External Borders: studies, works or mixed

External Borders:Studies, Works or Mixed CEF-T-2026 is a CEF Transport call to modernise TEN-T transport infrastructure at Union external border crossing points to facilitate rail and road traffic flows and enable coordinated bi-directional controls. The call has an indicative budget of €20,000,000, a maximum EU contribution per project of €10,000,000, a recommended minimum request of €1,000,000, and typical funding rates up to 50% for studies and works (70% for works in outermost regions). Eligible applicants are legal entities established in EU Member States or CEF-associated countries and projects may cover works, studies, or mixed actions improving rail and road connections, truck parking and waiting areas, lane capacity and fixed smart IT solutions as part of wider infrastructure projects, while mobile equipment, administrative buildings, storage, and standalone border check equipment are ineligible. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 06 October 2026 17:00 CET and will be evaluated against five criteria with individual thresholds and an overall pass score of 15/25.

CEF 2 Transport - Projects on the Core Network - General envelope

Call for Proposals — CEF-T-2026-SAFEMOBGEN-EXTBORDER-WORKS

What it funds:modernisation of TEN-T transport infrastructure at Union external border crossing points to facilitate rail and road traffic flows. Eligible actions: works and/or studies improving rail and road connections to border crossing points, truck parking and waiting areas, lane capacity between parking and control points, fixed/embedded smart IT solutions integrated into infrastructure as part of a wider works/study project. Stand-alone border check equipment, mobile equipment, administrative buildings, storage, warehouses and parking for border officers are in principle ineligible.

Who can apply:Legal entities (public or private) established in eligible countries (EU Member States and countries associated to CEF). International organisations may participate. Applicants must register in the Participant Register and form the appropriate consortium for the action.

1. 1Projects must take place on the TEN-T network; priority to TEN-T corridors and upgrades enabling coordinated bi-directional controls.
2. 2If combining studies and works, components must address different sections/activities.
3. 3Facilities/infrastructure funded must be accessible to all operators non-discriminatorily.
4. 4Coordination with Interreg IPA cross-border programmes where relevant is expected.

Deadlines and timetable:Call opened 18 June 2026. Submission deadline 6 October 2026 (17:00 CET). Evaluation Oct 2026–Mar 2027; results April 2027; grant signature May/June 2027.

Application essentials:submit electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal using the CEF-T application templates (Part A and Part B plus mandatory annexes such as detailed budget table per WP, environmental compliance file and letters of support/member state agreement where required). Part B limited to 120 pages. Procurements and permits status, maturity, financial and operational capacity and environmental approvals are evaluated.

Evaluation and award:Proposals assessed on Priority and urgency, Maturity, Quality, Impact and Catalytic effect (each scored 0–5; individual thresholds 3 and overall pass 15/25). Successful projects invited to grant preparation subject to legal/financial checks.

Contact and resources:submission and templates via the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page Topic page. For call queries contact CINEA-CEF-TRANSPORT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu and use the Portal IT Helpdesk for technical submission issues.

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed call document, Model Grant Agreement and application templates available on the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page referenced above.

Call and administrative data

Call title:CEF 2 Transport - Projects on the Core Network - General envelope. Topic identifier: CEF-T-2026. Opportunity type: Call for proposals (CEF Infrastructure Projects). Deadline: 06 October 2026, 17:00 CET (Brussels time). Call opening: 18 June 2026. Available indicative budget for this topic: €20,000,000. Submission procedure: single-stage electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System. Submission model grant agreement: CEF-AG (Action Grant Budget-Based).

Scope, objectives and eligible activities

Objective:modernise transport infrastructure on the TEN-T network to facilitate traffic flows for rail and road at border control areas at the Union external border of the TEN-T network. Acceptable project types: works, studies, or a combination of works and studies (mixed), provided that where both components are included they address different sections or activities.

