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OPINION (COM(2025)0547 – C100167/2025 – 2025/0221(COD))

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

REGI-AD-782352

Committee on Regional Development · Rapporteur: Antonella Sberna

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The Committee on Regional Development gives its opinion on the proposed Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) regulation for 2028-2034, which funds trans-European transport and energy networks. It proposes amendments to add territorial cohesion, support for disadvantaged, rural, insular, outermost and peripheral regions, and attention to missing links and bottlenecks. It seeks stronger support for urban nodes, cross-border energy infrastructure, dual-use military mobility with civilian co-benefits, and involvement of local and regional authorities. It also proposes higher co-financing rates for outermost regions and for Member States with lower per capita GNI, and new definitions and eligibility rules.

Committee position. The Committee on Regional Development proposes amendments to the CEF regulation to strengthen territorial cohesion, support for disadvantaged and outermost regions, urban nodes, energy resilience, dual-use infrastructure with civilian co-benefits, and local and regional authority involvement.

Key points

  1. The opinion says CEF investments reduce regional disparities, improve accessibility and support long-term regional development, including in regions facing structural constraints.
  2. It asks that CEF work complement cohesion policy funds and National and Regional Partnership Plans without duplication or substitution.
  3. It wants continued support for projects addressing missing links, bottlenecks and connectivity gaps in disadvantaged, rural, border, insular, outermost and peripheral regions.
  4. It says projects on national sections that remove bottlenecks or ensure continuity of cross-border corridors should count, citing the Orte-Port of Civitavecchia road connection.
  5. It asks for CEF support to urban nodes, including ports, hinterland connections, multimodal hubs and first- and last-mile links.
  6. It calls for support to resilient, well-interconnected energy networks to prevent blackouts and eliminate energy isolation, including in peripheral regions.
  7. It asks that local and regional authorities be involved throughout the project cycle and that multi-level governance and administrative capacity be strengthened.
  8. It says dual-use transport infrastructure should bring substantial civilian co-benefits and avoid duplication, while enabling military movement.
  9. It asks for flexibility in implementation, including justified extensions, to avoid losing Union funding.
  10. It wants CEF to support connectivity with neighbouring and candidate countries, including Ukraine and the Western Balkans, with balanced benefits for Union border regions.
  11. It proposes new definitions, including for urban node, dual-use transport infrastructure, less developed regions, southern peripheral region, missing link and global project.
  12. It proposes raising the maximum co-financing rate to 85% for Member States with per capita GNI below 90% of the Union GNI and for works in outermost regions.

Who is affected

  • Local and regional authorities: to be involved from the outset in planning, award and implementation of projects with territorial impact.
  • Outermost regions: dedicated envelope, higher co-financing rate and attention to connections to the mainland.
  • Island, rural, peripheral and sparsely populated regions: priority for connectivity and reduced energy isolation.
  • Member States with per capita GNI below 90% of the Union GNI: higher maximum co-financing rate of 85%.
  • Third countries, especially Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans: support for cross-border connectivity and gradual integration into the internal market.

Figures and deadlines

  • A fixed 2% deflator is used to calculate current prices.
  • At least 15% electricity interconnection target for 2030.
  • Spain and Portugal have interconnection levels below 4%.
  • The contribution to the Union renewable energy financing mechanism shall not exceed 5% of the budget for the energy-specific objectives.
  • The Commission shall draw up general guidelines on good practices for cross-border projects by 1 June 2028.
  • The first work programme shall be adopted by March 2028.
  • Activities and expenses incurred before 1 January 2028 may be eligible for continuation of actions under Regulation (EU) 2021/1153.
  • The maximum Union support for works is 50% of total eligible cost, or 85% for Member States with per capita GNI below 90% of the Union GNI.

Legal basis: Article 172, first paragraph, Article 194(2) and Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.