Adaptation of the TEN-T to civilian-defence dual use - studies, works or mixed

Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Transport is funding the call CEF-T-2026 to support dual-use studies, works or mixed projects located on the TEN-T and the EU military mobility network with an indicative budget of €130,000,000 and funding up to 50% of eligible costs. Eligible applicants are legal entities established in EU Member States or countries associated to the CEF programme, and projects must remain non-discriminatory in access and meet infrastructure requirements set out in Implementing Regulation 2021/1328. The maximum EU contribution is €20,000,000 for single Member State projects and €40,000,000 for multi Member State projects, recommended minimum request €1,000,000, and studies must finish by 31 December 2029 while works by 31 December 2030. Applications must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal using the Portal templates by 06 October 2026 17:00 CET and include mandatory annexes such as a detailed budget table per work package, timetable, Member State letter of support, Military Network Map Declaration and an Environmental Compliance File.

Call: CEF 2 Transport - Military mobility envelope (CEF-T-2026-MILMOB-WORKS)

Opportunity type: Call for Proposals

What it funds:Dual-use transport infrastructure projects, works and/or studies located on the TEN-T and the EU military mobility network. Projects must address both civilian and defence needs, follow dual-use infrastructure requirements (Implementing Regulation 2021/1328) and ensure non-discriminatory access. Priority to the four EU military mobility priority corridors and to cross-border projects (two or more Member States).

Available budget:Total call budget €130,000,000. Recommended minimum request around €1,000,000. Maximum EU contribution: €20,000,000 for projects in one Member State; €40,000,000 for projects across more than one Member State (exceptional increases possible for large multi‑MS projects).

1. 1Who can apply: legal entities (public or private bodies) established in eligible countries, including international organisations; entities must register in the Participant Register (PIC/validation).
2. 2Eligible activities: works, studies or mixed actions on TEN-T and the EU military mobility network; combined studies and works must address different sections/activities.
3. 3Funding form and rate: budget-based actual cost grant with funding rates up to 50% (set in Grant Agreement); VAT not eligible; project management costs limited to 10% of total costs.

Application essentials:submit electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the standard CEF application templates (Part A online, Part B PDF, mandatory annexes such as detailed budget table per WP, military network map declaration, letters of support from Member State(s), environmental compliance file). Projects must respect page limits and eligibility rules; public bodies are exempt from some capacity checks.

Footnotes

1. 1Call documentation, templates and submission are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page: Topic page.

Call and Administrative Details

Call title:CEF 2 Transport - Adaptation of the TEN-T to civilian-defence dual use - Military mobility envelope. Funding programme: Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) 2021-2027. Type of opportunity: Call for proposals — CEF Infrastructure Projects (budget-based Action Grant, CEF-AG). Call opening date: 18 June 2026. Submission deadline: 06 October 2026, 17:00 CET (Brussels). Submission method: electronic only via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Call budget: €130,000,000 (indicative).

Contact for enquiries:CINEA-CEF-TRANSPORT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu

Objective and Scope

Objective:to develop dual-use transport infrastructure located on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and on the EU military mobility network that address both civilian and defence needs. Scope and eligibility constraints: projects must be located on the TEN-T and on the EU military mobility network (Council-established, last updated March 2025). Priority is given to projects on the four EU military mobility priority corridors and to projects spanning two or more Member States. Projects combining studies and works must ensure the studies and works address different sections or activities. All facilities/infrastructure supported must be accessible on a non-discriminatory basis. Projects must take into account applicable infrastructure requirements for certain categories of dual-use actions as set out in Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/1328 ¹.

Eligible Applicant Types

Eligible applicants are legal entities, public or private bodies (including public authorities, infrastructure managers, transport operators, private companies, universities and research organisations, international organisations). Natural persons are not eligible except self-employed sole traders where the company has no separate legal personality. Entities without legal personality may exceptionally participate if their representatives can legally bind them. International organisations are eligible. EU bodies (except the Commission Joint Research Centre) cannot be part of the consortium. Associated partners, subcontractors and third parties giving in-kind contributions may participate but roles and funding differ. Entities subject to EU restrictive or conditionality measures are not eligible. See call document for exclusions and special-case rules.

