What is Connecting Europe Facility?

The Connecting Europe Facility was a European Union fund designed for pan-European investment in transport, energy and digital projects which aim at a greater connectivity between member states of the European Union from 2014-2020. The European Parliament and Council have come to the agreement on the 12^th of March to renew the Facility and make funds available for 2021-2027. The fund operates through grants, financial guarantees and project bonds. The fund is run by the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency.

Funding for EU Member states

The Connecting Europe Facility falls under the next long-term EU budget (2021-2027) and was proposed by the European Commission. A considerable amount of funding will be made available with a budget of €42.3 billion to support investments in the European infrastructure networks for transport (€30.6 billion), energy (€8.7 billion) and digital (€3 billion). This amount of funding represents a 47% increase compared to the original (2014-2020) budget, which shows the commitment of the Commission for a greener future under the new Green Deal. In this future, citizens and businesses can fully benefit from free movement and the single market.

Goal of the Connecting Europe Facility

The renewal of the Facility aims to better integrate the transport, energy and digital sectors. This way, the decarbonization and digitalization of the European economy will get a financial boost. Green and clean transport, such as electric cars, require a close integration between the transport and energy sectors.

Vice-President responsible for Energy Union, Maroš Šefčovič said: "Since the Paris Agreement, creating links between sectors is imperative. The new Connecting Europe Facility will push for even greater synergies between the transport, energy and digital sectors to maximise the impact of the energy transition. Moreover, its increased budget and possible blending with other instruments will help Europe stay ahead of the curve globally on innovative projects such as smart grids and energy storage."

Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc said: "Transport is an area where the EU brings concrete benefits to its people, and today we are proposing an unprecedented budget to improve mobility across our continent. We want Europeans to travel on the most modern, safe, clean, and connected network in the world. They deserve nothing less."

B2EU Consulting can help private or public actors to gain access to means of financial or legislative support. Our boutique consulting firm is specialized in European funds and can assist industries on positioning itself favorably for financial support and a smooth transition to a greener future for transport.

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