Submarine Cable Repair Capacities – Pilot Works

CEF Digital pilot call to fund the design, procurement and deployment of modular submarine cable repair equipment and related vessel pre-configuration and shoreside facilities serving the Baltic Sea, with an indicative budget of €20,000,000 and a maximum grant of €20,000,000 per project. The grant finances capital and preparatory costs (equipment, spares, launch/recovery systems, training, storage and vessel pre-configuration) but excludes post-completion operation and maintenance, and VAT, with a funding rate of 50% of eligible costs. Eligible applicants are public legal entities established in EU Member States with an emergency response mandate and must provide mandatory Letters of Support from Member States benefitting from the project; projects should normally run up to 24 months. Submission is via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal with a single-stage deadline of 6 May 2026 (17:00 Brussels time) and strict security, ownership-control and coordination requirements.

Submarine Cable Repair Capacities – Pilot Works (CEF-DIG-2026-CABLE-REPAIR-CAPACITIES-PILOT-WORKS)

What it funds

Scope in one line

Grants to design, procure and deploy modular repair equipment and related shore-side storage/pre-configuration works so that pre-configured flat-deck vessels can receive repair modules and rapidly restore submarine telecommunications cable service in Baltic Sea emergency situations.

Key activities eligible:Module design and production; spares and jointing/splicing lab equipment; cable handling and launch/recovery systems; pre-configuration of at least three vessels; shoreside storage and limited port/shipyard preparatory works; initial training and certification. Operational running costs are not eligible.

1. 1Target geography: Baltic Sea as defined by the Helsinki Convention (starts in the Skagerrak and includes adjacent waters).
2. 2Applicants: public bodies established in eligible countries with an emergency response mandate (e.g. civil protection agencies, coastguards, navies).
3. 3Consortium: other entities may participate as subcontractors or associated partners but participation in any funded role is limited to entities from eligible countries and subject to ownership/control/security checks.
4. 4Technical/security requirements: demonstrate modularity, adaptability to flat-deck vessels, ability to install modules within 3 days, coordination with Regional Cable Hubs and compliance with digital security declarations and CPEI criteria.
5. 5Duration: projects normally up to 24 months; project start date after GA signature unless exceptional retroactive start justified.

Who can apply

Only legal public bodies established in eligible countries and having an emergency response mandate may be beneficiaries (applicants/coordinators). Associated partners and subcontractors may be included but are subject to ownership/control restrictions and security declarations; Member State support letter is mandatory.

How much

Indicative total call budget €20,000,000. Maximum grant per project €20,000,000. Cofunding rate: 50% of eligible costs.

Important application requirements

Proposals must be submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal using Part A and Part B templates and the detailed budget table. Mandatory annexes include Member State support letter, security compliance declarations, ownership control declarations, vessel pre-configuration evidence for at least three vessels, detailed implementation plan and business plan/financial spreadsheet.

1. 1Security and ownership control: participants will undergo ownership/control checks; entities controlled from non-eligible third countries may be exceptionally allowed only if an approved national security guarantee is provided.
2. 2Vessels: identify at least three flat-deck vessels pre-configured or with firm commitments (leases/SLAs) to host modules for at least 10 years.
3. 3Digital security: proposals must address EU Cable Toolbox risk scenarios and meet digital security declarations; results must remain with beneficiaries and protected for 10 years.

Evaluation and selection

Projects are evaluated against Priority and urgency, Maturity, Quality, Impact and Catalytic effect (individual thresholds apply). The call budget is likely to fund one project but multiple awards are possible depending on ranking and available funds.

How to get support

Submit via the Funding & Tenders Portal. For technical questions contact HADEA CEF DIGITAL CALLS (HADEA-CEF-DIGITAL-CALLS@ec.europa.eu) and consult the call document, templates and Q&A on the Topic page before submission.