Funding Type and Financial Conditions

Primary funding instrument:budget-based EU grant (Action Grant – CEF-AG). Form of grant: budget-based actual cost grant, reimbursing eligible costs actually incurred at funding rates fixed in the Grant Agreement. Maximum funding rate for eligible costs: up to 50% project funding rate (to be fixed in Grant Agreement). Maximum EU contribution per grant: €20,000,000 for projects located in one Member State; €40,000,000 for projects located in more than one Member State. Projects are encouraged to request no less than €1,000,000 of EU contribution. Grants must not produce profit; for-profit entities must declare revenues and any surplus will be deducted.

Available budget:€130,000,000 for the call (indicative; Commission reserves the right to exceed or not award full funds).

Consortium Requirement and Composition

Consortium requirement:no mandatory minimum consortium composition specified for this topic — both single-beneficiary (mono-beneficiary) and multi-beneficiary proposals are permitted. Affiliated entities may be included (they do not sign the grant but participate with rights and obligations similar to beneficiaries). Associated partners may participate without EU funding. Subcontractors and third parties giving in-kind contributions are allowed. Cross-border projects and projects involving two or more Member States are prioritised. Projects involving more than one Member State can request higher maximum contribution (up to €40,000,000) or exceptionally higher if justified by scale/strategic relevance.

Beneficiary Geographic Scope and Eligible Countries

Eligible applicants must be legally established in eligible countries:EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories). Entities from other countries may be exceptionally eligible if considered essential for the project of common interest. International organisations are eligible irrespective of country rules. Applicants from countries negotiating association to the programme may participate if negotiations conclude before grant signature and association retroactively covers the call. Projects must take place in the eligible countries (i.e., within EU Member States for this call).

Target Sector and Thematic Focus

Primary sector:transport infrastructure. Thematic focus: adaptation of TEN-T infrastructure for civilian-defence dual use and military mobility. Relevant technical areas include rail, road (where relevant for military movements), bridges, transport nodes, interoperability works, upgrades to infrastructure to meet military mobility requirements, climate resilience measures, digitalisation and safety/interoperability elements where applicable.

Project Maturity and Eligible Project Stages

Acceptable project stages:studies (feasibility, design, environmental assessments), works (construction, upgrade, physical interventions), or mixed actions combining studies and works that cover different sections/activities. Expected maturity: from advanced planning/feasibility to construction/delivery. The evaluation awards points for Maturity (readiness to start, contracting status, permits, financing availability). Maximum project duration: studies up to 31/12/2029; works up to 31/12/2030. Retroactive starting date may be exceptionally allowed but not earlier than proposal submission date.

Application Process and Submission Requirements

Submission type:single-stage (one-step) open call. All proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System before the deadline. Required proposal components: Application Form Part A (administrative data entered online), Application Form Part B (technical description — portal template downloaded, completed and uploaded as PDF), mandatory annexes and supporting documents (detailed budget table per work package in Excel, timetable/Gantt chart, letters of support / Member State agreement, military network map declaration, environmental compliance file, activity reports, list of previous projects, CVs as applicable). Part B is limited to 120 pages; excess pages will be disregarded. Applicants must register organisations in the Participant Register and provide PIC codes. At submission applicants must confirm mandate to act for all applicants and completeness/accuracy; a declaration of honour will be signed at grant preparation.

Key templates and annexes:Required templates include: Standard application form (Part B template in Submission System), detailed budget table per WP (Excel), Letter of support/Member State agreement template, Timetable (Gantt chart) template, Environmental Compliance File template, Military Network Map Declaration template. Applicants must use the forms in the Submission System (not the informational copies on the topic page).

Evaluation, Award Criteria and Process

Evaluation procedure:one-stage submission, one-step evaluation performed by an evaluation committee assisted by independent experts. Admissibility and eligibility checks are applied first; eligible proposals are evaluated against award criteria and operational capacity. The process consists of individual evaluation, consensus phase and panel review; proposals are ranked by score. For equal scores, tie-break order is based on Priority and urgency, Maturity, Catalytic effect, Impact, Quality and recommended EU contribution (ascending). Successful applicants invited for grant preparation (not a formal award until checks, legal validation and grant signature).

