Interim evaluation of the Connecting Europe Facility 2021-2027

Financing the enhancement of 5G connectivity and FRMCS along railway lines enables the modernisation of infrastructure, increasing the robustness, efficiency and reliability of rail transport and connectivity for passengers.

5GAA welcomes the opportunity to respond to the CEF2 interim report and would like to emphasize the critical importance of the CEF Digital programme as a cornerstone for advancing connectivity in Europe. The financial backing provided by the CEF Digital programme is essential for the large-scale deployment of 5G corridors, which are key enablers for Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM).

The CEF-Transport contribution has been and continues to be essential to accelerate the completion of the TEN-T network and the 9 European Transport Corridors, especially in the recent configuration included in the new Regulation (EU) n.1679/2024 which entered into force on 18/7/2024.

Filed in Italian · English published by the European Commission

Synthesis: Lying whales is a major Franco-Québecois industrial project, which develops LCA60T, a one-stop, rigid airway solution in the world for point-to-point transport (free of any transport infrastructure) from heavy loads (up to 60 tonnes) or voluminous, low-cost loads with a very low environmental footprint.

Filed in French · English published by the European Commission

Enedis fully endorses the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) as a pivotal instrument in advancing the energy transition and driving critical grid development. We especially value that this programme supports both OPEX and CAPEX, which is crucial for a distribution system operator (DSO) like Enedis, managing one of the largest electricity distribution networks in Europe.

ASFINAG, the Austrian motorway operator, manages toll collection, operation, and construction of 2,265 km of highways, including four TEN-T corridors. The electrification of transport and cross-border traffic interconnection present new opportunities, especially in the field of ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems). CEF funding is crucial for accelerating innovation in this sector.

Please find enclosed the contribution of the New Aquitaine Region, which combines a response to the consultations on the evaluation of the Connecting Europe Facility 2014-2020 and the interim evaluation of the Connecting Europe Facility 2021-2027.

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SNAM welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the interim evaluation of the CEF 2021-27. With a view to support potential refinements in the design of future allocation rounds, we provide feedback reflecting our experience gained throughout the submission of project proposals within CEF2 and our thinking relating the future of gas infrastructure.

Please find the SNCF Group’s full contribution to the consultation attached. While the EU has set the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 55 % by 2030 and transport emissions by 90 % by 2 050 in its main objectives, it is becoming increasingly urgent to increase the modal share of the most sustainable transport and to support the development of the rail mode.

Filed in French · English published by the European Commission

The Connecting Europe Facility is key to achieving the Commission’s objectives to create a single European sustainable communications network, a key element in achieving many objectives of the Green Deal. Sometimes the best way to understand the value of things is by thinking that it would happen if it did not exist.

Filed in Spanish · English published by the European Commission

CEF-Energy 1) The rate of co-financing for electrolysers and hydrogen infrastructure should be 75% of the total eligible cost and should include studies and works of electrolysers. 2) Overall, the Commission should work on standardizing the selection process for PCIs and develop official guidelines for project promoters to submit their projects, the selection process should be more transparent, rapid, and the…

Please find enclosed the feedback on behalf of the Port of Rotterdam Authority. In our feedback we chose to combine the CEF 2014-2020 - evaluation and CEF 2021-2027 interim evaluation since we consider the points listed in the feedback relevant for both consultations.

The European Secure Parking Organisation (ESPORG), a private sector association, represents the interests of parking area operators across the European Union. The members are dedicated to safety and security on parking areas, the wellbeing of truck drivers, the promotion of alternative propulsion systems and the contribution of parking areas to ITS. We focus on the CEF Transport programme.

This submission is submitted on behalf of the Occitanie Region (France). The Occitanie Region was awarded CEF in 2020 for its H2 Corridor project to create an ecosystem for the decarbonisation of heavy mobility through the renewable hydrogen (H2) carrier. This ecosystem consists of 2 DH2 production units, 8 distribution stations, 15 retrofited coaches and 40 H2 heavy goods vehicles.

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GRTgaz is a gas TSO operating over 32,000 km of pipes in France. Its network is interconnected with the German, Belgian, and Swiss networks, the Norwegian gas fields grid as well as Terégas network which is itself connected to Spain. GRTgaz notably owns Elengy, a company operating three LNG terminals in France, and German TSO GRTgaz Deutschland.

SGI Europe is the European representation of employers of services of general interest in the energy, transport, water, waste management, telecommunication, education and health sector and welcomes the public consultation on the mid-term evaluation of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Fund for the Transport, Energy and Digital sector.