Scope and eligible activities (summary of detailed scope):projects targeting only transport infrastructure to improve rail and road connections to border crossing points and related parking lines/spaces; upgrades to parking spaces for trucks, waiting areas, and road lane capacity linking parking to border control points and between them, provided these upgrades facilitate traffic flows at the Union external border; rail projects that facilitate traffic flows at TEN-T Border Crossing Points including interoperability works; smart fixed border-check IT solutions or fixed devices integrated into transport infrastructure may be supported if part of a wider transport infrastructure adaptation project. Ineligible as stand-alone items: border check equipment and facilities in principle (mobile equipment expressly excluded), administrative buildings, storage and warehouse facilities, parking facilities for border officers. Priority is given to upgrading existing border crossing points to enable coordinated bi-directional controls and to projects located on TEN-T European Transport Corridors. Projects must ensure that supported facilities and infrastructure are accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to all operators. Coordination with relevant Interreg Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance – Cross-Border Cooperation programmes is recommended where appropriate.

Eligibility and applicant requirements

Eligible applicants:legal entities (public or private bodies) established in eligible countries (EU Member States including overseas countries and territories, and countries associated to the CEF programme). Natural persons are not eligible, except self-employed persons where the company lacks separate legal personality. International organisations are eligible. Entities without legal personality may exceptionally participate if their representatives can undertake legal obligations and provide equivalent guarantees. EU bodies (except the European Commission Joint Research Centre) are not eligible as beneficiaries.

Eligible applicant types:startup, SME, large enterprise, university, research institute, nonprofit, government, public authority, international organisation, affiliated entities (linked entities), associated partners, subcontractors (participation roles).

Country/participation restrictions:beneficiaries and affiliated entities must be established in eligible countries (EU Member States and CEF-associated countries). Exceptional participation from other countries may be accepted if deemed essential. Entities subject to EU restrictive or conditionality measures are not eligible. Applicants must register in the Participant Register and pass Legal Entity Validation (LEAR) and possibly financial capacity checks if thresholds and status require them.

Consortium, project size and duration

Consortium requirement:No mandatory multi-beneficiary consortium composition is specified for this topic (Not applicable as a minimum consortium requirement). Projects may be mono-beneficiary or multi-beneficiary as appropriate. Affiliated entities can participate with similar rights and obligations to beneficiaries but do not sign the grant agreement. Associated partners may participate without receiving EU funding.

1. 1Recommended project minimum requested EU contribution: applicants are strongly encouraged to request at least €1,000,000 of EU contribution to ensure efficiency of intervention.
2. 2Maximum EU contribution per grant agreement: €10,000,000. Requests above €10,000,000 will be declared ineligible.
3. 3Project maximum duration: for studies the latest permitted end date is 31/12/2029; for works projects the latest permitted end date is 31/12/2030 (the actual start date and duration will be fixed in the Grant Agreement).

Funding type, form and rates

Funding type:EU action grant, budget-based, reimbursing eligible actual costs (budget-based actual cost grant). Funding rates (to be fixed in the Grant Agreement): maximum 50% for studies, maximum 50% for works, and maximum 70% for works located in outermost regions. The grant must not produce profit; for-profit entities must declare revenues and any surplus/revenue will be deducted from the grant where applicable.

Budget categories and cost rules:Eligible cost categories: A Personnel costs (employees, natural persons under direct contract, seconded persons, SME owners and natural person beneficiaries where applicable); B Subcontracting costs (subcontracted work must be performed in eligible countries or target countries); C Purchase costs (travel and subsistence actual costs only, equipment full cost, other goods/works/services); D Other costs (studies allowed, financial support to third parties not allowed, synergetic elements not allowed); E Indirect costs: flat-rate 0% of eligible direct costs (categories A-D) for this call. VAT is not eligible. Land purchase is ineligible. Project management costs should not exceed 10% of total project costs. In-kind contributions for free are allowed but cost-neutral (cannot be declared as costs).

Application process and documentation

Application type and submission:open call, single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Paper submissions are not accepted. Proposals must be submitted before the stated deadline and must use the forms and templates available inside the Submission System (not the informational copies on the Topic page).

1. 1Application components: Part A (administrative forms completed directly online in the Submission System) and Part B (technical description uploaded as PDF following the Portal template), plus mandatory annexes uploaded in specified slots.
2. 2Part B page limit: maximum 120 pages (Part B). Minimum font size Arial 9 pt, A4, margins at least 15 mm.
3. 3Mandatory annexes to upload: detailed budget table per work package (Excel), timetable/Gantt chart, environmental compliance file (ECF) (mandatory for all applications), letters of support/Member State agreement where applicable, activity reports of last year (unless exempted), list of previous projects (last 4 years), CVs where requested, and any other documents specifically required in the call document.