1. 1Award criteria (max 25 points total, individual thresholds 3/5 each and overall threshold 15/25): Priority and urgency (5 points), Maturity (5 points), Quality (5 points), Impact (5 points), Catalytic effect (5 points).
2. 2Priority and urgency includes Union added value and dual-use potential; Commission will consult the EU Military Staff for military priorities.
3. 3Maturity assesses readiness, permits, contracting status and financial availability.
4. 4Quality evaluates implementation plan, organisation, risk management and maintenance strategy.
5. 5Impact examines economic, social, environmental and climate impacts, innovation/digitalisation, interoperability and cross-border dimension.
6. 6Catalytic effect evaluates how EU funding overcomes financial obstacles, mobilises additional investments and accelerates implementation.

Form of Grant, Funding Rates and Eligible Costs

Grant form:budget-based actual cost reimbursement. Funding rate: project funding rate up to 50% (to be fixed in the Grant Agreement). Budget categories: A Personnel costs (employees, natural persons, seconded persons, SME owners), B Subcontracting costs, C Purchase costs (travel, equipment, other goods/services), D Other costs (including studies, synergetic elements for works, works in outermost regions), E Indirect costs (flat-rate 0% for this call). Specific rules: VAT not eligible; land purchase not eligible; in-kind contributions allowed but cost-neutral; SME owner unit cost allowed; travel and subsistence paid as actual costs; subcontracted work must be performed in eligible or target countries. Project management costs should not exceed 10% of total project costs.

Project Budget, Grants and Co-funding

Recommended minimum requested EU contribution:€1,000,000. Maximum EU contribution: €20,000,000 (single Member State) and €40,000,000 (multi-Member State), with potential exceptional increases for projects involving many Member States and justified by scale or strategic relevance. Applicants must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources to implement the project. Co-funding requirement: applicants must provide non-EU contributions (own resources, third-party funding or other public/private financing) to cover the share of eligible costs not funded by the EU; exact required co-funding share depends on the project funding rate and total eligible costs. The grant will reimburse eligible costs only; no financial support to third parties is allowed under this call.

Financial and Operational Capacity Checks

Financial capacity:applicants must have stable and sufficient resources; checks will be carried out using documents uploaded to the Participant Register for grant preparation (e.g., profit & loss, balance sheet, audit reports). Public bodies and applicants requesting not more than €60,000 may be exempted from financial capacity checks. If financial capacity is deemed insufficient, measures may include requests for additional information, enhanced financial responsibility regime (joint and several liability), prefinancing guarantees, staged prefinancing, or refusal. Operational capacity: applicants must demonstrate relevant experience, know-how, staff and resources via consortium descriptions, activity reports, and lists of previous projects. Public bodies and Member State organisations are exempted from operational capacity checks where specified.

Reporting, Payments and Guarantees

Prefinancing:after grant signature, prefinancing of between 25% and 50% is normally paid (30 days after entry into force/receipt of any required guarantee). Interim payments: one or more, based on detailed cost reporting. Final payment: balance calculated at project end; recoveries applied if earlier payments exceed final grant. Preferential payment arrangements and possible prefinancing guarantees: the Agency may require a bank guarantee (in EUR) issued by an approved financial institution; corporate or third-party guarantees can be exceptionally accepted after evaluation. Certificates may be required depending on grant size and beneficiary type (see Model Grant Agreement). Liability regime may include limited joint and several liability, unconditional joint and several liability, or individual financial responsibility depending on the Data Sheet and conditions.

Evaluation Timeline and Result Notifications

Evaluation:October 2026 to March 2027 (indicative). Information on results: April 2027 (indicative). Grant Agreement signature expected: May/June 2027 (indicative). Successful proposals invited to grant preparation; this is not a formal award until all checks and validations are completed and the Grant Agreement is signed.

