Summary
Do you want to apply for European funding within the framework of the CEF (Connecting Europe Facility)?
Every year, the European Commission launches funding programmes under the CEF Transport. The CEF Transport programme is aimed at study and works projects on the river, rail or road infrastructures of the TEN-T Core Network and Comprehensive Network. This programme targets actions related to the objectives of decarbonisation and contribution to smart, resilient and sustainable mobility.
Link to the document of the CEF call for projects: call-fiche_cef-t-2021-coregen_en.pdf (europa.eu)
Wallonia is not the ruling body for this funding, but it can provide you with information on this subject, and support you with your application. To be eligible, applications must have the agreement of the Member States concerned.
Key points
- For trans-regional or cross-border projects (more than one region or country involved), the signature of the letter of support is the responsibility of the federal transport authority. In this case, you should contact your functional administration: FPS Mobility & Transport (eufunding@mobilit.fgov.be)
- If the project is located in Flanders or in the Brussels-Capital Region, you should contact their respective administrations.
- Flanders: cef@mow.vlaanderen.be
- Brussels: Contact | Brussel Mobiliteit (mobilite-mobiliteit.brussels)
- For any question related to the TEN-T policy and the CEF Regulation: international.mobilite.infrastructures@spw.wallonie.be
In detail
See document of the CEF Transport call for projects: http://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/cef/wp-call/2021/call-fiche_cef-t-2021-coregen_en.pdf
The role of the Walloon administration is to help project leaders with their application to obtain co-financing under the CEF programme.
In the framework of the creation of your CEF application file for a project on the territory of Wallonia, two essential documents are issued by the SPW:
- the Environmental Compliance File;
- the letter of support from the Member State (signed by the competent Minister).
The specific deadlines for each call for projects are available on this link.
There are several steps involved in obtaining these documents:
1. Notification of project intention to the administration
After reading the documents and the legal framework surrounding this funding programme (obligations related to European funding and required documents), project leaders are asked to notify the administration (international.mobilite.infrastructures@spw.wallonie.be) of their intention to submit a project in the future call(s) for projects. This notification must be sent no later than four months before the closing date of the call for projects.
This notification of intent must be accompanied by a short presentation of the project.
2. Environmental Compliance File
The template for the Environmental Compliance File is available online.
Projects involving physical interventions must demonstrate compliance with European environmental law. This compliance is verified through the Environmental Compliance File, which includes two certificates, one for Natura 2000 and one for water quality.
In this respect, the project leader must contact the competent authorities (see below) and explain how their project has no significant impact on a Natura 2000 area or on water quality.
- Regarding Natura 2000:
The certificate is issued by the Department of Nature and Forestry for compliance with the Habitats, Birds & EIA Directives.
- Regarding water quality:
The certificate is issued by the Department of Environment and Water for compliance with the Water Framework Directive.
The Environmental Compliance File must be sent to the competent services at the latest six weeks before the closing date of the call for projects.
3. Evaluation by the administration of the project description note
The administration's evaluation of the project is based on a detailed presentation of the submitted project (concept note). It is important that this description note be submitted in its most complete form and include the following information:
- project description and technical specifications;
- location and schedule of the proposed action;
- estimated budget.
This note must reach the administration (international.mobilite.infrastructures@spw.wallonie.be) at the latest two months before the closure of the call for projects.
The deadline for the administration to evaluate the project is five working days. During this evaluation, the administration will check whether the project is in line with the regional mobility strategy and that it is not in competition with other Walloon initiatives.
4. The letter of support from the Member State
After evaluation of the competent administration services, the Minister decides on the appropriateness of a letter of support from the Member State.
The Minister's final approval will be sent to the project leader at the latest one week before the closure of the call for projects.
- REGULATION (EU) 2021/1153 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 7 July 2021 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1316/2013 and (EU) No 283/2014
- See also: REGULATION (EU) NO 1315/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 December 2013 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network and repealing Decision No 661/2010/EU