Submarine Cable Repair Capacities – Pilot Works (CEF-DIG-2026-CABLE-REPAIR-CAPACITIES-PILOT-WORKS)

Call summary

Essential facts

Call type: Call for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility Digital (CEF-Digital). Topic identifier: CEF-DIG-2026. Opening date: 05 February 2026. Deadline: 06 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Type of action: CEF-INFRA CEF Infrastructure Projects. Type of Grant Agreement: CEF Action Grant Budget-Based (CEF-AG). Submission model: single-stage (one-step submission). Indicative available budget: €20,000,000. The pilot focuses on the Baltic Sea area as defined by the Helsinki Convention (HELCOM) and is intended to support modular repair equipment and related operational capabilities for submarine telecom cables serving EU Member States in the Baltic Sea.

Call objective:Enhance EU emergency response capacities and backbone network resilience by developing and deploying adaptable modular repair kits and related operational capabilities deployable on pre-configured flat-deck vessels to enable rapid submarine telecom cable repair/substitution in emergency situations that cannot be addressed timely by commercial services, strengthening digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy for the Union ¹.

Eligibility and applicant requirements

This call targets public entities only. Eligible applicants must be legal entities established as public bodies in eligible countries and must have an emergency response mandate (examples cited: civil protection bodies, national emergency response agencies, coastguards, military navies). The call is security-restricted: eligible countries are EU Member States (including Overseas Countries and Territories) and countries associated to the CEF programme when permitted by the call conditions. Non-EU controlled entities are excluded in principle unless exceptional eligibility with approved security guarantees is granted. Applicants must register in the Participant Register and upload required declarations and supporting documents; Member State support letter confirming national approval is mandatory.

1. 1Eligible applicant types: public bodies with an emergency response mandate (e.g., civil protection agencies, coastguard authorities, national/naval emergency response units).
2. 2Other participants: associated partners, subcontractors, affiliated entities, third parties giving in-kind contributions may participate but their eligibility and ownership must comply with the call’s security and ownership-control restrictions.
3. 3Geographic eligibility: applicants must be established in eligible countries (EU Member States are mandatory for this call); project activities and modules must be hosted in ports/shipyards located within EU territory bordering the Baltic Sea (HELCOM definition: starts in the Skagerrak and includes adjacent waters).
4. 4Security constraints: the call imposes strict digital security requirements, mandatory security compliance declarations for all funded participants, ownership-control questionnaires, and potential national security guarantees for non-EU controlled entities (only exceptionally).

Scope of activities and technical expectations

Scope: Design, construction and purchase of repair modules for telecom submarine cables and related preparatory works for operation and storage. Eligible activities include delivery of modular repair kit components (splicing lab, OTDR and diagnostics equipment, cable handling systems, launch and recovery systems, ROV support), final layout and design, pre-configuration of at least three flat-deck vessels to receive modules (costs for pre-configuration may be included if compliant), shoreside storage and handling upgrades (capped to a defined portion of eligible costs), and initial training and certification of emergency repair teams. Operational and long-term O&M costs are explicitly not eligible for reimbursement under this CEF grant.

Technical and operational requirements:Proposals must demonstrate module adaptability, portability and scalability, identify a minimum of three pre-configured vessels (owned or by SLA/lease guaranteeing availability for at least 10 years), show capacity to install modules onboard within a maximum of 3 days from vessel arrival at port/shipyard following a Regional Surveillance Hub request, provide specifications compatible with a range of flat-deck vessels, present a clear phasing (design, production-level deployment, operation), governance, allocation policy and rationale for storage/installation locations, and must coordinate effectively with the entity declaring an emergency (anticipated to be the future Regional Cable Hubs).

