On 8th January, INEA (Innovation and Networks Executive Agency) opened the 2019 CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) Transport for Proposals, making €100 million of funding available for projects of common interest in the transport sector. This is one of the last calls before the end of the current Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020.

The 2019 annual CEF call focuses on two priorities:

• Removing bottlenecks and bridging missing links, enhancing rail interoperability and improving cross-border sections of roads, railways and maritime ports positioned on the comprehensive TEN-T network (€65 million available);
• Reducing rail freight noise by supporting the retrofitting of existing freight wagons with brake blocks or disc brakes (€35 million available).

Both works and proposals for studies are eligible for financing under the call, with various co-funding rates applicable and ranging from 10% to 50%.

During the Information Day held on 17th January, INEA commented on the ongoing preparations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework, adding that almost all of the CEF budget for the current framework is committed.

Under the 2014-2017 calls, Irish applicants submitted 28 eligible proposals. 19 projects were selected, with Irish beneficiaries receiving €90.1 million of CEF Transport funding, and investing a total of €485.9 million in these projects.

Further details, as well as a breakdown of projects eligible for funding under this call are available by following this link.

Applications close on 24^th April 2019.

Queries about the call can be directed to inea-cef-transport-infoday@ec.europa.eu