TEN-T corridors 2013
EU Member States represented in the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Coordination Committee have approved the allocation of EUR 13.1 billion (USD 14.3 billion) to support a total of 276 projects selected following the first transport calls for proposals under the CEF, published in 2014. 2014 has been the first programming year under the CEF. At least 27 natural gas for transportation projects are included, attracting CEF funding of almost EUR 235 million (USD 256m).
Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc said “I am very pleased that following constructive discussions in the CEF coordination committee, the Member States approved our proposal for the largest investment plan ever made by the EU in the transport area. The projects we selected will contribute to creating jobs and boosting growth in Europe. They will ensure smooth transport flows for passengers and contribute to our economic competitiveness.”
The 2014 CEF transport calls were the largest to date for TEN-T projects, attracting over 700 project proposals totalling more than EUR 36 billion (USD 40 billion) of requested funding. The Commission has prioritised projects with the highest European added value, ranging from small studies to enhance the environmental performance of transport to flagship cross-border infrastructure works. Whatever their size or location, the selected projects, which span across all modes of transport and EU Member States, will upgrade infrastructure and remove existing bottlenecks whilst also promoting intelligent transport solutions and alternative fuels.
Funding has been approved for LNG/L-CNG projects in Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and United Kingdom.
Next steps
The proposed funding decisions must now be formally adopted by the Commission, which is expected to occur before end July. The individual project grant agreements will be prepared by the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) and signed with the project beneficiaries thereafter. It is expected that the EU funding for the selected projects will start being allocated as of the last quarter of 2015.
The projects will then be monitored by INEA in coordination with the project beneficiaries.
(Source: European Commission)
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