Its main task is to efficiently implement the technical and financial administration of the EU funding programmes.
The CEF2 Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 entered into force on 15 July 2021. This Regulation replaces the CEF1 Regulation (EU) 1316/2013, which was in force until then, in the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFR). For projects funded under CEF1, the rules set out in Regulation (EU) 1316/2013 continue to apply.
An application under CEF2 is submitted in response to a corresponding call for applications by CINEA. The call describes exactly what kind of projects are eligible for funding. CINEA is organizing calls at a regular basis under which works, studies or a combination of both can be funded.
As the procedure is subject to tight deadlines, the planning status and financing of the project should be clear before an application is submitted. It is thus advisable that applicants familiarise themselves with the tendering details at an early stage.
Funding & Tenders Portal
Like most other EU funding programmes, CEF2 is administered through the Funding & Tenders Portal. To process project applications, an EU-Login-Account and registration by the applicant organisation in the Funding & Tenders Portal is required. Further information on the registration can be found here.
All CEF2 application forms are available, will be processed and submitted as the final application to CINEA via the Funding & Tenders Portal. The Portal also provides further information such as, for example, the Proposal Submission Service User Manual for applicants.
Work programme for CEF2
The CEF2 Regulation work programme provides the basis for financial support by the European Union for projects of common interest for the period 2021-2027. Article 20 fleshes out funding priorities and provides information on the funding budget for the individual years.
Funding objectives in the General Envelope (relevant to German applicants)
Actions in connection with efficient, interconnected, interoperable and multimodal networks
Rail:
- construction and upgrading of cross-border connections and infills of gaps;
- increasing the capacity and performance of existing sections including upgrading of level crossings and upgrading for 740 m long trains;
- capacity enhancement at rail nodes, including for a better interaction of long-distance and local services;
- connecting freight terminals with the TEN-T network;
- electrification of lines and modernisation of electrification systems.
Inland waterways:
- upgrading of inland waterways and associated infrastructure (locks etc.) to improve navigation conditions and/or enhance capacity for passing vessels;
- building new waterways and associated infrastructure;
- new construction or upgrading of locks and moveable bridges to enhance navigation;
- automation of waterway infrastructure (locks, weirs, embankment dams, bridges) to improve operations and safety;
- enhancing bridge clearance heights.
Inland ports:
- improving the connections between inland ports and inland waterways;
- basic and waterborne infrastructure in inland ports including shore-side power supply;
- building or upgrading of road/rail links to ports;
- dredging operations in the port area or on port access routes.
Seaports:
- safe sea access (e.g. breakwaters, locks and navigation aid equipments);
- basic port infrastructure;
- shore-side power supply;
- building or upgrading of road/rail links.
Roads, CT terminals and multimodal logistics platforms:
- pre-identified road links in accordance with sections 1 and 2 of Part III of the Annex to the CEF2 Regulation, in particular core network cross-border links;
- enhancing road links to seaports, inland ports and CT terminals, as listed in Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013;
- construction or modernisation of CT terminals in accordance with Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013.
Projects in connection with smart and interoperable mobility
- Intelligent systems such as ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System), ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems), SESAR (Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research Programme), RIS (River Information Services), EMSWe (European Maritime Single Window environment), VTMIS (Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Information Systems), eFTI (electronic Freight Transport Information) as well as traffic data;
- new technologies and innovation incl. capacity and traffic management as well as interoperability in the rail sector.
Projects in connection with sustainable and multimodal mobility
- Creating infrastructure for alternative fuels (for details, see “AFIF”)
Projects in connection with sustainable and multimodal mobility
- Motorways of the sea;
- multimodal nodes in passenger transport;
- reducing noise from rail freight.
Projects in connection with safe infrastructure
- Safe and secure HGV parking areas;
- resilience of transport infrastructures.
Funding objectives of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF)
- Actions supporting the deployment of high-speed electricity charging infrastructure on the TEN-T road network, in particular for long haul journeys, at safe and secure parking areas, in sparsely populated areas as well as for heavy-duty transport such as buses and HGVs;
- actions supporting the roll-out of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure on the TEN-T road network, with priority to long haul heavy-duty transport;
- actions supporting the roll-out of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure on sections of the TEN-T rail network for which a derogation from the electrification requirement has been granted in line with Article 12(3) or 39(3) of the TEN-T Regulation, on sections of isolated networks as defined in Article 3(u) of the TEN-T Regulation, or in terminals for refuelling shunting locomotives;
- actions supporting the roll-out of hydrogen refuelling and electricity recharging infrastructure (including recharging points in bus depots) dedicated to public transport and heavy-duty vehicles in urban nodes;
- actions supporting the use of alternative fuels in TEN-T maritime and inland ports, on inland waterways and at airports;
- actions supporting LNG storage for TEN-T maritime and inland ports as a transitional solution and with priority to actions that include the progressive uptake of bio-LNG.
Where possible, AFIF projects should also integrate the innovative strategies and solutions of the Horizon Europe funding programme.
According to AFIF, grants will only be awarded if the project also receives funding from promotional banks such as the EIB (implementing partner (IP)) or other credit institutions (non-Implementing Partner (non-IP)). This funding must represent at least 10 % of the total cost and proof of this commitment must be provided to CINEA.
Military Mobility
In accordance with Art. 9(2)(c) in conjunction Art. 12 of the CEF2 Regulation, the following actions will be supported:
- All actions set out in section 6 of the multiannual work programme, provided they are relevant to a civilian-defence dual use of the infrastructure;
- actions for the upgrading of sections of the core network and comprehensive network not listed in section 6 of the work programme, provided these are relevant to a dual use;
- actions involving components of air transport infrastructure as defined in TEN-T Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013, provided they are relevant to a dual use.
