Inland waterways – works

Overview

This CEF 2 Transport call (Topic CEF-T-2026) funds works to develop inland waterway infrastructure on the TEN-T core network, including upgrades and creation of waterways, locks, weirs/dams and related structures. Eligible applicants are legal entities established in EU Member States and CEF-associated countries (including Moldova and Ukraine) and single-entity applications are accepted. The total call budget is €350 million with maximum EU contribution per grant of €30 million for projects in a single Member State, €70 million for projects in two Member States and €100 million for projects spanning more than two Member States, and the standard funding rate is 50% (up to 70% in outermost regions). Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 6 October 2026 17:00 CET and must include Part B (max 120 pages), a detailed budget per work package, an environmental compliance file and a cost-benefit analysis where applicable.

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Highlights

Inland waterways works (CEF-T-2026-COREGEN-IWWP-WORKS)

What it funds

Grants for works on TEN-T core network inland waterways:upgrade or creation of waterways and related infrastructure (locks, weirs/dams, bridges) to improve navigation conditions, capacity or performance.

Who can apply:Legal entities (public or private), established in eligible countries (EU Member States and countries associated to CEF). Consortia are allowed; affiliated entities and associated partners follow the call rules.

  1. 1Eligible applicants: public bodies, private companies, international organisations (must register in the Participant Register).
  2. 2Eligible activities: works on inland waterways including locks, weirs/dams, creation of new waterways, and related infrastructure on the TEN-T core network.
  3. 3Exclusions and conditions: follow call document rules (environmental compliance, CBA requirements for works above €10 million, permits, procurement rules).

Key financials and limits

Available budget:€350,000,000 (call-level budget) 1

  1. 1Suggested minimum EU request: €1,000,000 (encouraged for efficiency).
  2. 2Maximum EU contribution per grant: €30,000,000 (single Member State); €70,000,000 (two Member States); €100,000,000 (more than two Member States).
  3. 3Typical funding rates: up to 50% for studies, up to 30% for works (standard), up to 50% for inland waterways works; up to 70% in outermost regions. Cross-border works may attract higher rates where applicable.
Deadline06 October 2026, 17:00 CET
How to applySubmit electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System Funding & Tenders Portal

Applications must use the Portal templates (Part A and Part B) and include required annexes: detailed budget table per WP, timetable/Gantt, letters of support (Member State agreement), environmental compliance file and CBA (full for works above €10 million; simplified if below).

Footnotes

  1. 1Call details and full call documentation available on the topic page CEF-T-2026-COREGEN-IWWP-WORKS.

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Breakdown

Call and administrative overview

Call:CEF 2 Transport - Projects on the Core Network - General envelope. Topic: CEF-T-2026. Action type: CEF Infrastructure Projects (CEF-AG — CEF Action Grant Budget-Based). Call opening date: 18 June 2026. Submission deadline: 06 October 2026, 17:00 CET. Submission system: Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission. Submission procedure: single-stage. Budget overview for this topic within the call: indicative share of the €350 000 000 call envelope; the call overall budget is €350 000 000 for the topics listed in the call document. For help: CINEA-CEF-TRANSPORT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu. Topic web page: ec.europa.eu 1.

Objective and scope

Objective:Develop inland waterway transport infrastructure projects located on the TEN-T core network. Scope (eligible activities): Works on inland waterways related to: (1) Upgrade of waterways and related infrastructure such as locks and weirs/dams to achieve stable or improved navigation conditions, improved performance, increased passage capacity for vessels or to ensure good navigation status; (2) Creation of new waterways and related infrastructure including locks, weirs/dams and bridges. Projects must address only this topic per proposal; each proposal may target only one topic under the call.