Electronic submission:to access the Electronic Submission Service click the submission button on the Topic page in the Calls for Proposals section of the Funding & Tenders Portal; create or use an EU Login account, register organisations in the Participant Register (obtain PICs) and complete Part A online and upload Part B and annexes. The online summarised budget must match the detailed budget table; in case of discrepancy the online summarised budget will prevail. Applicants must confirm mandate to act for all applicants and will sign a Declaration of Honour at grant signature.

Helpful submission resources and contact:Submission templates and guidance are available in the Submission System and in the Call documentation: Standard Application Form Part B template (CEF-T), detailed budget table per WP template (Excel), Letter of Support/Member State Agreement template, Timetable (Gantt chart) template, Environmental Compliance File template, and the Model Grant Agreement and Annotated Model Grant Agreement. For assistance email CINEA-CEF-TRANSPORT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu ¹.

Evaluation, award criteria and selection

Evaluation procedure:one-stage submission and one-step evaluation. Proposals first undergo admissibility and eligibility checks then a three-phase evaluation (individual expert review, consensus, panel review). Successful proposals are invited to grant preparation. Grant preparation does not constitute formal commitment to fund until legal checks and validations are finalised.

1. 1Award criteria and weighting: five criteria with equal maximum points (each 5 points). Individual thresholds per criterion: minimum 3/5 points. Overall pass score: 15/25. Criteria are Priority and urgency, Maturity, Quality, Impact, Catalytic effect.
2. 2Priority order tie-breakers: if proposals tie on score, priority is given in order by score on Priority and urgency, then Maturity, then Catalytic effect, then Impact, then Quality, and then by recommended EU contribution (ascending).

Evaluation timetable (indicative):evaluation October 2026 – March 2027; information on evaluation results April 2027; Grant Agreement signature expected May/June 2027.

Financial and capacity checks, pre-financing and reporting

Financial capacity:applicants must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources to implement the project. Financial capacity checks are normally required except for public bodies, Member State organisations, international organisations or when the individual requested grant amount is not more than €60,000. The granting authority may request further information, enhanced financial responsibility regimes, prefinancing guarantees, staged prefinancing, or propose no prefinancing if capacity is insufficient.

Operational capacity:applicants must demonstrate know-how, qualifications and resources to implement the project, typically via activity reports, list of key previous projects (last 4 years), CVs of key staff and consortium description. Public bodies, Member State organisations and international organisations are exempt from the operational capacity check.

Payments and reporting:grants are budget-based with prefinancing (typically between 25% and 50% depending on grant setup) paid after entry into force and any required financial guarantee. Interim payments require detailed cost reporting; final payment involves calculation of final eligible costs and recovery of any excess pre-payments. The coordinator receives all payments and must administer distribution to beneficiaries. Reporting, milestones and deliverables are managed via the Portal Grant Management System and Annex 1 of the Grant Agreement.

Co-funding, leverage and catalytic effect

Co-funding requirement and financial leverage:CEF grants are co-financing instruments; the applicant must provide the non-CEF share of eligible project costs from other sources (own resources, national/regional funds, other grants, third-party financing). The CEF contribution is limited by funding rates (typically up to 50% for studies and works). Proposals must demonstrate financial maturity, sources of complementary finance and how CEF funding acts as catalytic to overcome financing gaps. Applicants should detail public and private investment leverage and stakeholder commitments in Part B.

Target sectors, project stage and geographic scope

Target sector:transport infrastructure, with specific focus on road and rail connections at TEN-T Border Crossing Points, parking and waiting areas for trucks, lane capacity and interoperable rail systems at border points. Cross-cutting themes include interoperability, congestion alleviation, digital smart fixed IT solutions integrated into transport infrastructure, climate-proofing and resilience, and TEN-T corridor development.

Project stage:project maturity expected: development, validation, demonstration and implementation (studies and works). Projects should demonstrate technical and contractual maturity (readiness to start, status of permits, contracting procedures and financial arrangements).

Beneficiary geographic scope:applicants must be established in eligible countries (EU Member States and CEF-associated countries). Activities must take place in eligible countries; costs incurred outside eligible countries are generally ineligible. Priority is given to projects on TEN-T European Transport Corridors and at the Union external border of TEN-T.

