Applications under CEF2

Like most other EU funding programmes, CEF2 will as of now be administered through the eGrants IT system, which can be accessed via the Funding & Tenders Portal. To process applications and transactions for a funded project, an ECAS-Account is needed and the applicant organisation has to be registered in the Funding & Tenders Portal. Further information on how to register can be found at the following link.

All CEF2 application forms are available, will be processed and finally submitted to CINEA via the Funding & Tenders Portal. The Funding & Tenders Portal also provides further information such as, for example, the Proposal Submission Service User Manual for applicants.

The CEF2 Regulation work programmes provide the basis for financial support by the European Commission for projects of common interest through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for the period 2021-2027. In accordance with Article 20 of Regulation (EU) No. 2021/11531, the work programmes flesh out funding priorities and provide information on the funding budget for the period 2021-2023.

Funding objectives in the General Envelope (relevant to German applicants)

• Actions in connection with efficient, interconnected, interoperable and multimodal networks

  • Rail:

    • upgrading of cross-border connections and infilling of gaps;
    • capacity enhancement of existing sections including upgrading of level crossings and upgrading for 740 metre 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 connection 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 of 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 IT systems such as
    ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management Systems), ITS (Intelligent Transport Services for road), SESAR (Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research project), 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;
  • mitigating noise caused by rail freight transport.

• Projects in connection with safe infrastructure

  • Safe and secure HGV parking areas;
  • resilience of transport infrastructures.

• Projects in accordance with Art. 9(2)(c) of the CEF Regulation (Military Mobility)

  • All actions set out in sections 6.1 and 6.2 of this multiannual work programme, provided they are relevant to civil emergency planning;
  • projects for the modernization of sections of the core network or the comprehensive network not set out in sections 6.1 or 6.2 of the work programme, provided they are relevant to civil emergency planning;
  • actions concerning air transport infrastructure as defined in Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013, provided they are relevant to civil emergency planning.

• Actions supporting the deployment of high-speed electricity charging infrastructure in 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 dedicated to public transport and heavy-duty vehicles in urban nodes;
• actions supporting the deployment of alternative fuels for TEN-T maritime ports, inland waterways and inland ports, and airports;
• actions supporting LNG bunkering for TEN-T maritime and inland ports as a transitional solution and with priority to actions that include the progressive uptake of bio-LNG.

If possible, AFIF projects should also integrate the innovative strategies and solutions of Horizon Europe.

In the AFIF, financial aid is only granted if the project also receives funding from promotional banks such as the EIB or other credit institutions. This financing must cover at least one third of the total costs and the funding commitment must be proven to CINEA.

From the first call in 2021 onwards, there will be continuing calls every 4 to 5 months to submit applications for the AFIF (until the end of 2023).

In accordance with Art. 9(2)(c) and Art. 12 of the CEF2 Regulation, the following actions will be supported:

• all actions set out in sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the work programme, provided they are relevant to civil-military dual use;
• actions for the upgrading of sections of the core network or the comprehensive network not listed in sections 6.1 or 6.2 of the work programme, provided these are relevant to civil emergency planning;
• actions involving components of air transport infrastructure as defined in TEN-T Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013, provided they are relevant to civil-military dual use.

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):

Maximum funding rates can be found under "Summary".

Public or private sector corporations with their own legal personality that want to conduct projects in Germany may submit an application if Germany has given its consent 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.:

• German applicant
• German party involved in the project or
• project implementation in Germany

has to be reviewed and confirmed by the Ministry. For this purpose, Parts A and B of the application must be accessible by the respective cut-off date mentioned below via the Funding & Tender Portal.

The following persons have to be granted access to the application:

If you have any questions, please contact the Ministry by telephone or send an email to [email protected].

General Envelope

On 13 September 2022, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) published the second call for transport grant applications under CEF2.

Applicants with projects in Germany can submit an application under the "General Envelope" until 17:00 hrs on 18 January 2023 (Brussels time).

To be able to issue the "Letter of Support" for your project, we need access to your application in the Funding & Tenders Portal by 15 December 2022, if possible. Further information can be found under "Certification of the request by the Ministry".

Military Mobility

The second CEF call for applications for funding under the Military Mobility (MilMob) funding line was opened by the European Commission on 12 May 2022. You can apply with your project until 17:00 hrs on 29 September 2022 (Brussels time). Further information can be found here. On 5 July 2022, CINEA will stage a virtual information day on this call together with the European Commission.

The application file has to be submitted to the Ministry via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 19 August 2022.
The basic eligibility conditions for an application are:

• that the infrastructure concerned is assigned to both the TEN-T network and the European military transport network (dual use)
• that the grant applied for concerns one of the funding subjects listed in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1328

For an initial, non-committal assessment as to whether the infrastructure concerned is dual use in nature, please contact Division G32 of the Ministry ([email protected]). For this purpose, please provide as much information as possible on the planned measure, in particular which number of the Annex to the Implementing Regulation the infrastructure is assigned to as well as information on the latter's location that is as precise as possible.

For the submission of the application, you will also need a Military Network MAP Declaration. The form required for this is available from the Funding & Tenders Portal. With this form, you have to obtain a confirmation from the Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg) that your project meets the dual use requirements and that the details you provided are accurate.

Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF)

From the first call in 2021 onwards, there have been rolling calls every 4 to 5 months (which will continue until the end of 2023) to submit applications for the AFIF. The cut-off dates for the respective calls can be found here.

The application file has to be provided to the Ministry via the Funding & Tenders Portal one month before the respective submission deadline of the European Commission.