Eligibility and participants

Eligible applicants:legal entities (public or private bodies) established in eligible countries: EU Member States (including OCTs) and countries associated to the CEF programme (list of participating countries available in call documentation). Natural persons are not eligible (except self-employed sole traders where company has no separate legal personality). International organisations are eligible. Entities without legal personality may exceptionally participate if their representatives can undertake legal obligations on their behalf. EU bodies (except the Commission Joint Research Centre) cannot be beneficiaries. Exceptional participation of entities from other countries may be authorised if essential for implementation. Entities subject to EU restrictive or conditionality measures are ineligible. All beneficiaries and affiliated entities must be registered in the Participant Register (PIC/LEAR) and validated (REA Validation).

Consortium requirements and roles

Consortium requirement:Not explicitly mandating cross-border consortia for the inland waterways topic, but cross-border projects can obtain higher funding rates and may require coordination and Member State commitments. A single-beneficiary application is possible if that single beneficiary meets eligibility. Affiliated entities may participate (must be validated and will receive part of the grant). Associated partners participate without funding. Coordinator (for multi-beneficiary grants) is mandatory and receives payments on behalf of the consortium. Financial and operational capacity checks apply to beneficiaries (public bodies and certain organisations may be exempt).

Geographic eligibility and TEN-T rules

Beneficiary geographic scope:projects must take place in eligible countries (EU Member States and CEF-associated countries). Project location requirement: project must be located on the TEN-T core network (projects located on extended core network are not eligible for this call). Projects should align with TEN-T Regulation infrastructure requirements and contribute to completion and performance of the TEN-T core network.

Funding type, rates and amounts

Funding type:budget-based EU action grants (actual eligible costs, reimbursed at funding rates; model grant agreement: CEF Action Grant — budget-based). Funding rates (maximums): studies up to 50% of eligible costs; works up to 30% of eligible costs; works concerning inland waterways up to 50% of eligible costs; works in outermost regions up to 70% of eligible costs. Cross-border links may qualify for higher funding rate (noted in call rules). Maximum EU contribution per grant agreement: €30 000 000 for projects in a single Member State; €70 000 000 for projects in two Member States; €100 000 000 for projects in more than two Member States. Applicants are strongly encouraged to request not less than €1 000 000 of EU contribution where possible; proposals requesting above the stated caps will be declared ineligible. Grants must not generate profit; revenue-generating applicants must declare expected revenues (deductions apply).

Available budget for the call:Total indicative call budget: €350 000 000 (shared among topics under the call; budget flexibility applies and the Agency may decide not to award all funds).

Eligible costs, budget rules and reporting

Form of grant:budget-based actual cost reimbursement limited to eligible costs incurred and reported. Budget categories: A Personnel costs (employees, natural persons under direct contract, seconded persons, SME owners and natural person beneficiaries using specific unit cost rules), B Subcontracting, C Purchase costs (travel and subsistence — actual costs only, equipment, other goods/works/services), D Other cost categories (financial support to third parties not allowed under this call, studies, synergetic elements, works in outermost regions), E Indirect costs (flat-rate 0% for this call). Specific rules: personnel average costs (unit costs) based on usual cost accounting practices are authorised (Decision on unit costs); SME owners unit cost decision applies; travel/accommodation unit costs are not authorised (actual costs only); land purchase is ineligible. VAT is not eligible. Project management costs should not exceed 10% of total project costs; excess will be rejected at grant preparation. Eligible costs must be for activities carried out in eligible or target countries. In-kind contributions allowed but not declared as costs.

Mandatory annexes, templates and technical requirements

Application components and mandatory annexes:Application Form Part A (online administrative and summary budget sections); Application Form Part B (technical description — template downloaded from Submission System, uploaded as PDF; Part B limited to 120 pages); Annexes: Detailed budget table per work package (Excel template), Timetable/Gantt chart (template provided), Letter of support / Member State Agreement (template), Simplified CBA calculator (for works with total eligible costs below €10 000 000) or full CBA report plus full CBA cash flow template (for works or mixed projects with works component >= €10 000 000), Environmental Compliance File (ECF) — mandatory for all applications under the call, including declarations required under EIA, SEA, Habitats and Water Framework Directives as applicable, Activity reports / list of previous projects (unless exempted), CVs and other supporting documents as requested. Submission must be electronic through the Funding & Tenders Portal; proposal parts and annexes must be uploaded to correct slots. Page layout rules: minimum font Arial 9, A4, margins at least 15 mm; excess pages in Part B will be disregarded by evaluators. Templates available in Submission System and Reference Documents online (CBA guidance, annotated model grant agreement, rules for legal entity validation, online manual).

