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 2024/1679, provided they are relevant to a dual use.

Funding budget

The CEF2 funding provided for the following budget in 2023 to 2024 (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:

Karen Vargas Gamez	karen.vargasgamez@bmv.bund.de	Tel.: +49 (0) 30 18 300 2633
Silvia Ehreke	silvia.ehreke@bmv.bund.de	Tel.: +49 (0) 30 18 300 2634
Lina Harms	lina.harms@bmv.bund.de	Tel.: +49 (0) 30 18 300 2635
Antje Below	antje.below@bmv.bund.de	Tel.: +49 (0) 30 18 300 2638

If you have any questions, please contact the Ministry by telephone or send an email to ref-g32@bmv.bund.de.

Current call

General Envelope

On 18 June 2026, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) published the last call for transport grant applications under CEF2 (Reflow Call 2026).

The General Envelope covers the following funding subjects:

• Railway projects on the TEN-T Core Network (including high-speed lines, without ERTMS), in particular:
  • cross-border or missing links;
  • interconnections between rail and other modes of transport, namely inland waterway and maritime transport (including port hinterland connections);
  • projects aimed at connecting high-speed lines to airports.
  • Support will not be given to railway stations, except for railway infrastructure components when presented as a separate work package.
• Inland waterway projects on the TEN-T Core Network, in particular:
  • upgrade of waterways and related infrastructure such as locks and weirs/dams;
  • creation of new waterways and related infrastructure (locks, weirs/dams, bridges).
• New technologies and innovation:
  • digitalization of road transport, including autonomous driving and related infrastructure;
  • development of infrastructure for alternative fuels for the road and airport sector, in particular charging infrastructure for HGVs and electrification of ground operations at airports.
• European sea ports and inland ports, in particular:
  • upgrade of onshore power supply and charging infrastructure at sea and inland ports;
  • retrofitting of ship propulsion systems.
• Measures to adapt the transport infrastructure for Union external border checks purposes

 

The call comprises three budgets with the following estimated total volumes:

• General Envelope with €730 million
• Cohesion Envelope with €260 million
• Military Mobility Envelope with €130 million
  (for further information on MilMob applications, please see the ‘Military Mobility’ section)

 

Applicants with projects in Germany can submit an application under the General Envelope until 17:00 on 6 October 2026 (Brussels time). On 24 June 2026, CINEA staged a virtual Info Day on this call together with the European Commission.

To be able to issue the ‘Letter of Support’ for your project, we need access to your application in the Funding & Tenders Portal by 7 September 2026, if possible. Further information can be found under ‘Certification of the application by the Ministry’.

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Military Mobility

The fourth CEF call for applications for funding under the Military Mobility (MilMob) funding line was opened by the European Commission on 18 June 2026. The prospective available budget is €130 million. You can apply with your project until 17:00 on 6 October 2026 (Brussels time). On 24 June 2026, CINEA staged a virtual Info Day on this call together with the European Commission.

The application file has to be submitted to the Ministry via the Funding & Tender Portal by 7 September 2026.

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;
• Priority will be given to measures located in two or more Member States.

For an initial, non-committal assessment as to whether the infrastructure concerned is dual use in nature, please contact Division G32 of the Ministry (ref-g32@bmv.bund.de). 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 & Tender 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.

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Outlook beyond CEF 3

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 please follow the links below:

European Commission Communication of 11 February 2025

Accompanying press release of the European Commission of 12 February 2025

	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.