Read | CEF: Five years supporting European infrastructure

In June 2019, the Innovation & Networks Executive Agency (INEA) published the brochure ‘’The Connecting Europe Facility: Five years supporting European infrastructure”.

The brochure takes an extensive look at the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme 2014-2019 in the areas of Transport, Energy and Telecom. It notes specifically how the  level of CEF funding is unprecedented, at approximately €30 billion (with €28.8  billion available for grants).

The brochure highlights two characteristics, which help make CEF funding so effective:

• Leveraged support: CEF funding combined with public and private support will total €55.5 billion (€0.09 billion for Digital Service Infrastructures, such as the CEF Building Blocks) of investment in the European economy:
• Multiannual approach: enhancing the financial stability and viability of investments;

The brochure also explores how CEF Telecom is anchored to the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart,  sustainable,  and  inclusive  growth  via  the  Digital  Single Market Strategy. The Single Market Strategy strategy highlights the  importance  of  digital  infrastructure  and  a  digital  economy  for  improving  services,  expanding  choice  and  creating employment.

The CEF Building Blocks are CEF-funded Digital Service Infrastructures that provide  basic  functionality (for example authentication or data exchange),  facilitate  cross-border  interaction  between EU  public  administrations, businesses and citizens and are reusable by more complex services (eJustice or Online Dispute Resolution). In  2014-2018,  16  dedicated  calls  were  launched  for  the Building  Blocks*,  allocating  €75.3 million in CEF Telecom funding to 128 actions.

To see the value of the CEF Building Blocks in action, have a look at the Connecting Europe Success Stories. They offer first-hand accounts of how the Building Blocks support cross-border projects in building a Digital Single Market in Europe.

Otherwise, take a moment to read this INEA brochure to learn more about the CEF Building Block Digital Service Infrastructures and the wider CEF programme.

*CEF eDelivery, eID, eInvoicing, eSignature and eTranslation, which were initially adopted the first CEF Work Programme in 2014.