Cost-benefit analysis and economic appraisal requirements

CBA requirement:Works projects must include a cost-benefit analysis. Thresholds and tools: works or mixed projects with works component total eligible costs >= €10 000 000: full cost-benefit analysis (standalone text of at least 20 pages plus the full CBA cash flow template); works or mixed projects with works component total eligible costs < €10 000 000: simplified CBA calculator is acceptable. The CINEA guidance on economic appraisal and DG REGIO CBA vademecum apply. Economic analysis must include ENPV, ERR, social discount rate (recommended values discussed in guidance), monetised externalities (air pollution, noise, accidents, climate change) using HECT values updated as specified in guidance; financial analysis must show FNPV and FRR and sustainability (cumulative net cash flow always positive). Cost-benefit analysis scope must cover necessary components and network effects as described in the CINEA guide. Reference templates and cash-flow spreadsheets are provided in the call annexes and Portal. Simplified CBA tool uses HECT-based unit values updated to 2021 euros and default CO2 monetisation assumptions indicated in guidance.

Award criteria and evaluation process

Evaluation process:single-stage, one-step evaluation by external experts and evaluation committee; admissibility and eligibility checks first; operational capacity and award criteria assessment follows. Evaluation phases: individual evaluation by experts, consensus phase and panel review; scoring and ranking of proposals. Invitation to grant preparation is not a funding commitment; legal checks (legal entity validation, exclusion checks, financial capacity) follow before grant signature. Applicants can appeal evaluation procedure through complaint mechanisms described in evaluation result letters.

  1. 1Award criteria (each scored 0-5; minimum threshold per criterion = 3): 1) Priority and urgency (5 points); 2) Maturity (5 points); 3) Quality (5 points); 4) Impact (5 points); 5) Catalytic effect (5 points).
  2. 2Overall pass score: minimum 15 out of 25. Proposals must pass individual thresholds and overall threshold to be considered for funding.
  3. 3Priority order tie-breakers: score under Priority and urgency, then Maturity, then Catalytic effect, then Impact, then Quality; if still equal, recommended EU contribution ascending.

Project duration, start date and deliverables

Maximum project duration:studies — normally up to 31/12/2029; works — normally up to 31/12/2030. Start date will be fixed in the Grant Agreement data sheet; normally after grant signature; retroactive starting date may be exceptionally authorised but not earlier than the proposal submission date. Grant Agreement will include milestones, deliverables and reporting timetable. Beneficiaries must upload deliverables in the Portal and update MAP-IT network information and output indicators when requested.

Payments, prefinancing and guarantees

Payment structure:pre-financing (normally 25–50% depending on grant and estimated duration) paid within 30 days after entry into force/receipt of prefinancing guarantee if required; one or more interim payments with detailed cost reporting; progress reports may be required. Final payment and balance after final report and audits. Prefinancing guarantees: may be required (normally from the coordinator) if financial capacity concerns exist; must be issued by approved bank/financial institution in euros. Enhanced financial responsibility regimes (joint and several liability) can be requested if financial capacity checks indicate issues. Certificates (e.g. audit certificates) may be required depending on grant size and type.

Operational and financial capacity checks

Financial capacity:applicants must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources to implement the project; documentary evidence (P&L, balance sheet, audit reports) will be reviewed during validation/grant preparation. Financial capacity checks may be waived for public bodies, Member State organisations and international organisations, and for individual grants <= €60 000. If insufficient, the Agency may request additional measures (guarantees, staged prefinancing, joint liability) or reject the proposal. Operational capacity: applicants must demonstrate know-how, qualifications and resources (activity reports, lists of previous projects, CVs) to deliver the project; public bodies and Member State organisations and international organisations are exempted from operational capacity checks. Exclusion grounds: bankruptcy, fraud, corruption, serious professional misconduct, breach of social/tax rules, EU restrictive measures, or other exclusion situations listed in the EU Financial Regulation.