Application Stages and Success Rates

Number of application stages:1 (single-stage submission) with a single evaluation and ranking phase; successful proposals proceed to grant preparation (dialogue/amendment) and then Grant Agreement signature. The call follows a single-step evaluation process (individual evaluation, consensus, panel review). Success rates: not specified in the call documentation. Final success rates depend on the number and quality of applications and available budget. Given the call budget (€130 million) and the typical size of CEF works projects, expected success rates may be moderate to low; applicants should assume competition and the need to meet thresholds for all award criteria.

Co-funding Requirement

Yes. Applicants must provide co-funding (own resources, third-party contributions, other public or private funding) to cover the share of eligible costs not funded by the EU grant. The grant funds only part of eligible costs (funding rate up to 50%); therefore at least the remaining eligible costs must be covered by other sources. Exact co-funding percentages depend on project-specific funding rates set in the Grant Agreement and any exceptional funding rules (e.g., higher rates for outermost regions or cross-border sections if applicable).

Success and Selection Criteria Details

Thresholds:applicants must pass individual minimum thresholds per award criterion (3 out of 5) and overall threshold (15 out of 25) to be considered for funding. Evaluation will consider cross-border dimension, TEN-T/corridor contribution, dual-use/military mobility added value, maturity and readiness to start, environmental compliance, permitting, procurement status, cost-effectiveness, maintenance strategy, catalytic financial effect and how the EU contribution addresses funding gaps and mobilises additional investments.

Templates and Application Form Structure

Application structure:Part A (administrative forms entered online) — includes general information, participants, budget summary, declarations and mandatory fields (PICs). Part B (technical description) — downloadable portal template to be completed and re-uploaded as PDF (maximum 120 pages). Required annexes and templates: detailed budget table per WP (Excel with specific sheets: Start, Work packages, Participants, DB table, summaries and consistency check); timetable/Gantt chart template; letter of support / Member State agreement template (to be filled and signed by Member State(s) benefitting from project); military network map declaration to be signed by competent Member State authority; environmental compliance file (ECF) — mandatory for all applications and containing development consent, EIA/SEA/Habitats/Water Framework compliance sections and declarations. All templates are available in the Submission System and must be used. The detailed budget table must be consistent with the online budget summary; in case of discrepancies the online summarised budget amounts prevail.

1. 1Part B key sections (from template): Project description and objectives; Priority and urgency; Maturity (readiness, permitting, procurement status); Quality (implementation plan, consortium, risk management); Impact (CBA or other analyses); Catalytic effect; Work plan and work packages; Ethics and security; Declarations and annex list.
2. 2Annexes required: detailed budget table per WP (mandatory), activity reports (if required), list of previous projects (last 4 years), timetable/Gantt chart (mandatory), letters of support / Member State agreement (mandatory), military network map declaration (mandatory), environmental compliance file (mandatory).
3. 3Formatting constraints: Part B page limit 120 pages; minimum font Arial 9; A4 page size; margins at least 15 mm; Part B uploaded as PDF; annexes in specified formats (PDF or Excel for DB table).

Environmental and Regulatory Compliance

An Environmental Compliance File (ECF) is mandatory and must cover all environmental aspects and include relevant declarations and decisions. For projects subject to EIA, relevant EIA documents and non-technical summary must be included. Applicants must declare compliance with the EIA Directive, SEA Directive, Habitats Directive and Water Framework Directive and include competent authority declarations where required. Climate proofing considerations and measures to enhance resilience can be part of the evaluation under Impact.

Security and Defence-Specific Requirements

Dual-use projects must comply with infrastructure requirements for certain dual-use actions as provided in Implementing Regulation 2021/1328. Military relevance and contribution to military mobility will be assessed; the Commission will consult the EU Military Staff to assess contributions to strategic deployment and elimination of infrastructure gaps for military movements. Projects must include the Military Network Map Declaration signed by the competent Member State authority confirming compliance with the EU military transport network.

Procurement, State Aid and Legal Validation

Contracts awarded before submission must be declared and explained. Public procurers must comply with applicable national and EU public procurement law; the Agency does not pre-validate procurement choices but may check compliance during audits. State aid rules and legal entity validation will be performed during grant preparation; applicants must be registered in the Participant Register (PIC) and undergo validation by the Central Validation Service. Exclusion and integrity checks (fraud, corruption, professional misconduct, bankruptcy, social and tax obligations) apply.