Financial information and grant mechanics

Total indicative call budget: €20,000,000. Maximum grant per project: not higher than €20,000,000. Type of financing: budget-based action grant (actual costs plus unit/flat-rate elements where applicable). Funding rate: pilot call co-funding rate 50% of total eligible costs. VAT not eligible. Project duration: normally up to 24 months (extensions possible by amendment if duly justified). Estimated timetable: evaluation May–July 2026, grant signature autumn 2026. The prefinancing, interim payments and final payment schedule will be set in the Grant Agreement (prefinancing typically up to 30% unless modified during grant preparation).

Application process, documentation and templates

Application method: all proposals must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System. Single-stage submission: Application Form Part A (online) and Part B (PDF upload) plus mandatory annexes. Page limit for Part B: 120 pages. Required annex templates are provided in the Submission System and must be used: detailed budget table per Work Package (Excel), timetable (Gantt chart template), member state letter of support (Member State Agreement template), security compliance declaration template, ownership control declaration template, business plan financial spreadsheet template, security and digital requirements documents, CEF Model Grant Agreement (MGA) for reference, and any other annexes indicated in the call.

1. 1Application Form Part A and Part B (use mandatory templates).
2. 2Detailed budget table per Work Package (Annex 1 to Part B, Excel).
3. 3Timetable / Gantt chart (mandatory template).
4. 4Letter of support / Member State agreement (mandatory).
5. 5Security compliance declaration (mandatory for participants receiving funding).
6. 6Ownership control declaration and supporting documents (mandatory).
7. 7Business plan financial spreadsheet (mandatory where requested).
8. 8Any additional templates indicated in the Submission System (e.g., detailed equipment lists, SLA copies for third-party vessels).

Assessment and award

Admissibility and eligibility checks are performed first. Evaluators will assess operational capacity and award criteria. Award criteria are scored out of 25 points across five equally weighted criteria: Priority and urgency (5), Maturity (5), Quality (5), Impact (5), Catalytic effect (5). Individual threshold for each criterion is 3/5 and overall pass score is 15/25. Projects passing thresholds will be ranked and funded within the limits of available budget; the pilot budget is likely sufficient for a single award although the call will rank proposals by score and may fund more than one if budget increases.

Selection timeline and modalities:Single-stage evaluation with independent experts and an evaluation committee, followed by consensus and panel review phases, ranking and invitation to grant preparation. Invitation to grant preparation is not a formal commitment to fund; legal validation, financial capacity checks (unless exempted for public bodies) and security assessments will be completed during grant preparation.

Categorisation answers (structured extraction)

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: Public body; Member State organisations with emergency response mandate; coastguard; navy; civil protection authorities. Associated partners and subcontractors may be non-public but participation is subject to ownership-control restrictions and security checks; international organisations may be eligible subject to call provisions.
2. 2Funding Type: Grant (CEF budget-based action grant).
3. 3Consortium Requirement: Other than the core requirement that the applicant be a public entity with an emergency response mandate, the call imposes no restrictive consortium composition rule; single-beneficiary (mono-beneficiary) and multi-beneficiary proposals are accepted. Applicants must demonstrate coordination with the Regional Cable Hubs; affiliated entities can participate. In practice both single applicants and consortia are allowed.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): EU Member States only for eligibility in this security-restricted pilot (associated CEF countries may participate only where explicitly allowed and after ownership-control checks). Project assets and storage/installation facilities must be located in EU territory bordering the Baltic Sea as per HELCOM delimitation.
5. 5Target Sector: Digital/telecom backbone infrastructure, submarine cable repair, maritime infrastructure, critical infrastructure resilience, security and emergency response (cross-cutting energy if relevant but power-cable repair costs are ineligible).
6. 6Mentioned Countries: Baltic Sea area; HELCOM definition includes Skagerrak to Bothnian Bay. Explicit country list not provided in call text; eligible applicants must be established in EU Member States (no specific Member States enumerated in the summary).
7. 7Project Stage: Design, production-level deployment and operation; projects must be mature enough to demonstrate vessel pre-configuration and delivery capability (final layout and design are eligible; studies are not funded except where final design is required).
8. 8Funding Amount: Indicative total call budget €20,000,000. Maximum requested grant amount per project not higher than €20,000,000. Co-funding rate 50% of eligible costs.
9. 9Application Type: Open call (pilot) with single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; one call focused on Baltic Sea in 2026 with a second call for other sea basins foreseen in late 2026.
10. 10Nature of Support: Monetary grant funding to reimburse eligible direct costs and certain eligible purchases; no operational O&M costs covered by CEF; no financial support to third parties unless explicitly allowed and described in call.
11. 11Application Stages: One stage submission followed by evaluation and then grant preparation (operationally two main stages: submission→evaluation; shortlisted→grant preparation and validation).
12. 12Success Rates: The call text indicates the budget is expected to be sufficient to fund probably one proposal; the success rate therefore depends on number of high-quality applicants. No historical success rate is provided; applicants should expect a competitive, selective process and that only top-ranked proposals will be funded.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: Yes. Co-funding by applicant or third parties required at 50% of total eligible costs (i.e., the grant covers up to 50%). Public funds or other national/EU funds may complement CEF funds but double funding of costs is prohibited.
14. 14Templates: Application Form Part A (online) and Part B (template), Detailed budget table per Work Package (Excel), Timetable (Gantt chart template), Letter of Support / Member State Agreement template, Security compliance declaration template, Ownership control declaration template, Business plan financial spreadsheet template, CEF Model Grant Agreement (MGA) and related standard templates provided in the Submission System and Portal Reference Documents.