1. 1Mentioned countries/regions in the call text: EU Member States and countries associated to the CEF programme (no individual non-EU countries explicitly named in topic text).
2. 2Region: Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Core Network and TEN-T European Transport Corridors, Union external borders of TEN-T.

Application forms, templates and annexes

Templates available in the Submission System and referenced in the call documents (applicants must use the Portal-provided templates): Standard Application Form Part B (CEF-T technical description), Detailed budget table per WP (Excel) — mandatory and must be uploaded as an annex (budget rounded down to nearest thousand); Timetable/Gantt Chart (template available); Letter of Support / Member State Agreement template (to be filled by the Member State(s) benefitting from the project and uploaded by the coordinator); Environmental Compliance File (ECF) template and declarations (mandatory for all applications); application form Part A generated in the Portal; annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA) and other reference documents (CEF Regulation 2021/1153; EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509; Work Programme amendments).

1. 1Detailed budget table per WP (Excel): includes Start sheet (project data), Work packages sheet (funding rates per WP), Participants sheet, DB table per WP and summary sheets. It complements the online budget and must be consistent with the online summarised budget.
2. 2Letter of Support / Member State Agreement (template): to be signed by Member State(s) benefitting from the project and uploaded as a single file in the Submission System.
3. 3Timetable (Gantt chart) template: use project months (Month 1 marks project start) and indicate milestones and reporting periods; include periodic report timeline and milestones on critical path.
4. 4Environmental Compliance File (ECF) template: includes cover page and Environmental Compliance Questionnaire covering development consent, EIA Directive compliance, SEA Directive compliance, Habitats Directive/Natura 2000 assessments and Water Framework Directive compliance, plus declarations to be signed by competent authorities where applicable.

Other important operational details

Page limits, formatting and annex handling:Part B must not exceed 120 pages; supporting documents uploaded as annexes do not count towards the Part B limit unless otherwise indicated. Minimum font size Arial 9 pt. Applications must be complete and submitted using the System slots. If multiple very similar proposals are submitted, only one will be accepted; applicants may be asked to withdraw duplicates. Twinned or linked proposals across calls must be cross-referenced and will be managed as linked actions if both selected. Financial support to third parties is not allowed for this topic. The environmental compliance file must be included for all proposals; if project is subject to EIA, all relevant EIA documents must be submitted.

Security, IPR and durability:the Model Grant Agreement provisions on security rules, intellectual property rights, communication and dissemination, Member State information, durability and specific provisions for project implementation apply and will be included in the Grant Agreement.

Structured answers to categorisation questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Legal entities public or private (startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities and research institutes, non-profit organisations, national/regional/local public authorities, international organisations). Affiliated entities and associated partners can participate with specific roles; subcontractors can be used for implementation. Natural persons are not eligible except self-employed where applicable.

Funding Type:Grant. Specifically an EU budget action grant under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), budget-based actual cost reimbursement with specified funding rates and maximum grant per action.

Consortium Requirement:Other than the coordinator role in multi-beneficiary projects, there is no mandatory multi-party consortium composition required by this topic; both single-beneficiary and multi-beneficiary projects are acceptable. Cross-border projects and those ensuring continuity of TEN-T PCI or corridor links are encouraged to demonstrate joint commitments and coordinated implementation.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Applicants must be established in EU Member States or countries associated to the CEF programme; activities must take place in eligible countries and priority is given to projects on TEN-T corridors and Union external borders.

Target Sector:Transport infrastructure (road and rail) with emphasis on border crossing points, truck parking and waiting areas, lane capacity, interoperability for rail at border points, digital fixed solutions integrated into infrastructure, resilience and climate-proofing. Cross-sector synergies with digital and energy CEF elements may be described if relevant but are restricted under this topic.

Mentioned Countries:The call text refers to EU Member States and countries associated to the CEF programme; no specific countries are named in the topic text. The geographic region of interest is the Union external border sections of the TEN-T network and TEN-T European Transport Corridors.

Project Stage:Projects at development, validation and implementation stages are eligible. Studies-only proposals (without physical intervention) are eligible. Works, or mixed works+studies addressing different sections/activities, are eligible. Projects should demonstrate maturity for delivery (permits, contracting and financing readiness) under the Maturity award criterion.

