On 29 June 2015, the European Commission announced that is further delivering on its top priority of creating jobs and boosting growth in Europe, by unveiling a record EUR 13.1 billion investment plan in 276 transport projects, selected under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
This investment will unlock additional public and private co-financing for a combined amount of EUR 28.8 billion. Along with the future European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the CEF will play a major role in bridging the investment gap in Europe, which is one of the Commission’s top priorities.
Selected projects are primarily located in the core trans-European transport network. Among the beneficiaries are flagship initiatives such as Rail Baltica, the Brenner Base Tunnel, the Seine-Escaut waterway, the Caland Bridge and the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link. Smaller-scale initiatives include cross-border projects between Groningen and Bremen, the Iron Rhine rail line, LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) deployment plans or projects enhancing the navigability of the Danube River.
Launched in September 2014, the CEF calls for proposals generated an unprecedented interest. The Commission received 700 applications totalling EUR 36 billion of requested funding, three times more than the available envelope.
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