ECTRI welcomes this opportunity to share its views on the evaluation of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). These views are common to CEF-1 final evaluation and CEF-2 interim evaluation. CEF is being instrumental in shaping the European multimodal transport system through the deployment of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), to which European taxpayers are dedicating substantial resources.

RATP Group welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the call for the intermediary evaluation of CEF2, as beneficiary of 2 CEF2 projects. The CEF is a key tool for the development of the TEN-T network and its urban nodes. We are fully committed to this funding mechanism. For the ecological, digital, and fair transition to take full effect, the modal shift to public transport is essential.

Filed in French · English published by the European Commission

ITD International Transport Danmark thanks the opportunity to provide a consultation response in the context of the mid-term evaluation of the Connecting Europe Facility 2021-2027. CEF funds are crucial in linking the EU together when it comes to transport and energy. Therefore, ITD is generally very positive to the purpose and exploitation of the pool.

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IWT SECTOR FEEDBACK ON THE EUROPEAN COMMISSIONS CALL FOR EVIDENCE FOR AN EVALUATION OF CEF2. The Inland Waterway transport IWT sector is of strategic importance in responding to Europes geostrategic, environmental and capacity challenges. In an era of increasing congestion on road and rail networks, inland waterway transport offers a sustainable solution to expanding logistics capacity.

From the point of view of a large enterprise, on the Connecting Europe Facility 2021-2027, I consider the following comments: 1- the political scope of the mechanism has a significant and therefore positive impact. It really helps companies minimise their risk by investing in sustainable mobility. 2- the organisation of CET -T, AFIF, etc. is professional and the management of CINEA positive.

Filed in Spanish · English published by the European Commission

Thank you for the opportunity to give Feedback on this important Funding Programme. Wiener Stadtwerke is the most important infrastructure service provider in the greater Vienna area and one of Austria's largest employers and investors. Being a diverse and future-orientated industrial and service group in the energy, transport and digital sectors we are pioneers in many areas in Europe.

The Conference of European Directors (CEDR) recognises the support given by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) 2021-2027 to the achievement of some of the objectives and transnational collaborative activities among European National Road Administrations (NRAs).

Vantage Towers is fully committed to the CEF programme,recognizing that 5G cross-border connectivity is instrumental in supporting an interconnected, interoperable and sovereign digital single market, laying the foundation for future 5G and 6G developments. As a TowerCo, Vantage Towers plays a key role in infrastructure deployment and thanks the European Commission for the opportunity to provide some feedback.

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is the broadest association of local and regional governments in Europe. Its members are 60 national associations of municipalities and regions from 40 European countries. We enclosed our feedback.

Concerning EU policies, CEF should play a central role in Competitive and Sustainable European Policies, fostering the EUs industrial competitiveness, innovation and infrastructure in a sustainable way As lessons learnt, we recommend reducing the administrative burden, in particular regarding the cost reporting which is done on a calendar year basis from the date of submission of the grant application.

My opinion concerns the CBAs, as part of the evaluation of Efficiency: the evaluation will examine the costs and benefits of the programme. It will also include an assessment of the potential for regulatory simplification and burden reduction. I have accompanied almost 50 CEF-T grant files since 2018, and carried out the CBAs for the works files, as an independent consultant (mainly for rail projects).

We, as PLK (Polish railway infrastrtucture manager), accept with satisfaction the aforementioned initiative and submit our position to the Commission in order to include the below mentioned requests, which present the interests of our Company and the sector during the work on the draft of the new financial instrument (CEF3). 1.

As representative of the Spanish bus transport sector, CONFEBUS took note of the opening of the call for evidence by the European Commission on the mid-term evaluation of the Connecting Europe Facility 2021-2027 (CEF2). Please find enclosed a document setting out our comments on this mid-term evaluation of this programme.

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Inland Navigation Europe (INE) underlines the strategic importance of the CEF2 programme for transport (as the CEF1 programme before), for supporting the implementation of the EU TEN-T goals regarding the inland waterways network and its connections to other modes. CEF is absolutely a relevant and indispensable tool for achieving its policy objectives.

ASECAP, the European Association of Operators of Toll Road Infrastructures across 18 member countries representing 124 companies would like to provide feedback to the Connection Europe Facility evaluation. As motorway operators we strongly support the European Commissions orientations focusing on the decarbonization of transports aiming at eliminating CO2 emissions and addressing climate issues.