Funding Amount:Indicative call budget €20,000,000 for this topic. Individual project requested EU contribution should ideally be at least €1,000,000 for efficiency; maximum EU contribution per project is capped at €10,000,000. The grant awarded may be lower than the request.

Application Type:Open call (public), single-stage submission through the Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system.

Nature of Support:Financial support in the form of grants (monetary funding). No financial support to third parties is allowed under this topic. Non-monetary requirements include deliverables, environmental compliance documentation, and access/availability conditions for infrastructure.

Application Stages:Single-stage submission and one-step evaluation. After successful evaluation, invited proposals enter grant preparation which involves legal entity validation, financial capacity check, and finalisation of Grant Agreement. Overall process stages: 1) submission, 2) admissibility & eligibility check, 3) expert evaluation (individual, consensus, panel), 4) award ranking and invitation to grant preparation, 5) legal/financial checks and Grant Agreement signature.

Success Rates:Not published in the call. Success depends on meeting award criteria thresholds and the available budget; only proposals passing individual and overall thresholds and ranked within available budget will be funded. Given the single-topic budget of €20,000,000 and typical project requests (min suggested €1,000,000, cap €10,000,000), an approximate success rate cannot be inferred from the call text. Applicants should assume competitive selection and plan strong justification under the five award criteria.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. CEF grants are co-financing instruments — the applicant must provide the non-CEF share of eligible costs. Funding rates define the EU share (max 50% for studies and works, 70% for works in outermost regions). The proposal must show funding sources for the remaining eligible costs and cover any ineligible costs from other sources.

Templates and application form structure

Application form structure and templates:Part A (administrative forms) is completed online in the Submission System and includes general project information, participant details, roles, and the summarised budget. Part B (technical description) is a Portal-provided template that applicants must download, complete and upload as PDF. Mandatory annex templates to be completed and uploaded: detailed budget table per WP (Excel), timetable/Gantt chart (template), letter of support/Member State agreement (Word template), environmental compliance file (Word/PDF template). The call document and Online Manual provide detailed instructions for each template.

1. 1Part A — Administrative Forms: Portal-generated, includes Proposal title, abstract, duration, participants, and budget summary. Declarations and confirmation of mandate to act are required.
2. 2Part B — Technical Description: Template sections include Project description; Priority and urgency; Maturity; Quality; Impact; Catalytic effect; Work plan, WPs and budget; Ethics and Security; Declarations. Part B must respect the 120-page limit.
3. 3Annex: Detailed budget table per Work Package (Excel): mandatory, must be consistent with Part A online budget and rounded down to nearest thousand when specified.
4. 4Annex: Environmental Compliance File (ECF): mandatory with questionnaire on development consent, EIA/SEA/Habitats/Water Framework compliance plus competent authority declarations where relevant.
5. 5Annex: Letter of Support / Member State Agreement: template to be completed and signed by the Member State(s) benefitting from the project and uploaded by the coordinator.

How to maximise a competitive proposal

Key recommendations drawn from call conditions and award criteria:ensure strong EU added value and alignment with TEN-T corridor priorities; demonstrate project maturity with permits, procurement readiness and secured co-financing; provide robust cost-benefit analysis or relevant economic appraisal for works; present clear management, governance and maintenance strategies; show catalytic effect of CEF funding and capacity to leverage other public/private investment; prepare complete Environmental Compliance File and Member State letters of support where applicable; keep Part B concise and within page limits and ensure budget consistency across online and annex tables.

