CEF - Connecting Europe Facility
The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is a key EU funding instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment at European level. It supports the development of high performing, sustainable and efficiently interconnected trans-European networks in the fields of transport, energy and digital services. CEF investments fill the missing links in Europe's energy, transport and digital backbone. The CEF benefits people across all Member States and candidate states, as it makes travel easier and more sustainable, it enhances Europe’s energy security while enabling wider use of renewables, and it facilitates cross-border interaction between public administrations, businesses and citizens.
The CEF is divided into three sectors: Energy, Telecom and Transport. One of the key priorities of CEF is enabling and strengthening the synergies between the three sectors.
Since January 2014, INEA - Innovation and Networks Executive Agency is gateway to funding under the CEF. INEA implements most of the CEF programme budget, in total EUR 28.7 billion out of EUR 30.4 billion (EUR 23.7 billion for Transport, EUR 4.7 billion for Energy, and EUR 0.5 billion for Telecom).
What does it support? Grants for project of common interest within the framework of the trans-European networks policy in the sectors of energy, transport and telecommunications to develop, build and upgrade infrastructure. In addition to grants, the CEF offers financial support to projects through innovative financial instruments such as guarantees and project bonds. These instruments create significant leverage in their use of EU budget and act as a catalyst to attract further funding from the private sector and other public sector actors.
Who can apply? Research centres, Local and Regional authorities, Corporations, Administrations States, Development NGOs, SMEs, Universities.
Terms of financing check here
Serbia joined CEF in 2017 by beginning of reconstruction of Djerdap navigation lock.
Read more about CEF activities from 2014 here
Projects in Serbia 2022. (Waterways development)