Additional operational and security details

Digital security requirements are strict. All funded participants must submit security compliance declarations confirming compliance with the call’s security requirements, relevant EU cybersecurity guidance (EU Cybersecurity Toolbox, EU Cable Toolbox), and that the grant results will remain with the beneficiary during the project and for 10 years afterwards. Ownership-control assessments will be performed for participants and may block participation of entities controlled from non-eligible third countries. Exceptional participation by entities from third countries is possible only with approved national security guarantees and EU positive assessment of the mitigation measures. The call requires Member State support letters confirming approval of the project and the nature of the applicant as a public emergency-response entity.

Vessel and logistics requirements:Applicants must identify at least three vessels that are or will be pre-configured flat-deck vessels able to receive modules with minor adaptation; for third-party-owned vessels applicants must provide lease or SLA documentation guaranteeing vessel availability for at least 10 years. Port/shipyard hosting, installation within maximum 3 days after vessel arrival, shoreside equipment and storage rationale must be described in detail.

Assessment of what evaluators will prioritise

1. 1Priority and urgency: coverage across the Baltic Sea, ability to reduce estimated time-to-repair, contribution to EU CPEI Area 8 and relevant CPEI criteria.
2. 2Maturity: readiness to start and complete within proposed period, evidence of pre-configured vessels or credible, time-bound pre-configuration plan, procurement status and authorisations, Member State support.
3. 3Quality: sound technical approach, compatibility specifications for modules and vessels, logistics, governance and allocation policies, risk management and security compliance.
4. 4Impact: cross-border dimension, resilience and strategic autonomy benefits, measurable KPIs (time-to-repair, operational repair capacity), and synergies with other EU actions (Regional Cable Hubs).
5. 5Catalytic effect: ability of CEF funding to fill a financing gap, mobilise national budgets or long-term arrangements, and lever additional investments or public-private cooperation.

Key evaluation documentation: proposals must include a solid work plan with work packages and milestones (WP1 recommended for management), risk register, detailed budget table per WP, Gantt chart, business plan and financial spreadsheets, security compliance declarations, MS support letter, ownership control declaration, and proof of vessel availability (SLA or lease agreements for third-party vessels).

