Connecting Europe Facility: Parliament calls for an end to delays and up to 85% EU funding for cross-border projects
Renew Europe welcomes today’s vote in the joint Committees on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) on the Connecting Europe Facility, the EU’s main funding tool for key cross-border transport, energy and military mobility infrastructure projects for 2028–2034. With its new position, Parliament calls for an end to delays and a budget that matches Europe’s ambitions. Europe needs more investment in cross-border connectivity, and the EU must recognise the strategic importance of infrastructure such as ports, which are also energy hubs and dual-use assets.
With this vote, Parliament calls for the EU to cover between 60% and 85% of the cost of transport, military mobility and energy projects, with the highest rates for cross-border links, cohesion countries, critical infrastructure protection and the EU’s outermost regions. The aim: finish Europe’s rail corridors on time, cross-border links first, with railways and ports that serve both citizens and defence, making Europe better connected and better prepared for a crisis.
Renew Europe MEP and Parliament co-rapporteur Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez pushed to secure more money, more safety and firm conditions so that the TEN-T network is finished on time, with funding focused on cross-border corridor sections. After the vote, she said:
“We have achieved a solid text, with very broad support from pro-European groups in the European Parliament, which places the focus where it should be: on prioritizing the completion of committed projects within their scheduled timeframes, such as railway corridors, with a particular emphasis on cross-border sections, as these provide true European added value. It is unacceptable for strategic projects to face years of delays, as this erodes confidence in the European project. The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for 2028–2034 provides the necessary framework, and for this reason, we are calling for a budget that is up to the task. One cannot demand a modern, interoperable, and secure network with a budget that does not fit with the challenges ahead.”
Oihane Agirregoitia MartínezRenew Europe MEP, Spain, Partido Nacionalista Vasco
On energy, Renew Europe made electrification a key priority and secured a clearly defined category for cross-border renewable energy projects based on proven technology. The position keeps the CEF as the financing instrument for TEN-E energy infrastructure, with clear award criteria, more legal certainty on budget allocations and explicit resilience requirements. Barry Andrews, Renew Europe MEP and ITRE shadow rapporteur said:
“The dependence on fossil fuels is keeping Europe’s electricity prices high. Europe needs to accelerate the transition to clean, affordable and secure energy through more renewables, electricity interconnectors, and green transport. Today, the Parliament is ensuring Europe has the infrastructure and investment to do so.”
Barry AndrewsRenew Europe MEP, Ireland, Fianna Fáil Party