Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T) and Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)

The trans-European transport network (TEN-T) is a Europe-wide network of roads, rail lines, ports and airports. The components of the TEN-T network and infrastructure requirements across the network are set out in Regulation (EU) 2024/1679, known as the TEN-T Regulation.

Transport infrastructure on the Core TEN-T network is required to be completed to the standard set out in the Regulation by 2030. The Comprehensive network is a wider network which is required to be completed by 2050.

The regulation also sets out high-priority ‘European Transport Corridors’ – which link passenger and freight transport networks across Europe. Ireland is included on two of these- the Atlantic Corridor and the North Sea-Rhine-Mediterranean Corridor.

Maps of the TEN-T network can be viewed on the interactive TENtec portal .

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Transport is the EU funding instrument that supports the development of the trans-European transport (TEN-T) network.

The rules and objectives of the Connecting Europe Facility for the 2021-2027 period are set out in the CEF Regulation.

The general objective of the current CEF Transport programme is to develop and complete the TEN-T network, while taking into account the EU’s long-term climate goals. The overall budget allocated to transport projects over this period is €25.81 billion.

CEF funding is delivered in the form of grants allocated following competitive calls for proposals. Funding rates vary depending on the conditions of each call and the type of project, generally ranging from 20% to 50% of eligible costs.

Applications for CEF funding are submitted to the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), who work in partnership with the European Commission. CINEA assess all applications and monitor the implementation of successful projects.

Information on Ireland’s participation in CEF to date and on individual projects can be found on the CINEA website.

Information on current and past funding calls is available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

CEF Transport 2024 Call

The 2024 CEF Transport Call is now open.

This funding call has a budget of almost €1bn to support the development of upgraded and improved transport infrastructure and systems on the Core and Comprehensive TEN-T networks in areas including:

• infrastructure resilience

• digital systems for transport

• actions to support the development of short sea shipping routes

• multimodal passenger hubs

• HDV parking facilities

CINEA will host a virtual information session on the call on 2 October 2024, you can register here.

More information is available on the CINEA website.

Timeline and Submission Process

In order to be valid, applications require the endorsement and signature of the Member State in which the project will be undertaken. In Ireland, the Department of Transport is responsible for this process.

To facilitate this requirement, applicants should send a completed project summary form to CEF@transport.gov.ie by 29 October 2024.

Applicants must submit their completed applications online via the EU’s Funding and Tenders Portal electronic submission system by 4pm Irish time 21 January 2025.

Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) Call

The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) aims to support the deployment of alternative fuel supply infrastructure on the TEN-T network.

The latest AFIF call opened on 29 February 2024. Projects from Ireland are eligible to apply under the ‘General’ envelope which has a total budget of €780m. These calls make funding to support the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure including:

• Publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure along the TEN-T road network and in TEN-T urban nodes

• Electrification of operations at TEN-T maritime ports and airports

• Hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles, light-duty vehicles, public transport, maritime vessels, maritime port operations, railways, and airports on the TEN-T network

• Ammonia and methanol bunkering facilities in TEN-T maritime ports

AFIF is a ‘blending call’ which means that applicants must secure the support of a financial institution for at least 10% of the overall project cost in advance of their application.

AFIF is a rolling call with several submission deadlines. The deadlines are:

• 24 September 2024

• 11 June 2025

• 17 December 2025

More information is available here.

If you are interested in applying for AFIF funding, please contact us at CEF@transport.gov.ie at least two months ahead of the submission deadline.

For CEF or TEN-T queries, please contact us at CEF@transport.gov.ie