Key Risks, Limitations and Important Notes

Important considerations:do not submit duplicate or near-duplicate proposals across calls; submission must be completed sufficiently in advance of the deadline to avoid technical issues; all participants must be registered and validated; proposals that started activities before submission may be rejected or have ineligible costs; double funding from EU sources is prohibited. Publication of awarded grants will include beneficiary names and amounts unless justified confidentiality exception is provided. Data protection and Portal Terms and Conditions apply. Applicants should consult the call document, Model Grant Agreement and Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual closely.

Categorisation and Extracted Answers

Below are direct structured answers to the requested classification questions, reproduced with full detail.

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: legal entities (public bodies, national/regional/local authorities), private bodies and companies (SMEs and large enterprises), infrastructure managers, transport operators, universities and research organisations, international organisations, affiliated entities (linked entities), associated partners (without funding), subcontractors, third parties providing in-kind contributions. Natural persons are not eligible (except self-employed sole traders where company lacks separate legal personality). EU bodies (except JRC) are excluded. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures or certain EU conditionality measures are not eligible.
2. 2Funding Type: grant — budget-based actual cost Action Grant (CEF-AG).
3. 3Consortium Requirement: other than general consortium roles, no mandatory consortium minimum; both single-beneficiary (single) and multi-beneficiary (consortium) proposals acceptable. Affiliated entities and associated partners may be included. Priority given to multi-Member State projects but not strictly required.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): primary geographic eligibility: EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories). Exceptional participation for entities from other countries if essential. International organisations eligible. Projects must be located on TEN-T and the EU military mobility network (Council network, updated March 2025).
5. 5Target Sector: transport infrastructure; thematic focus on military mobility, dual-use civilian-defence infrastructure on TEN-T, including rail, road nodes, interoperable infrastructure, climate resilience and digitalisation aspects where applicable.
6. 6Mentioned Countries: explicitly: Member States of the EU (collective). No specific Member State names were listed in the topic text. The Council-established EU military mobility network (adopted November 2018, updated March 2025) is referenced. Therefore the explicit country list is: EU Member States (region).
7. 7Project Stage: studies, works or mixed; expected maturity ranges from advanced feasibility/design (studies) to construction and works (implementation/demonstration). Maximum durations: studies up to 31/12/2029, works up to 31/12/2030.
8. 8Funding Amount: call budget €130,000,000 (indicative). Recommended minimum requested grant €1,000,000. Maximum EU contribution per grant: €20,000,000 (single Member State); €40,000,000 (multiple Member States), with exceptional increases possible where justified.
9. 9Application Type: open call, single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Applicants must submit one proposal per topic; the same activity cannot be submitted to multiple calls or topics. Twinned proposals (linked actions) allowed if cross-referenced and managed as linked actions.
10. 10Nature of Support: monetary — EU grant funds (budget-based reimbursement of eligible costs). Non-monetary requirements: technical assistance templates, declarations, environmental compliance requirements, Member State support letters and network declarations are required but do not replace monetary funding.
11. 11Application Stages: one submission stage (single-stage) then evaluation (individual evaluation, consensus, panel review) and grant preparation phase; effectively 2 main phases (submission/evaluation and grant preparation/award), but the evaluation process includes multiple internal steps. For selection counts: 1 (single submission) for applicants, followed by grant preparation dialogue for successful proposals.
12. 12Success Rates: not specified in the call. Dependent on number and quality of proposals relative to €130 million budget. Historically CEF works calls are competitive; applicants should expect moderate-to-low success rates for large works projects.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: yes. Applicants must provide co-funding to cover non-EU share of eligible costs. Funding rate up to 50% implies at least 50% of eligible costs must be covered by other sources (own resources, third-party financing, national/regional funds, private investment). Detailed financial commitments must be demonstrated in Part B and during grant preparation.

Templates and Application Form Outline (detailed)

The application comprises Part A (administrative items filled in online via the Portal) and Part B (technical description uploaded as PDF using the portal template). The principal Part B structure and required annexes are described below to support applicants preparing a compliant proposal.