Practical notes and tips for applicants

1. 1Begin Member State approvals early: the Member State support letter is mandatory. Engage national authorities well before submission to secure the required letter confirming the applicant’s public emergency response mandate.
2. 2Prepare ownership-control evidence early: gather shareholder registries, statutes, shareholders agreements, beneficial owner IDs and nationality records to support the ownership control declaration and any required national guarantees.
3. 3Document vessel availability: obtain signed SLAs or lease offers with 10-year availability guarantees where vessels are third-party owned and include detailed pre-configuration plans and costs.
4. 4Address digital security fully: include specific references to EU Cybersecurity Toolbox and EU Cable Toolbox risk scenarios and mitigations; provide security compliance declarations for all funded participants and show how data and infrastructure will be protected.
5. 5Align budgets and annexes: ensure amounts in the online summary budget match the detailed budget table per WP Excel annex; VAT is ineligible so exclude it from eligible cost calculations.

This pilot call implements objectives of the EU Action Plan on Cable Security and Commission Recommendation (EU) 2024/779; applicants should explicitly link their work to the CPEI list and the Cable Toolbox criteria referenced in the call text.

Key sources and guidance:Consult the call document, the Online Manual and the Model Grant Agreement templates in the Funding & Tenders Portal for full rules on admissibility, eligibility, evaluation, and financial provisions. Full call doc and templates are available in the Portal topic page and Reference Documents Call document (HaDEA CEF Digital) ¹.

How to interpret this opportunity

This CEF pilot call finances modular, rapidly deployable repair capabilities for submarine telecom cables in the Baltic Sea, targeting public entities that have emergency-response mandates. It funds capital and preparatory investments (modules and pre-configuration of vessels and shoreside storage) to improve time-to-repair and operational repair capacity across the Baltic basin, within a two-year project horizon. Security and ownership-control rules are stringent: applicants must be public emergency response entities established in eligible countries and must demonstrate compliance with the digital security, ownership-control and national approval requirements. The call budget is limited (€20 million) and the expected co-funding rate is 50%, so proposals should be mature, nationally supported, technically robust, and operationally credible to be competitive. Applicants should assemble full documentation (technical annexes, financial spreadsheets, Member State support letters, security and ownership declarations) and be prepared for ownership-control and security assessments during grant preparation.

Footnotes

1. 1Call document and related templates are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page for CEF-DIG-2026 and include the Call Document, Application Form templates, Detailed Budget Table per Work Package, Security Compliance Declaration, Ownership Control Declaration, Letter of Support / Member State Agreement, Business Plan financial spreadsheet and the CEF Model Grant Agreement.

Submarine Cable Repair Capacities – Pilot Works

Funding Opportunity Overview

This is a European Union funding opportunity under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital programme, specifically designed to enhance emergency response capacities and resilience of submarine cable infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The call aims to support the development and deployment of adaptable repair modules for swift emergency repair operations of submarine telecommunications cables.

Key Funding Details

Total Budget Available:€20,000,000 for the entire call. The budget is expected to fund only one proposal, though this may be increased up to 20 percent of the total budget if justified.

Funding Rate:50 percent co-funding of total eligible costs. This means applicants must provide matching funds for the remaining 50 percent of project costs.

Maximum Grant Amount:€20,000,000 per project. The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.

Project Duration:Projects should normally be up to 24 months, though extensions are possible if duly justified and approved through an amendment.

Submission Timeline

1. 1Call Opening: 5 February 2026
2. 2Submission Deadline: 6 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission)
3. 3Evaluation Period: May to July 2026
4. 4Information on Evaluation Results: Summer 2026
5. 5Grant Agreement Signature: Autumn 2026

Who Can Apply

This call is restricted to public entities with an emergency response mandate. Eligible applicants include entities active in civil protection, national emergency response agencies, coastguards, and military navies. Applicants must be established in EU Member States only. Non-EU entities are not eligible for this call due to security restrictions.

