The European Commission has launched a EUR 1.1 billion call for projects for transport infrastructure within the TEN-T network. The call for proposals focuses on rail projects, military mobility, and the modernization of transport links, and Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova are included in the call, which is funded through the Connecting Europe Facility.

The European Commission has launched, through the executive agency CINEA, the CEF Transport 2026 call for projects, making EUR 1.1 billion available for the construction and modernization of transportation infrastructure in the European Union and in countries associated with the Connecting Europe Facility.

The call targets projects on the trans-European transport network TEN-T and is of significant importance for the rail sector, military mobility, and better connecting Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to European infrastructure.

This is the final call for proposals of this type under the current EU multiannual budget for the period 2021–2027.

The European Commission notes that the 2026 call places special emphasis on rail transport, inland waterways, and military mobility.

In the rail sector, funding is targeted at projects on the TEN-T core network that contribute to modernizing infrastructure, increasing interoperability, and supporting more efficient and resilient mobility.

The selected projects will contribute to the completion and modernization of the TEN-T network and should lead to more sustainable, smarter, and better-connected mobility across Europe.

The funding also supports the EU’s objective of developing faster rail links between major European cities, in line with the European plan for high-speed rail.

An important element of the call is the inclusion of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova within the Connecting Europe Facility.

The European Commission notes that this inclusion reflects the deepening of transport links between the two countries and the European Union.

In the current context, this aspect is relevant both for civilian connectivity and for the resilience of transport infrastructure, as well as for the EU’s ability to eliminate bottlenecks at its external borders.

The call also covers the adaptation of transport infrastructure at the Union’s external borders, an important issue for relations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, as well as for the transport corridors linking Central and Eastern Europe to the rest of the European network.

In addition to rail projects, the call also supports military mobility, one of the areas that has become a priority for the European Union in recent years.

The funding will support the elimination of bottlenecks affecting the rapid movement of military equipment and personnel, as well as the implementation of the EU’s military mobility package.

Selected projects must contribute to a more resilient transport infrastructure capable of meeting both economic and civilian needs as well as security requirements.

In practice, this may include modernizing sections of infrastructure, increasing capacity, adapting to common technical standards, and eliminating bottlenecks on the TEN-T network.

The CEF Transport 2026 call for proposals is not limited to the rail sector.

The European Commission also funds projects for inland waterways on the TEN-T core network, the electrification of road freight transport and airport ground operations, as well as electric charging infrastructure in seaports and inland ports.

Projects to retrofit ships for the use of alternative fuels are also eligible.

Another component is the digitization of road transport, which is intended to contribute to increasing the efficiency and safety of the European transport network.

The call also aligns with European industrial strategies for the maritime and port sectors by funding projects that strengthen maritime connectivity and reduce the environmental impact of transport.

Projects may be submitted by one or more European Union member states, international organizations, as well as public or private entities established in an EU member state or in a country associated with the Connecting Europe Facility.

In this case, the category of associated countries includes Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

Proposals must be submitted electronically via the European Funding & Tenders portal by October 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CET, Brussels time.

An online information session on the CEF Transport 2026 call will take place on June 24, 2026. It will explain the submission procedure, award criteria, and evaluation process.

Submitted projects will be evaluated by independent experts, the European Commission, and CINEA, the European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment.

Applicants will receive the evaluation results within six months of the submission deadline at the latest.

For selected projects, grant agreements are expected to be signed within nine months of the submission deadline.

The Connecting Europe Facility is the European Union’s main instrument for funding the TEN-T policy.

The program supports the development of efficient, sustainable, and interconnected trans-European transport networks, with a focus on the nine European transport corridors and two horizontal priorities.

Under the current European budget for the period 2021–2027, the CEF Transport program has 25.8 billion euros available for grants to co-finance TEN-T projects in Member States.

Since 2014, the Connecting Europe Facility has supported over 1,900 projects in the transport sector, with total funding of 47.2 billion euros.

Through this new call for proposals worth 1.1 billion euros, the European Commission aims to support projects that strengthen Europe’s transport infrastructure, with a focus on interoperability, resilience, decarbonization, and better connectivity of rail and logistics networks, including in relation to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.