Leyton is an international consulting firm that helps businesses leverage financial incentives to accelerate their growth and achieve long-lasting performance.
Policy Brief: The next CEF (2028–2034) – €81.4 billion for transport, energy & defence mobility
By Israa Mezzyane
Jun 11, 2026
read
Why this matters to your business
The EU’s next Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) will pour €81.4 billion into cross‑border infrastructure between 2028 and 2034. For logistics, transport, energy, and construction companies, this is your roadmap to EU funding and strategic priorities for the next decade.
The big shift: from general infrastructure to dual‑use resilience, defence mobility, and decarbonised cross‑border networks.
Budget Overview
Sector
Budget (2028–2034, current prices)
Transport + Military
€51.5 billion
Energy
€29.9 billion
TOTAL
€81.4 billion*
*Source: Article 4(2) | Programme applies from 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034.
What’s new compared to the current CEF?
Topic
Key Message
Military mobility now inside transport
Bridges, tunnels, ports and airports now benefit from dual-use funding for both civilian and defence needs.
Four priority military corridors
Widening tunnels, reinforcing bridges and expanding terminals create opportunities for engineering and logistics contractors.
Named cross-border projects
Rail Baltica, Brenner, Seine-Escaut, Brno–Bratislava and Thessaloniki–Bucharest form a visible project pipeline.
Risk-informed & disaster-resilient mandatory
Climate, cyber and security threats must be addressed in your proposal — non-negotiable.
Direct EU management stays
One grant agreement, one audit and one contact through CINEA, instead of being lost in national plans.
“Use it or lose it”
Unused funds go to others, and faster reallocation creates opportunities for those who are ready.
Co‑financing rates and what you can claim
Action type
Standard
Cohesion countries*
Outermost regions
Studies (transport & energy)
50%
50%
50%
Works – transport
50%
75%
60%
Works – energy
50%
75%
60%
**GNI per capita < 90% of EU average – Article 10(6)*
What actually gets funded?
Transport (Article 3(2)(a))
Cross‑border TEN‑T sections (completing core network by 2030, extended core by 2040)
ERTMS (rail), RIS (inland waterways), alternative fuels infrastructure
Onshore power supply for vessels in ports
High‑speed rail connecting EU capitals (including night trains)
Dual‑use civilian + military mobility infrastructure
Energy (Article 3(2)(b))
Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs)
Cross‑border renewable energy projects (including storage)
Electricity, hydrogen, and CO₂ transport networks
Who is eligible?
Legal entities established in an EU Member State
Crucially: You must have the approval of the Member State(s) concerned (letter of support) – Article 9(6)
Projects must be on TEN‑T or TEN‑E networks
Security restrictions apply for high‑risk suppliers
Legal entities established in an EU Member State
Crucially: You must have the approval of the Member State(s) concerned (letter of support) – Article 9(6)
Projects must be on TEN‑T or TEN‑E networks
Security restrictions apply for high‑risk suppliers
Key dates to watch
Milestone
Date
Commission proposal
16 July 2025
Council partial agreement
15 December 2025
European Parliament position
Ongoing (2026)
Expected final adoption
End of 2026
Programme starts
1 January 2028
Your engagement checklist, what to do now
Map your project – Is it on a cross‑border TEN‑T section or a priority military mobility corridor?
Contact your national authority – No application without Member State approval (Article 9(6)).
Build resilience into your design – Climate, cyber, and security risks must be addressed.
Monitor CINEA – The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency runs the calls.
Prepare for 2027–2028 – First calls under the new programme are expected before the 2028 start date.
Want to stay ahead of CEF funding?
This brief is based on the official COM (2025) 547 final proposal. The final regulation may change, but the direction is clear: cross‑border, dual‑use, and resilient infrastructure is the EU’s priority.
Disclaimer: Based on the European Commission’s proposal. Final legislative text may differ. *