Application and submission process

How to apply:register organisation(s) in Participant Register and obtain PIC; create EU Login account; access the Submission System via the Topic page; complete and submit Part A (online) and Part B (PDF uploaded) and all annexes through the Portal. Do not use call page templates on topic page for submission — use Submission System templates only. Proposals must be complete and submitted before the deadline. Draft proposals can be accessed in My Proposals if previously started. IT Helpdesk available for technical support. Applicants must confirm mandate to act for all participants and sign declaration of honour at grant preparation. Proposals exceeding page limits will be truncated; proposals must be readable and printable. Associated partners and affiliated entities must be declared; consortium agreement recommended for multi-beneficiary projects.

Other rules and special conditions

Financial support to third parties is not allowed under this topic. Projects must comply with EU policies including environmental, social and procurement rules. Projects subject to EIA or affecting Natura 2000 or Water Framework Directive must supply relevant documentation and declarations in the Environmental Compliance File. Projects should consider climate proofing, decarbonisation of construction and alignment with EU climate objectives; climate-related tracking will be applied and at least 60% of CEF should contribute to climate objectives. Applicants must avoid double-funding; no EU grant duplications for same costs. Public procurement rules apply for contracting; Tenders and procurement steps must be clearly described in Part B. Communication and dissemination activities are eligible; costs for separate project websites are not eligible (project presence on participant websites allowed).

Application templates supplied

  1. 1Standard Application Form — Part A (administrative forms — filled online) and Part B (technical description template for download/upload).
  2. 2Detailed budget table per work package (Excel).
  3. 3Letter of support / Member State Agreement (WORD template).
  4. 4Timetable / Gantt chart (WORD template).
  5. 5Environmental compliance file (WORD template) including declarations for EIA, SEA, Habitats and Water Framework Directives.
  6. 6Simplified CBA calculator (Excel) — for projects with eligible works costs < €10 000 000.
  7. 7Full CBA cash-flow template (Excel) — mandatory for works with eligible costs >= €10 000 000.

Application process stages and success rates

Application stages:submission (single-stage) -> admissibility and eligibility checks -> external expert individual evaluation -> consensus and panel review -> ranking and invitation to grant preparation -> legal checks and grant preparation -> grant signature. Number of stages for applicants to pass: typically 2 major stages (submission -> evaluation -> invitation; then grant preparation checks and signature) but in evaluation process there are multiple internal phases (individual evaluation, consensus and panel). Success rates: not specified in call documents; depend on competition and quality of proposals and available budget. Reserve list may be created; funding not guaranteed until grant signature and all checks passed.

Co-funding and financial leverage:Co-funding requirement: the call requires co-financing — projects must demonstrate other financing sources (own resources, third-party contributions, loans, private investment). The grant contributes a share of eligible costs according to funding rates and projects must show the remaining balance covered from other sources. The call encourages leveraging private and public funds and demonstrates catalytic effect.

Templates and application structure guidance

Application form structure:Part A (administrative): general information, participants, budget summary, declarations. Part B (technical): cover page, project summary, 0 Project description, 1 Priority and urgency (TEN-T and EU added value), 2 Maturity (technical readiness, permits, procurement), 3 Quality (cost-effectiveness, consortium set-up, project management, risk), 4 Impact (CBA/demand analysis, environmental and climate impacts, interoperability, innovation), 5 Catalytic effect (financial gap, leverage, stakeholder commitment), 6 Work plan, WPs and deliverables (detailed WPs, milestones, deliverables, Gantt), 7 Other (ethics, security), 8 Declarations and Annexes. Mandatory annexes include detailed budget table per WP, timetable, letters of support from Member States where applicable, environmental compliance file, CBA documents, list of previous projects and activity reports unless exempted. The Part B template provides guidance on what to include in each section and minimum requirements for tables and deliverables and must be uploaded as PDF.

