Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Transport)

The application process as well as the coordination with financial institutions and local and regional authorities is complex. We therefore advise you to start the application process as soon as possible.

2026 CEF Transport Call

The main objective of this call is to support cross-border rail projects such as high-speed rail and rail projects related to ports on the core network and to support inland waterways projects. Other objectives are to support autonomous driving and telematics, and external EU border crossings. The total budget for this is € 650 million (including € 260 million for rail projects in cohesion countries).

Special priorities include alternative fuels infrastructure and military mobility with each a € 130 million budget in this call.

For the specific coverage of this call please refer to the call page of CINEA.

Alternative Fuels Infrastructure

The objective of the ongoing Alternative Fuels Infrastructure call for proposals is to support the deployment of alternative fuel supply infrastructure, contributing to decarbonising transport along the TEN-T network. In particular road transport, shipping and airport ground operations.

With a budget of € 130 million, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure funds actions by combining CEF grants with financial support from financial institutions. Therefore, please ensure to reach out to financial institutions as soon as possible. We acknowledge that the tight deadlines as set by the European Commission might result in not being able to secure external financing.

Military mobility

With regard to military mobility the 2026 reflow call secures € 130 million for dual-use works and/or studies. When an action combines studies and works, these shall concern different sections/activities. Priority will be given to actions located in two or more Member States.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management will take notice of your project idea. If the Ministry approves your idea, you will receive a signed approval form (Member State Agreement) when you have finished part B of the application. Without the Member State Approval, you cannot apply for a CEF Transport project successfully. 

We will inform you of the ministries' opinion within 10 days after receiving the project idea form. Please note that the first opinion is not equal to the Member State Agreement. Once you have uploaded your application in the CINEA submission tool, full access must be granted to RVO.

Environmental compliance form

Does your project include on-site (physical) interventions that affect protected nature areas or water bodies? If so, you need written statements from the responsible authorities in the Netherlands that your project does not harm these. In most cases, you will need statements from regional authorities.

Please contact these authorities at the earliest stage possible as it may take some time to process your request.
Please contact us for authorities’ names and addresses at rvotent@rvo.nl.

Financial Approval letter

Applicants for Alternative Fuels Infrastructure funding also need a financial approval letter from a financial institution. This can be the European Investment Bank (EIB), an Implementing Partner (registered national development bank such as Invest-NL in the Netherlands) or a non-Implementing Partner (usually a regular bank). View the documents list of a sub-call for the complete actual list of Implementing Partners. In the financial approval letter, the financial institution confirms that the project has been subject to a comprehensive risk-based appraisal process and that it is willing to co-finance the project.