Finland applies for financial support from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility for the planning of transport projects in urban areas
The State of Finland and certain other actors are applying for financial support from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for four transport projects. Two of these projects are central government projects and two are port projects. The Ministerial Finance Committee endorsed the applications on 11 March 2021.
A total of EUR 200 million in funding is available for this CEF 1 programme period, which is the final period of the multi-annual programme. Of the total sum, EUR 160 million is meant for the general call. The objective of the call is to promote trans-European transport network investments, and the call gives priority to studies done with a view to starting construction in 2021-2024.
The state is seeking a total of EUR 5.398 million in funding for development planning of the Tampere-Oulu rail section of the main line and for the construction plans for the Kupittaa-Turku double-track rail line and the Turku railway yards. The projects are included in the Oulu and Turku land use, housing and transport (LHT) agreements.
"We want to make effective use of EU funding for projects that serve the transition to sustainable transport. Oulu, Tampere and Turku have had excellent cooperation with the Ministry to promote rail traffic," says Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka.
Finnish non-state actors are seeking a total of EUR 12.43 million in CEF financial support. The support is being sought for preliminary studies on the reorganisation of transport at the Port of Helsinki and for planning the development of infrastructure at the Port of Turku.
During the CEF 2 funding period now starting in 2021, Finland can also seek funding for projects extending the North Sea-Baltic core network corridor through Finland, which will mean a significant increase in the number of eligible projects compared to the current funding period. This offers good possibilities for increasing the amount of support Finland receives.
The amount of support received by Finland in 2014-2020 totals approximately EUR 250 million.
What next?
The deadline for applications to the Commission is 22 March 2021. According to an indicative timeline released by the Commission, decisions on the granting of funding will be made in July 2021.
The first application round of the CEF 2 period will possibly open at the turn of May-June.
Construction decisions regarding the projects under planning will be made later in accordance with the objectives of the national transport system plan, and within the scope of the available financial framework.
Inquiries:
Timo Kievari, Director of Unit, tel. +358 400 593 706, Twitter @TimoKievari
Marjukka Vihavainen-Pitkänen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 40 825 1255, Twitter @MarjukkaVihavai