Please see attached document for full CER response. CER welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the call for evidence for an evaluation of Connecting Europe Facility 2014-2020 (CEF I). For rail, CEF is the key financing instrument for bridging missing links and removing bottlenecks on the TEN-T Core Network Corridors, thus increasing the competitiveness and market share of the European rail system.

We would like to start by expressing our gratitude for the CEF2 funding to the Region Stockholm & Telia project, the 5G Mobile Health Innovative Solutions. The CEF2 funding has given us a fantastic opportunity to build an indoor 5G network in one of Stockholms largest hospitals and using 5G as a platform for innovation in healthcare to contribute to drive patient safety, quality and efficiency.

Bentley Systems thanks the European Commission for the opportunity to provide feedback on its evaluation of the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, relevance and EU added value of the CEF programme. The CEF has been a key EU funding instrument to support the development of high performing, sustainable and efficiently interconnected Trans-European Networks in the fields of transport, energy and digital services…

The European Sea Ports Organisation highly appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the Commissions call for evidence for the interim evaluation of the Connecting Europe Facility 2021-2027 (CEF2). In the attached document, ESPO shares a list of experiences, reflections and recommendations to the European Commission, both in light of the Commission's interim evaluation as well as the Commission's preparatory work…

The CEF programme represents the reference funding scheme for developing highly efficient and sustainable transport infrastructures and across the European Union. Bearing in mind that is prioritizes cross border transport projects, and earmarks most of its funding on the development of the rail network, CEF could be further improved by better streamlining funding on less priorities, and a prior selection of…

EDF expresses its strong support to maintain the Connecting Europe Facility in the future as this funding programme is one of the most efficient instruments at European level to support infrastructure investments.

CDP is the Italian National Promotional Institution (NPI) and one of the largest Italian financial institutions, with total assets above 450bn. So far, CDP experience with CEF2 Programme has been mainly linked to the implementation of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) under CEF Transport.

CEF program is crucial for supporting Europes infrastructure development and helping achieve the EU's digital goals. It gives the opportunity to European citizens, even in small areas, villages and small islands, to enjoy broadband connectivity services and innovative applications.

AERRL, the association representing European Railway Rolling Stock Lessors, welcomes this evaluation aimed at measuring the progress made in achieving CEF 2s objectives and assessing whether the rules are working as intended.

The DSRC Interest Group brings together manufacturers of European DSRC technology. It promotes the benefits of CEN DSRC technology to reach socio‐economic and environmental goals in Europe. We believe that the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for transport has been highly successful in the 2014-2020 funding period.

Introduction The Connecting Europe Facility is of utmost importance to support the completion of the Transeuropean Networks. The Transeuropean Transport Networks are an essential part of the internal market and mobility of Europeans across the continent. Efficient Europe wide mobility is a precondition for deepening the internal market in the EU.

UNIFE acknowledges that CEF grants have provided crucial support to the achievement of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) policy objectives and the development of sustainable transport system. In this context, the CEF programme should continue to be the cornerstone of the EU Investment Policy in the transport sector also in the post-2027 period.

Kapsch TrafficCom in this document contributes to the Connecting Europe Facility 2014-2027 interim evaluation. The past CEF finding cycle 2014-2020 has played a significant role facilitating the EUs lead in the field of V2X or cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS).

We appreciate the opportunity to provide our feedback on the funding conditions set by the Connecting Europe Facility programme. We appreciate the European Commission’s vision and effort to promote strategic projects that foster connectivity and the development of key infrastructure in Europe.

Filed in Spanish · English published by the European Commission

Comments on the 2021-2028 programming period: The time limit for calls makes it impossible to finance long investment projects that need to be split or phased. The definition of the eligibility of rail infrastructure costs is not entirely clear. Informing beneficiaries via the FAQ is unclear and methodologically completely incorrect.

Filed in Czech · English published by the European Commission

Hello dear team, thank you for your restless work. As one of the largest European cyclist organisation with around 1,000 members, the BACC Bicicleta Club de Catalunya would like to highlight, for the purpose of the CEF2 program, the immense possibilities attached to bicycles, including cargo bikes, for short range personal and goods transportation.

We propose to add accessibility and accessibility in relation to connecting EU countries as an evaluation criterion, as well as to assess the state of domestic legislation against EU measures and regulations in each country. Furthermore, we propose to compare the difference in proportion in the content of the evaluation material up to 2020 (for connecting Europe).

Filed in Slovak · English published by the European Commission

In the period 2021-2027, the CEF programme is confirmed to be the most important and attractive instrument at European level for financing infrastructure investments. It is well known and attractive, as demonstrated by the high degree of competition and the relevant number of proposals received.