Summary: what this opportunity is about and how to explain it

This CEF Transport topic finances works, studies or mixed projects that upgrade and modernise road and rail infrastructure at TEN-T border crossing points located at the Union external border, with the explicit goal of facilitating traffic flows and reducing congestion at border control areas. Funding supports transport infrastructure elements such as improved road and rail links to BCPs, expanded and upgraded truck parking and waiting areas, increased lane capacity between parking and border controls, interoperable rail infrastructure at border points, and fixed IT solutions integrated into infrastructure that help accelerate checks and alleviate congestion when such equipment is part of a wider transport infrastructure project. Stand-alone border control equipment, mobile equipment, administrative buildings and warehousing are ineligible. The call targets projects that are mature, demonstrate cross-border coordination where relevant, deliver clear TEN-T and corridor-level benefits, and use CEF funding as a catalytic instrument to unlock or accelerate investments. Funding is provided as budget-based grants with maximum EU shares defined by category (studies and works generally up to 50%, higher for outermost regions), and projects must provide co-financing. Applicants submit a single-stage proposal via the Funding & Tenders Portal using standard CEF templates (Part A online, Part B PDF and prescribed annexes including a detailed budget per WP, timetable, Member State letter of support and environmental compliance file). Evaluation follows the five award criteria (Priority and urgency, Maturity, Quality, Impact, Catalytic effect). Successful proposals will be invited to grant preparation and legal/financial checks before grant signature. Applicants should prepare robust technical, environmental and financial documentation and secure necessary national or Member State backing where relevant. For call-related support contact CINEA-CEF-TRANSPORT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Contact for call-related questions: CINEA-CEF-TRANSPORT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu. For IT issues use the Funding & Tenders Portal IT Helpdesk and consult the Online Manual and Portal FAQs.

Overview and Strategic Objective

This Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) call aims to modernise transport infrastructure on the TEN-T network to facilitate rail and road traffic flows at border control areas located at the Union's external border ¹. Priority is given to upgrading existing border crossing points for coordinated bi-directional controls and projects located on TEN-T European Transport Corridors ².

Who Should Apply

Eligible applicants include legal entities (public or private bodies) established in EU Member States (including OCTs) or countries associated with the CEF Programme ³. Public bodies, Member State organisations, and international organisations are exempted from operational capacity checks ⁴.

Eligible Activities and Scope

1. 1Works and studies improving rail and road connections to border crossing points
2. 2Upgrade of truck parking spaces, waiting areas, and road lane capacity from parking to border control points
3. 3Rail projects facilitating traffic flows at Border Crossing Points (BCPs), including interoperability improvements
4. 4Smart IT solutions or fixed devices integrated into transport infrastructure that accelerate border checks (only as part of a wider infrastructure project)

Mobile equipment, administrative buildings, storage facilities, and parking for border officers are strictly excluded ⁵. Border check equipment cannot be supported as a stand-alone project ⁶.

Funding Details and Financial Parameters

Total Call Budget:€20,000,000 ⁷.

Maximum EU Contribution per Project:Capped at €10,000,000 ⁸.

Recommended Minimum Request:€1,000,000 to ensure efficiency ⁹.

Key Deadlines and 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
5. 5Maximum Duration: 31 December 2029 for studies; 31 December 2030 for works

Evaluation Criteria and Requirements

Proposals are evaluated on five criteria:Priority and urgency, Maturity, Quality, Impact, and Catalytic effect. Each criterion has a minimum pass score of 3/5, and the overall threshold is 15/25 points ¹⁰. Mandatory documents include a detailed budget table per work package, environmental compliance file, Gantt chart, and Member State letter of support ¹¹.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; paper submissions are not accepted ¹². Part B of the application is limited to a maximum of 120 pages ¹³.

Footnotes

1. 1Official Call Document: CEF-T-2026, Section 2 (Objectives).
2. 2Call Document, Section 2: Priority given to TEN-T European Transport Corridors and bi-directional controls.
3. 3Call Document, Section 6: Eligible participants (EU Member States and CEF associated countries).
4. 4Call Document, Section 7: Public bodies exempted from operational capacity checks.
5. 5Call Document, Section 2: Exclusion of mobile equipment and administrative buildings.
6. 6Call Document, Section 2: Border check equipment not supported as stand-alone project.
7. 7Call Document, Section 3: Available budget €20,000,000.
8. 8Call Document, Section 6: Maximum EU contribution capped at €10,000,000.
9. 9Call Document, Section 6: Applicants encouraged to request no less than €1,000,000.
10. 10Call Document, Section 9: Award criteria thresholds (3/5 per criterion, 15/25 overall).
11. 11Call Document, Section 5: Mandatory annexes (Budget table, ECF, Gantt chart, Letter of support).
12. 12Call Document, Section 5: Electronic submission via Funding & Tenders Portal only.
13. 13Call Document, Section 5: Part B page limit of 120 pages.