Applicant guidance and references:applicants must consult the Call Document, Model Grant Agreement, EU Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, CINEA Guide on Economic Appraisal for CEF Transport Projects, DG REGIO CBA Vademecum and Handbook on external costs of transport (HECT) for monetisation of externalities and the Annex templates available in the Submission System. Unit cost decisions (for SME owners and average personnel costs) and rules for eligibility are referenced in the call documentation and the Portal Reference Documents for 2021-2027 CEF. See topic page and guidance documents for full lists and latest updates 1.

Categorisation answers (structured)

Eligible Applicant Types:Public bodies (national, regional or local authorities), private legal entities, SMEs, large enterprises, research institutes and universities (if legally involved and eligible), international organisations, non-profits where legally established; affiliated entities (linked entities) may participate; natural persons generally not eligible except self-employed sole traders where legal personality is not separate. NGOs can participate as legal entities where relevant. Investors as partners may be involved but must comply with eligibility and publicity rules. The call specifically targets public procurers and infrastructure owners/operators as usual lead beneficiaries.

Funding Type:grant (budget-based actual cost action grants).

Consortium Requirement:single applicant or multi-beneficiary consortium allowed; no mandatory multi-country consortium for inland waterways topic but cross-border advantages may exist; consortium composition must be justified; affiliated entities and associated partners allowed.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and CEF-associated countries; projects must take place in eligible countries and be located on the TEN-T core network.

Target Sector:transport — inland waterways, maritime, multimodal connections where applicable; linkages with energy and digital sectors may be relevant for synergies but the topic targets inland waterways infrastructure.

Mentioned Countries:the call text explicitly addresses EU Member States and CEF-associated countries; no specific Member States are named in the topic description. Region: TEN-T core network within eligible countries (EU and associated countries).

Project Stage:expected maturity: construction/works stage for infrastructure projects (projects should demonstrate maturity: readiness, permits, procurement status, financial readiness). Proposals may be for upgrades or new construction; maturity award criterion explicitly evaluates readiness to start and complete within proposed timeline.

Funding Amount:call-level budget €350 000 000. Recommended minimum request advised: >= €1 000 000 where possible. Per-project maximum EU contribution caps: €30 000 000 (single Member State), €70 000 000 (two Member States), €100 000 000 (more than two Member States).

Application Type:open call (Call for proposals) published on the Funding & Tenders Portal; single-stage deadline with electronic submission via the Portal; Partner Search is allowed/active in the Portal for this topic.

Nature of Support:money — direct grant (financial support) to beneficiaries; non-monetary services such as project management guidance from CINEA are provided but the primary delivery is monetary grant funding.

Application Stages:applicants go through submission, admissibility/eligibility checks, expert evaluation (individual evaluation, consensus, panel), ranking and invitation to grant preparation, legal and financial checks, grant signature — count: typically 2 visible decision stages to applicant (evaluation -> invitation; grant preparation -> signature), but internal evaluation has three phases.

Success Rates:not stated in call documentation; success rates depend on number/quality of applications and available budget. Historically CEF calls have competitive success rates; applicants should assume selectivity and prepare full high-quality submissions and strong CBA where required.

Co-funding Requirement:yes — projects must demonstrate co-funding and complementary financing sources to cover the non-EU share of eligible costs. Co-funding sources must be clearly detailed in the budget and grant preparation; co-financing percentages follow funding rates described in the call.

