On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Connecting Europe Facility for the period 2028-2034, amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 and repealing Regulation (EU) 2021/1153
ENVI-AD-787926
Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Pierfrancesco Maran
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The Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety proposes amendments to the proposed Connecting Europe Facility regulation for 2028-2034. The amendments tie the programme to the Union's climate and energy objectives, including climate neutrality by 2050, and add rules on resilience, nature-based solutions and environmental compliance.¶¶¶ They require projects to follow a 'resilience by design' principle, undergo climate vulnerability and risk assessments, and comply with the 'do no significant harm' principle and relevant Union environmental law.¶¶¶ They set selection and award criteria, require at least 70% of the financial envelope to contribute to climate and environment spending targets, and cap the renewable energy financing mechanism contribution at 5%.¶¶¶ They add definitions of critical infrastructure, flood risk, heat reduction, resilience by design and missing link, and give the Commission delegated powers over work programmes and selection criteria.¶¶¶
Committee position. The committee proposes amendments to the proposed Connecting Europe Facility regulation, adding climate, environmental, resilience and selection requirements, new definitions, and delegated powers for the Commission.¶¶
Key points
- The programme should align with the Union's climate and energy objectives, including climate neutrality by 2050 and the 2030 and 2040 targets, and support the Paris Agreement.¶
- It should support digital and smart technologies in transport and energy, including AI-driven predictive systems and interoperable communication networks.¶
- Investment should prioritise rail and relevant public transport, and give attention to disadvantaged, less connected, at risk of depopulation or sparsely populated, rural, insular, coastal, peripheral, congested, outermost or isolated regions.¶¶
- Funding should support sustainable inland waterway corridors and cross-border interconnection, and address gaps in long-distance transport infrastructure and alternative fuels.¶¶
- Transport infrastructure should be upgraded for military requirements and resilience by design, with complementarity to the European Competitiveness Fund and IPCEI.¶
- Energy infrastructure should support decarbonisation, resilience, affordability and security of supply, and the Commission should recognise agriculture's specific challenges with tailor-made solutions.¶¶
- Projects should ensure the highest level of security and resilience to climate change and other risks through early risk assessments and adaptation measures, avoiding lock-in to climate-vulnerable or stranded fossil assets.¶
- Projects should comply with the 'do no significant harm' principle and all relevant Union environmental legislation, and applicants should provide information on alternatives and mitigation measures.¶¶
- Applicants should favour nature-based solutions, with Commission guidance and a template for their assessment, and studies on nature-based solutions should be eligible for support.¶¶
- The Commission should develop procedures to support cross-border projects, may act as a neutral mediator, and should reduce the administrative burden on project promoters.¶
- At least 70% of the overall financial envelope should contribute to minimum horizontal climate and environment spending targets and the biodiversity spending target.¶
- Work programmes and calls should set transparent selection and award criteria, and the Commission should publish information on award decisions and projects being implemented.¶¶
Who is affected
- Project promoters applying for Connecting Europe Facility funding, who must meet new environmental, resilience and selection requirements.¶¶¶
- The Commission, which gains delegated powers over work programmes, selection criteria and renewable energy budget allocation.¶¶¶
- The transport and energy sectors, which must align projects with climate, resilience and environmental rules.¶¶¶
- Member states and third countries participating in cross-border projects, which must meet coherence and security requirements.¶¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- At least 70% of the overall financial envelope to contribute to climate and environment spending targets.¶
- Total contribution to the Union renewable energy financing mechanism not to exceed 5% of the budget for the specific objectives.¶
- Delegated acts conferred on the Commission until 31 December 2034.¶
- Contribution period from 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034.¶
- 15% electricity interconnection target for 2030.¶
- Core network completion by 2030 and extended core network by 2040.¶