1. 1Part A (online): general information (title, acronym, duration, PCI/corridor links), participant details (PICs, legal names, short names, addresses), budget summary per beneficiary and funding categories, declarations and mandatory fields, declaration confirming mandate to act and accuracy of information.
2. 2Part B (PDF template; maximum 120 pages): Cover page and project summary; 0 Project description (overall objective, context, location, justification, specific objectives, expected outcomes); 1 Priority and urgency (TEN-T relation, cross-border links, EU added value, dual-use potential); 2 Maturity (readiness, ex-ante studies, political commitment, public consultations, permits and contracting status); 3 Quality (cost-effectiveness, financial management, consortium structure, project management, QA, risk management, communication/visibility, maintenance strategy); 4 Impact (CBA requirements for works, simplified CBA for some works, demand analysis, socio-economic, environmental/climate impacts, interoperability, innovation); 5 Catalytic effect (financial gap, leverage, stakeholder commitments); 6 Work plan and work packages (detailed WP descriptions, tasks, milestones, deliverables, resources, Gantt/timetable); 7 Ethics and security (if applicable); 8 Declarations and annex list.
3. 3Mandatory annexes to upload: detailed budget table per work package (Excel with sheets Start, Work packages, Participants, DB table, DB summaries and consistency check), timetable/Gantt chart, letters of support / Member State agreement (signed), Military Network Map Declaration (signed by competent authority), Environmental Compliance File (ECF) including declarations by competent authorities where required, activity reports and list of previous projects (unless exempted), CVs for key personnel if requested.
4. 4Formatting guidance: Part B must respect page limits and formatting rules (A4, Arial 9 or larger, margins at least 15 mm). Annex files to be uploaded in the correct submission system slots. The online summarised budget must match the detailed budget table; the online amounts prevail in case of discrepancy.

How to Demonstrate Dual-Use and Military Mobility Relevance

Project proposals should:locate the action on TEN-T and the EU military mobility network and indicate which military mobility priority corridor(s) are affected; include the Military Network Map Declaration signed by the competent Member State authority; address infrastructure requirements in Implementing Regulation 2021/1328; demonstrate contribution to strategic deployment, removal of bottlenecks, cross-border continuity and military transport needs; where relevant provide an assessment by national defence authorities and include Member State letters of support or agreements showing commitment.

Summary: What this Opportunity Is About and How to Approach It

This CEF call finances dual-use transport infrastructure actions located on the TEN-T and the EU military mobility network to support both civilian transport and military mobility requirements. It covers studies, works or mixed actions that can demonstrably meet infrastructure specifications for dual-use operations and must ensure non-discriminatory access to supported infrastructure. The call targets projects with clear EU added value, cross-border dimension (priority), maturity and capacity to start and complete within specified deadlines, and projects that can show catalytic use of EU funds to unlock larger investments. Applicants should prepare a single detailed application via the Funding & Tenders Portal using prescribed templates and annexes, demonstrate legal, operational and financial capacity, ensure environmental compliance, secure Member State support where relevant, and articulate impact, cost-effectiveness and maintenance plans. Evaluation will be against five award criteria (Priority and urgency; Maturity; Quality; Impact; Catalytic effect) with minimum individual and overall thresholds. If invited to grant preparation, applicants should be ready to provide additional validation documents, legal entity validation, financial capacity evidence and possibly prefinancing guarantees. The call budget is €130 million and projects should typically request at least €1 million, with maximum caps at €20 million (single Member State) and €40 million (multiple Member States) except in justified exceptional cases.

For full procedural details, templates and submission, consult the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page and the call document. Use the Portal Online Manual for technical submission steps and ensure all mandatory annexes (detailed budget table per WP, environmental compliance file, Member State letter of support, military network map declaration, timetable) are completed and uploaded. Plan sufficient time for consortium validation, LEAR appointment, and any national approvals required for environmental and permitting compliance.