Templates: application forms layout and guidance

Application forms and templates:Part A administered online (sections: general information, participants, budget summary, declarations). Part B must follow the CEF Part B template structure: Cover page; Project Summary; 0 Project description; 1 Priority and urgency; 2 Maturity; 3 Quality; 4 Impact — Cost-Benefit Analysis; 5 Catalytic effect; 6 Work plan, work packages, resources and timing (detailed WPs, tasks, milestones, deliverables, estimated budgets per WP); 7 Other (ethics, security); 8 Declarations. Annex listing (mandatory): detailed budget table per WP (Excel sheets and instructions), timetable/Gantt chart, CBA report (or simplified CBA calculator), environmental compliance file, letter(s) of support / Member State agreement (template), lists of previous projects and activity reports, CVs where appropriate. Detailed budget table per WP must be consistent with online summarised budget; for proposal, budget numbers must be rounded down to nearest thousand in the detailed budget table. The Part B Word/PDF template contains all section prompts and required content and must be uploaded as PDF. The call document provides page limits (Part B maximum 120 pages) and formatting rules. The Application Form Part A includes the summary budget table and participant data fields; validation in the Portal will flag errors/warnings. Applicants should use the Portal submission templates and not the information templates on the topic page.

Practical tips from call text:prepare Environmental Compliance File even for projects not expected to significantly affect environment (tick project type and explain ‘not applicable’ where relevant), prepare simplified CBA or full CBA consistent with CINEA and DG REGIO guidance, ensure Member State letters of support (signed) are included where required, ensure legal and financial documents for validation are available and participants registered prior to submission, keep strict version control to match Part A online budgets with detailed budget excel.

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

This funding opportunity is a CEF action grant call topic to support works on inland waterways located on the TEN-T core network. The topic finances upgrading existing waterways and associated infrastructure (locks, weirs/dams, bridges) to stabilise or improve navigation conditions, increase capacity and performance, and to create new waterways and associated infrastructure. It targets legal entities in EU Member States and CEF-associated countries and reimburses eligible costs up to defined funding rates — crucially inland waterways works can receive up to 50% co-financing. Applicants must submit a full project proposal through the Funding & Tenders Portal by 06 October 2026 including Part A and Part B and the mandatory annexes (detailed budget per WP, environmental compliance file, CBA or simplified CBA as appropriate, timetable and Member State letters of support). Projects must be located on the TEN-T core network and align with TEN-T Regulation obligations. Proposals are evaluated on Priority and urgency, Maturity, Quality, Impact and Catalytic effect. Successful proposals will be invited to grant preparation subject to legal entity validation, financial capacity checks and finalisation of grant agreement terms. The call provides extensive templates, CBA guidance and environmental compliance formats to ensure consistent economic appraisal and environmental conformity. Applicants should prepare robust technical documentation, an eligible and consistent budget per WP, a sound economic appraisal (CBA) for works above thresholds, environmental compliance documents and, where relevant, Member State support documentation to maximise chances of success.

Key immediate actions for prospective applicants:1) Confirm project is on TEN-T core network and aligns with eligible activities in the topic scope; 2) Register organisation(s) in Participant Register and obtain PIC/LEAR validation in good time; 3) Prepare Part B according to template and limit to 120 pages; 4) Prepare detailed budget per WP (Excel), CBA (full or simplified depending on threshold), Environmental Compliance File and Member State letters of support; 5) Ensure readiness status and permits are detailed under Maturity and evidences are attached; and 6) submit via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 06 October 2026.

This summary compiles the key factual elements extracted from the official call documentation and linked guidance. Applicants must consult the official call document, the Submission System templates, the Model Grant Agreement and the CINEA and DG REGIO guidance for final rules and for preparing compliant applications. The official topic page, forms and reference documents on the Funding & Tenders Portal contain authoritative and up-to-date details and templates 1.

Footnotes

  1. 1Topic page and full call documentation available at Funding & Tenders Portal — topic CEF-T-2026: ec.europa.eu

Short Summary

Impact

Improve navigation conditions, capacity and year‑round performance of inland waterways on the TEN‑T core network to enhance sustainable multimodal transport across the EU.

Applicant

Organizations able to plan and deliver major civil‑engineering waterborne infrastructure (design, procurement, construction, environmental permitting, and robust cost‑benefit analysis and project management).