Eligibility Requirements:Applicants must be legal entities established as public bodies with an emergency response mandate. Each Member State must confirm the nature of the applicant in a mandatory Letter of Support. Applicants must register in the Participant Register before submitting proposals. Ownership control restrictions apply; entities must not be controlled from non-EU countries.

What the Funding Supports

The call funds modular equipment for the repair of submarine telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea. Eligible activities include design, construction and purchase of repair modules with spares, repeaters, cable handling systems, launch and recovery systems, and preparatory works such as vessel pre-configuration, storage facility construction, and personnel training and certification.

Specific Eligible Costs:

• Design and construction of repair modules with spares, repeaters, jointing tools, splicing laboratory, testing and diagnostics equipment
• Cable handling and management systems including cable tanks, cable engines, tensioners, sheaves
• Launch and recovery systems such as cranes, A-frames, remotely operated vehicles (ROV), plow systems
• Pre-configuration of existing vessels to receive modules including final layout and design, installation of support points, loading and docking procedures
• Construction, acquisition or modification of shoreside equipment and storage facilities for modules and spare parts (up to 10 percent of eligible costs)
• Initial training and certification of personnel for module operation and universal joint training

Costs related to operation and maintenance of modules after project completion are not eligible. Rental fees for facilities used for storage or installation are also ineligible.

Geographic Scope and Requirements

This pilot call focuses exclusively on the Baltic Sea, defined according to the Helsinki Convention (HELCOM) as starting in the Skagerrak and including all adjacent waters such as the Bothnian Bay. Repair modules must be capable of serving all EU Member States bordering the Baltic Sea. Modules must be hosted in ports or shipyards with capacity to install them on board ships within a maximum of 3 days from vessel arrival.

Vessel Requirements:Applicants must identify at least three flat deck vessels that are or will be pre-configured to receive the modules. For vessels owned by third parties, applicants must provide lease or service level agreements guaranteeing availability over at least 10 years. Costs for vessel pre-configuration are eligible if they comply with call conditions.

Expected Project Outcomes and Impact

Supported projects must deliver measurable key performance indicators including quick response time to emergency situations identified by Regional Cable Hubs, quick average estimated time-to-repair for cable systems in the Baltic, and increased operational repair capacity in the region. Projects should strengthen the resilience of cable systems in the Baltic Sea area and ensure digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy of the EU.

Evaluation and Award Criteria

Proposals are evaluated against five award criteria, each scored on a maximum of 5 points. The overall pass threshold is 15 points, with a minimum of 3 points required on each individual criterion.

• Priority and Urgency: Correspondence with sectoral policy objectives, EU added value, synergies with other sectors, and geographical balance. Projects covering larger areas or greater cable density with shortest time-to-repair are prioritized.
• Maturity: Readiness and ability to start and complete by proposed dates, status of contracting procedures and authorizations, and financial availability to complement CEF investment.
• Quality: Soundness of implementation plan, technical and financial approach, organizational structures, risk analysis, control procedures, quality management, and operations/maintenance strategy.
• Impact: Effects on competition, safety, security, cybersecurity, interoperability, accessibility, innovation, digitalization, cross-border dimension, network integration, resilience, and territorial accessibility.
• Catalytic Effect: How EU funding facilitates or accelerates the project, overcomes financial gaps, mobilizes additional investments, and improves project quality or scope.

In case of tied scores, priority is determined by scores on Priority and Urgency, then Maturity, then Catalytic Effect, then Impact, and finally Quality criteria.

Special Requirements and Conditions

Security Requirements:All proposals must include security compliance declarations demonstrating that funded infrastructure will comply with security requirements, strictest cybersecurity standards, and measures to address underlying security issues. Proposals must consider risk scenarios and mitigating measures from the EU Cybersecurity Toolbox and EU Cable Toolbox. Results of the CEF-funded action must remain with the beneficiary during and for 10 years after project completion.

Member State Support:Applicants must provide a mandatory Letter of Support from all Member States benefitting from the project, confirming national government approval and confirming the applicant is a public entity with emergency response mandate.