Relevant references include the CEF Regulation 2021/1153, Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/1328, the Amended CEF 2021-2027 Work Programme and the Model Grant Agreement and annotated AGA available via the Funding & Tenders Portal. The call documentation contains a corrigendum (version 2.0 published 30 June 2026) updating eligible countries and other clarifications; applicants should use the most recent call document and Portal templates.

This summary and extraction present the full set of key requirements and practical steps applicants must follow to prepare a competitive and compliant proposal under topic CEF-T-2026.

Footnote reference:Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/1328 specifies infrastructure requirements for certain categories of dual-use infrastructure actions and must be taken into account by applicants ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1328 of 10 August 2021 specifying the infrastructure requirements applicable to certain categories of dual-use infrastructure actions pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 288, 11.8.2021, p. 37).

Call Overview and Strategic Objective

Key Funding Parameters

This Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Transport call aims to develop dual-use transport infrastructure on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and the EU military mobility networks, addressing both civilian and defence needs to enhance strategic military mobility while improving civilian transport efficiency [[1]][[2]]. Priority is given to projects located on the four EU military mobility priority corridors and those spanning two or more Member States, with all supported facilities remaining accessible to all operators on a non-discriminatory basis [[1]][[3]].

Total Call Budget:€130,000,000 allocated for 2026, supporting dual-use projects, works, and studies across the EU [[1]][[2]].

Funding Rate:Maximum 50% of eligible costs, reimbursed based on actual costs incurred rather than budgeted amounts [[3]][[8]].

Maximum Grant per Project:€20,000,000 for projects in one Member State; €40,000,000 for projects in more than one Member State, with potential exceptions for projects involving more than two states justified by scale or strategic relevance [[3]][[8]].

Recommended Minimum Project Size:€1,000,000 in requested EU contribution to eligible costs to ensure funding efficiency [[3]][[8]].

Eligibility and Scope Requirements

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include legal entities (public or private bodies) established in EU Member States (including overseas territories) or countries associated with the CEF Programme, such as Ukraine and Moldova [[3]][[8]]. Beneficiaries must register in the Participant Register and obtain a PIC before submission, while consortium composition is not mandatory (single-beneficiary projects are allowed) [[3]][[8]].

Geographic and Technical Scope

Projects must be located on both the TEN-T network and the EU military mobility network established by the Council in November 2018 (last updated March 2025), adhering to infrastructure requirements set out in Implementing Regulation 2021/1328 [[1]][[3]]. If a proposal combines studies and works, they must address different sections or activities, and costs exceeding dual-use infrastructure requirements may be deemed ineligible without clear justification [[1]][[4]].

Application Process and Deadlines

Submission Timeline

1. 1Call Opening: 18 June 2026
2. 2Submission Deadline: 06 October 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels)
3. 3Evaluation Period: October 2026 – March 2027
4. 4Grant Agreement Signature: May/June 2027

Required Documents and Format

Applications must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal using the specific forms in the Submission System, not the documents on the Topic page [[3]][[8]]. Mandatory annexes include a detailed budget table per work package, a Gantt chart timetable, a Letter of Support (Member State agreement), a Military Network Map Declaration, and an Environmental Compliance File [[3]][[8]]. Part B (technical description) is limited to 120 pages, and all documents must be readable, accessible, and printable [[3]][[8]].

Evaluation Criteria and Project Duration

Award Criteria

Proposals are evaluated against five criteria with a maximum of 25 points total:Priority and urgency (5 pts), Maturity (5 pts), Quality (5 pts), Impact (5 pts), and Catalytic effect (5 pts) [[3]]. Each criterion has a minimum threshold of 3/5 points, and the overall threshold is 15 points; proposals must pass both individual and overall thresholds to be considered for funding [[3]].

Project Duration Limits

The maximum project duration is 31 December 2029 for studies and 31 December 2030 for works, with extensions possible only through a formal amendment to the Grant Agreement if duly justified [[3]][[8]].

Footnotes

1. 1Official Call Document: CEF 2 Transport - Adaptation of the TEN-T to civilian-defence dual use - Military mobility envelope (Version 2.0, 30 June 2026), available at CEF Call Document.
2. 2Primary Submission Portal: Funding & Tenders Portal Topic Page.