Developments

Works on TEN‑T core inland waterways such as upgrading or creating waterways and related infrastructure (locks, weirs/dams, bridges, dredging, mooring and waterside infrastructure).

Applicant Type

Government organizations, large corporations, and profit SMEs/startups (also eligible:NGOs/non‑profits and international organisations where legally established).

Consortium

A consortium is not required — single‑beneficiary applications are allowed (multi‑beneficiary consortia permitted when appropriate).

Funding Amount

Maximum EU contribution per grant:€30,000,000 (single Member State), €70,000,000 (two Member States), €100,000,000 (more than two Member States); total call budget €350,000,000; standard funding rate 50% of eligible costs (up to 70% in outermost regions).

Countries

Eligible entities established in EU Member States and CEF‑associated countries (explicitly referenced: Moldova and Ukraine); projects must be located on the TEN‑T core network.

Industry

Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) 2 — Transport (inland waterways / transport infrastructure sector).

Additional Web Data

Call Details and Objective

This call, titled **Inland waterways – works** (Topic ID:CEF-T-2026), is part of the **Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) 2 Transport** programme under the General envelope. Its primary objective is to develop inland waterway transport infrastructure projects on the **TEN-T Core Network** to improve navigation conditions, performance, and capacity for vessels [[2]][[7]].

Scope of Works

Proposals must focus on works related to inland waterways, specifically:**upgrading waterways and infrastructure** (locks, weirs/dams) to ensure stable or improved navigation status, and **creating new waterways** and related infrastructure such as locks, weirs/dams, and bridges [[2]][[7]].

Eligibility and Applicant Profile

Eligible applicants are organizations established in **EU Member States**, **Moldova**, and **Ukraine** (countries associated with the CEF Programme). A consortium is **not required**; single-entity applications are accepted [[2]][[7]].

Funding Amounts:The maximum EU contribution per grant agreement is **€30 million** for projects in a single Member State, **€70 million** for projects in two Member States, and **€100 million** for projects spanning more than two Member States [[7]]. The total call budget is **€350 million**, shared with the Rail Works topic [[2]][[7]].

Funding Rate:The standard funding rate is **50%** of eligible costs, increasing to **70%** for projects located in outermost regions [[7]].

Project Duration and Deadline

The maximum project duration for works is **3 years** (or until **31 December 2030** for specific works cases). The submission deadline is **October 6, 2026, at 17:00 CET** [[2]][[7]].

Key Application Requirements

  1. 1Submission must be electronic via the **Funding & Tenders Portal** (paper submissions are not accepted) [[7]].
  2. 2Part B of the application is limited to a maximum of **120 pages** [[7]].
  3. 3Mandatory annexes include a **detailed budget table per work package**, an **environmental compliance file**, and a **Letter of Support (Member State Agreement)** [[2]][[7]].
  4. 4Projects must demonstrate compliance with EU environmental directives (EIA, SEA, Habitats, Water Framework) [[2]].

Strategic Importance and Contact

This funding supports the strategic goal of enhancing sustainable, multimodal transport within the EU by improving inland waterway navigability and capacity. For assistance, contact **CINEA-CEF-TRANSPORT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu** [[2]][[7]].

Footnotes

  1. 1Official call details and submission portal are available at EU Funding Portal - Inland Waterways.

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September 23rd, 2026

Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Facility: Road & Air Transport - works

Call for ProposalOpen

This Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) call CEF-T-2026-AFIFGEN-COSTS funds deployment of alternative fuels supply infrastructure for heavy-duty road transport and airport ground operations along the TEN-T network. The indicative call budg...

October 6th, 2026

Electricity, Gas, Smart Grids, Hydrogen and CO₂ networks - Works

Call for ProposalOpen

CEF-E-2026-PCI-PMI-WORKS is a CINEA-managed Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Energy call offering EUR 600,000,000 (2026 tranche) to co-finance construction works for Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMI...

September 30th, 2026