Funding budget
In the period from 2021 to 2023, the CEF2 funding budget will be as follows (excl. funding from the Cohesion Fund, for which projects from Germany cannot apply):
Objectives | Budget | ||
| General Envelope: | |||
| Projects in accordance with Article 9(2)(a) of the CEF Regulation Rail infrastructure inland waterways inland ports maritime ports roads rail-road terminals multimodal logistics platforms | Projects on the core network | 2,695 million euros (of which 2,695 million euros in 2023) | |
| Projects on the comprehensive network | 250 million euros (of which 250 million euros in 2023) | ||
| Projects in accordance with Article 9(2)(b) of the CEF Regulation Smart, interoperable, multimodal mobility | Projects for smart and interoperable mobility | 1,040 million euros (of which 400 million euros in 2023) | |
| Projects for sustainable and multimodal mobility | AFIF | 1,040 million euros (of which 400 million euros in 2023) | |
| All other projects | 260 million euros (of which 100 million euros in 2023) | ||
| Projects in connection with reliable and safe infrastructure - Safe and secure HGV parking areas - Road safety (only cohesion countries) Resilience of transport infrastructures | 260 million euros (of which 100 million euros in 2023) | ||
| Military Mobility | |||
| Projects in accordance with Art. 9(2)(c) of the CEF Regulation (Military Mobility) | All Projects | 790 million euros (of which 790 million euros in 2023) | |
Maximum funding rates can be found under “Summary”.
Certification of the application by the Ministry
Public or private sector corporations with legal personality and based in Germany are eligible to apply if Germany has given its agreement to their application. This means that the Ministry must formally confirm to have taken note of the application. To do so, it must have access to the complete application file.
Every application that concerns Germany, i.e.
- the applicant is German,
- a German party is involved in the project or
- the project is implemented in Germany
must be reviewed and confirmed by the Ministry. To this end, the application must be made accessible to the Ministry by the respective cut-off date mentioned below via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
The following persons have to be granted access to your application:
| Stefanie Schröder | stefanie.schroeder@bmdv.bund.de | Tel.: +49 (0) 30 18 300 4175 |
| Frank Zwielich | frank.zwielich@bmvi.bund.de | Tel.: +49 (0) 30 18 300 2631 |
| Jörg Stangl | joerg.stangl@bmvi.bund.de | Tel.: +49 (0) 30 18 300 2632 |
| Karen Vargas Gamez | karen.vargasgamez@bmvi.bund.de | Tel.: +49 (0) 30 18 300 2633 |
| Silvia Ehreke | silvia.ehreke@bmvi.bund.de | Tel.: +49 (0) 30 18 300 2634 |
| Lina Harms | lina.harms@bmvi.bund.de | Tel.: +49 (0) 30 18 300 2635 |
| Antje Below | antje.below@bmvi.bund.de | Tel.: +49 (0) 30 18 300 2638 |
Please note that, when granting them access to your application via the Funding & Tenders Portal, you must exclusively use the email addresses above, as the accounts are set up under these addresses.
If you have any questions, please contact the Ministry by telephone or send an email to ref-g32@bmdv.bund.de.
Current call
General Envelope
As announced, CINEA closed the fourth CEF call under the General Envelope funding line on 21 January 2025. It is currently not foreseeable whether there will be another call under CEF2. Should there be another call for proposals, we will inform you here in due time.
Military Mobility
The third CEF call for applications for funding under the Military Mobility funding line ended on 21 September 2023. Should another call for applications be launched, we will provide information here in good time.
Funding objectives of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF)
CINEA published the second AFIF Call on 29 February 2024 with a volume of EUR 780 million. It consists of a call for unit cost funding for charging infrastructure and a second call for funding for all other AFIF objectives. CINEA staged, together with the European Commission, a virtual info day on 8 April 2024.
The first cut-off was 24. September 2024. CINEA provides for the following further cut-off dates:
2. cutt-off: 11 June 2025 17.00 Brussels time.
3. cut-off: 04 March 2026 17.00 Brussels time (postponed from 17.12.2025)
The following budget distribution is planned:
| General Envelope (Eur) | Cohesion Envelope (Eur) | Total (Eur) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total AFIF budget (2024 -2025) | 780,000,000 | 220,000,000 | 1,000.000,000 | ||||||||||||
| Recommended funding AFIF cut-off 1 | 331,548,600 | 90,205,500 | 421,754,100 | ||||||||||||
| Remaining budget – per envelope | 448,451,400 | 129,794,500 | 578,245,900 | ||||||||||||
| Remaining budget – per IP/non-IP |
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Please note that the call documents for the AFIF have been changed (version 3.0 of 21.02.2025). For more information, please refer to the Funding & Tenders Portal.
The application documents must be submitted to the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) via the Funding & Tenders Portal one month before the respective deadline.
Outlook beyond CEF 2
In February 2025, the European Commission published a Communication "The road to the next multiannual financial framework". It announces that it will present its formal proposal for the next multiannual financial framework (from 2028) in July 2025.
For more information and to access the various public consultations, please follow the links below:
European Commission Communication of 11 February 2025
Accompanying press release of the European Commission of 12 February 2025
Links to the consultations can also be found here. The consultation is open until 06 May 2025 (midnight Brussels time).
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| Please note that these references are for informational purposes only. They do not replace the rules and conditions set out in the relevant legal bases. |