Coordination Requirements:Proposals must demonstrate effective, reliable and efficient coordination with all relevant stakeholders, especially the entity declaring emergency situations, expected to be the future Regional Cable Hubs. Proposals should demonstrate contribution to CPEI Area 8 (Multipurpose vessel(s) and modular equipment stock) from the Cable Projects of European Interest list.

Application Process and Required Documents

Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal before the deadline. Paper submissions are not accepted. Proposals are limited to a maximum of 120 pages for Part B (technical description).

Mandatory Documents:

• Application Form Part A (administrative information, filled directly online)
• Application Form Part B (technical description, downloaded template, completed and uploaded as PDF)
• Detailed budget table per work package (Excel template)
• Activity reports of last year (unless exempted from operational capacity check)
• List of previous projects (key projects for last 4 years)
• Timetable/Gantt chart
• Letters of support from all Member States benefitting from the project
• Ownership control declaration for subcontractors and associated partners
• Security compliance declarations signed by participating entities
• Security guarantees approved by respective authorities (if applicable)

Financial and Operational Capacity

Public bodies, Member State organisations and international organisations are exempted from financial capacity checks. Applicants must demonstrate operational capacity through description of consortium participants, activity reports of the last year, and list of previous projects. Operational capacity will be assessed together with the Quality award criterion.

Budget Flexibility:Budget transfers between participants and budget categories are allowed without amendment, provided they do not imply substantive or important changes to the action description. Changes to budget categories with lump sums, higher funding rates, or eligibility ceilings require amendments.

Grant Agreement and Implementation

The grant will be a budget-based actual cost grant with a 50 percent funding rate. Indirect costs are not eligible (0 percent flat-rate). VAT is not eligible. The grant agreement will set out detailed terms including reporting requirements, payment schedules, and obligations regarding intellectual property rights, communication and visibility, and security.

Payment Arrangements:Initial prefinancing of up to 30 percent of the maximum grant amount will be paid 30 days from entry into force or financial guarantee provision, whichever is latest. Interim payments will be made based on periodic reports. Final payment will be calculated after project completion based on eligible costs declared and accepted.

Reporting Requirements:Beneficiaries must report continuously on project progress using the Portal Continuous Reporting tool. Periodic reports including technical and financial parts must be submitted according to the schedule set in the Data Sheet. Financial statements must detail eligible costs by budget category.

Future Opportunities

This is a pilot call focusing on the Baltic Sea. A second call open to other sea basins (Mediterranean, Atlantic, and other EU sea basins) is foreseen in the second half of 2026. The goal of the EU is to fund modules covering the main sea basins of the Union over time.

Context and Strategic Importance

This funding opportunity is part of the EU Action Plan on Cable Security, adopted in February 2025, which responds to growing concerns about damage to submarine cables, including possible sabotage. Submarine data cables carry almost all internet traffic between continents and are essential for modern life and the European economy. Recent incidents in the Baltic Sea have demonstrated the vulnerability of this critical infrastructure. The call supports the implementation of the EU Cable Security Toolbox and contributes to Cable Projects of European Interest (CPEIs) identified as priorities for EU funding.

Contact and Support

For help related to this call, contact HaDEA CEF DIGITAL CALLS at HADEA-CEF-DIGITAL-CALLS@ec.europa.eu. For IT-related questions, contact the IT Helpdesk. An information session for potential applicants is scheduled for 5 March 2026 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. (no registration required). Questions should be submitted no later than 10 days before the submission deadline (by 26 April 2026).

Footnotes

1. 1The budget of €20,000,000 is the estimated available call budget. The budget might be increased provided that the total additional budget cumulatively allocated to the topic across all calls of the work programme is lower than 20 percent of the total budget of the multiannual plan. The granting authority reserves the right not to award totally or partially the available funds, depending on the proposals received and the results of the evaluation.