The European Commission has announced in July 2025 the selection of 94 transport infrastructure projects to receive nearly €2.8 billion in grants under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), a flagship EU funding instrument aimed at building a sustainable and interconnected transport network across the continent. 

These projects, chosen from a competitive pool of 258 applications submitted under the 2025 CEF General Call, will significantly contribute to the modernisation of railways, inland waterways, maritime transport, road infrastructure, urban mobility systems, and air traffic management. 

The initiative aligns closely with the EU’s climate and digital goals under the European Green Deal and seeks to enhance the cohesion, competitiveness, and resilience of the internal market.

A key priority of the funding allocation is to support the EU’s green transition, with rail transport receiving the lion’s share—approximately 77% of the total investment. 

Major infrastructure upgrades will take place across the core and extended corridors of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), particularly in cohesion countries. 

Rail Baltica and more

This includes the continued construction of the ambitious Rail Baltica project connecting the Baltic States with Poland, and enhancements to rail infrastructure in Greece and Slovakia. High-speed rail connections are also being expanded in Czechia and Poland.

In addition to infrastructure construction, a significant push will be made to enhance rail safety and interoperability. 

ERTMS 

Forty-six projects in eleven Member States—including Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Sweden—will deploy the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) on both rolling stock and track infrastructure.

This technology facilitates seamless cross-border train operations, thereby improving the efficiency and safety of rail transport across the EU.

Waterways

The maritime and inland waterway sectors are also poised to benefit from EU support aimed at reducing environmental impact and boosting resilience. 

Shore-side electricity infrastructure will be installed or upgraded in ports in Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, Croatia, and Poland, enabling docked ships to switch off diesel engines and cut greenhouse gas emissions. 

To further strengthen maritime resilience, funding will go towards the construction and modernisation of multi-purpose icebreakers in Estonia, Finland, and Sweden, ensuring the security and robustness of submarine cables—critical infrastructure identified in the EU’s recent security strategy. 

France and Spain will implement advanced digital traffic management systems to optimise short-sea shipping, improving both safety and efficiency while reducing congestion.

In terms of inland waterways, key upgrades will be made along the Rhine in France, and Belgium will see enhanced digitalisation of its waterborne transport networks to increase operational efficiency.

On the road

Road transport initiatives under the programme aim to improve safety, sustainability, and interoperability. Ten Member States—including Germany, France, Italy, and Romania—will see the construction or enhancement of safe and secure truck parking areas. 

Additionally, projects will support the rollout of Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS), which utilise real-time data to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion, and optimise mobility, particularly in urban contexts.

Up in the air

Air transport will also be strengthened through projects contributing to the realisation of the Single European Sky. 

These initiatives are designed to create a more efficient and sustainable aviation system by reducing airspace fragmentation, minimising flight delays, and cutting emissions. Improvements in air traffic management will also enhance the passenger experience by enabling more predictable and timely flights.

Urban mobility

Urban mobility features prominently in the funding programme. Several European cities will receive support to develop or upgrade multimodal passenger hubs, including Leuven in Belgium, Norrköping in Sweden, Nice and Marseille in France, and Bolzano in Italy. 

These hubs aim to offer seamless connections between different modes of transport—such as rail, bus, cycling, and walking—thus making city transport systems more accessible, efficient, and environmentally friendly.

Geopolitics

From a geopolitical standpoint, the 2025 CEF call includes strategic investments to enhance connectivity with neighbouring countries and regions. 

Several projects will bolster the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes by improving rail links and border crossing points between Slovakia and Ukraine, and between Romania and Moldova. 

One major focus is the adoption of the EU standard railway gauge in Ukraine, which would enable smoother cross-border rail traffic and foster greater economic integration.

Icy

Another significant project will focus on the Arctic region, where the EU will co-finance the development of resilient, dual-use infrastructure designed to withstand the effects of climate change. This initiative will ensure secure and sustainable supply routes in a region increasingly affected by extreme weather and geopolitical pressures.

The €2.8 billion investment forms part of the broader CEF Transport programme for the 2021–2027 period, which has a total budget of €25.8 billion. 

With this latest round of project selections, approximately 95% of the total funding has now been allocated. The selected projects will be funded through EU grants that co-finance eligible costs, supporting public and private sector entities in the implementation of complex infrastructure works and technological deployments.

Following the approval of the 94 projects by the CEF Committee, the European Commission will now formally adopt the selection decision. The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), which manages the implementation of the CEF, will begin preparing grant agreements with project beneficiaries across EU Member States as well as in associated countries such as Ukraine and Moldova. 

These agreements are expected to be finalised by October 2025. Until the Commission adopts the final award decision, the selection results remain provisional.

Since the establishment of the Connecting Europe Facility in 2014, the EU has supported a total of 1,861 transport projects—including this latest round—with cumulative funding of €47.34 billion. These investments reflect the EU’s long-term commitment to building a transport system that is sustainable, smart, and seamlessly connected.

In his remarks on the announcement, Apostolos Tzitzikostas from Greece, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, highlighted the strategic scope of the initiative: “With nearly €2.8 billion in EU funding, we are delivering on Europe’s promise of a modern, sustainable, and resilient transport network. These 94 projects will not only boost cross-border connectivity and efficiency but also boost competitiveness across the continent. From Rail Baltica in the north, to shore-side electricity in our southern ports, and from secure road networks to a smarter Single European Sky—this investment is a cornerstone of our Green Deal and our geopolitical resilience.”

Paloma Aba Garrote, Director of CINEA, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the current funding round, stating: “We are delighted to have concluded the evaluation of the project proposals under the last CEF Transport calls foreseen under the current work programme. We will start the grant agreement preparation with the beneficiaries of projects located in the EU and Ukraine. We are proud that, with these new projects, our CEF Transport portfolio is increasing to over 1,861 projects since the Connecting Europe Facility was created in 2014.”

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