Innovation and Networks Executive Agency
INEA
This page contains the questions regarding the 2012 Annual Call submitted to the Call Helpdesk.
Disclaimer:
This FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) list is based on the rules and conditions contained in the legal documents relating to TEN-T Calls for Proposals. It is intended to ensure that the same guidance is provided to all potential applicants, and does not in itself have legal value.
It is provided for reference purposes only.
1. Is shore-side electricity for cruise shipping eligible for TEN-T financing?
Article 12 of the TEN-T guidelines regarding seaports states that 'Their infrastructure shall provide a range of services for passenger and goods transport, including ferry services and short- and long distance shipping services, including coastal shipping, within the Community and between the latter and non-member countries.'. Infrastructure for cruise ships may not be excluded 'per se' but considering the low relevance in relation to transporting passengers and goods, infrastructure for cruise ships is not a priority for this Call for Proposals.
2. Are start-up aid depreciation costs eligible under Priority 1?
The Annual Work Programme does not exclude infrastructure for passengers but states clearly to which areas priority will be given; 'start-up aid' is not among those.
3. Are storage facilities for LNG eligible for financing?
TEN-T only supports investments in LNG bunkering facilities (open to any user on a non-discriminatory basis) and not storage facilities for LNG, i.e. energy projects cannot be supported under this TEN-T call but the creation of LNG bunkering facilities is a priority.
4. Are studies eligible under Priority 1 – Maritime Transport?
Yes, studies are also accepted as stipulated in the 2012 annual work programme and the 2012 annual call text quoted below:
WP, Section 3.1 stipulates:
"This priority addresses:
Annual call text, section 2.2., Priority 1 that stipulates:
"The studies concerning the development of TEN-T projects with the aim of creating a mature project pipeline for 2014 and beyond, to be implemented inter alia under the CEF. In particular under this priority, support will be granted to preparatory studies that will accelerate the implementation of projects (e.g. environmental studies/design studies versus feasibility studies) and lead to physical implementation concerning all transport modes, including inland navigation, rail, maritime and road."
5. Are feasibility studies eligible for TEN-T financing under Priority 1?
Feasibility studies are eligible under Priority 1. However, they are of a lesser priority compared to studies that lead directly to implementation.
6. Would a proposal for a study concerning safety and security of roads be considered eligible under Priority 1?
The Annual Call addresses also studies in the road sector. Any road study covering safety and security is eligible under Priority 1. In particular, the call text stipulates in section 2.2 Priority 1 that "The studies concerning the development of TEN-T projects with the aim of creating a mature project pipeline for 2014 and beyond, to be implemented inter alia under the CEF. In particular under this priority, support will be granted to preparatory studies that will accelerate the implementation of projects (e.g. environmental studies/design studies versus feasibility studies) and lead to physical implementation concerning all transport modes, including inland navigation, rail, maritime and road"
7. We would like to submit a project proposal for a water truck on a long distance canal to increase the possible use of this canal under Priority 2. Would this be considered an innovative solution?
Priority 2 under the Annual Call for Proposals focuses on promoting innovation and new technologies contributing to decarbonisation or the reduction of external costs in general. The focus is only on new technologies ready for deployment with initial results by the end of 2014 and completed by the end of 2015.
Priority will therefore be given to studies supporting the testing and deployment of new technologies and of enabling infrastructure components and facilities in the area of freight and passenger transport. Here are some priority elements for your information:
8. We are preparing a proposal under Priority 2. The consortium will be composed of ship owners and also shippers. Which mode of transport should we indicate in the eSubmission module while 'maritime transport' is not among the available options?
You can choose between "Ports", "Motorways of the Sea" or "Multi-modality" (if another transport mode is involved).
9. Does Priority 4 (rail freight corridors) support the TAF and TAP TSI requirements for developing and modifying IT tools?
Yes, this is possible as long as it includes '(...) development and adaptation of IT tools. '
10. Could proposals concerning studies for airport infrastructure not related to connections between the airport and the rail network be submitted under Priority 1 (for example design studies for aprons, terminals etc.)?
In this call, no support for development of the airport infrastructure on its own is envisaged. Whilst proposals aimed at the intermodal aspects would be considered, specific airport only proposals such as those for aprons would be ineligible. However, if the proposal is able to demonstrate how the terminal design will contribute to the intermodal aspect, i.e. the proposal concerns connections between airport and rail (only for passenger transport), it would be considered eligible and will be evaluated along with others.
11. Is there a further break down of the indicative budget for Priority 1 per transport mode / sub-priorities?
Each of the priorities of the annual call for proposals is earmarked with an indicative budget. No further break down of the budget is foreseen. Please also see section 5 of the call text.
12. The Annual Work Programme does not require the participation of partners from different Member States. However, would it be possible for a proposal to build on projects previously financed in neighbouring Member States? What kind of supporting documents should be provided?
The participation of different partner(s) from different EU Member States is possible but not necessary. In general, a multi-country project partnership should bring an added value to the objectives of the proposed action, compared to a single beneficiary approach or should be justified on the basis of technical requirements of the proposed action.
It is also possible that a project builds on the results of a similar project funded in a neighbouring Member State. However, attention should be paid so as to avoid double funding from Union sources for the same activity (section 6.2.3 of the Work Programme): 'No Union financial aid shall be awarded for parts of projects receiving funds from other sources of Union financing.'
Please also refer to section 5.3.1 of the Guide for Applicants, which states:
'Additional documents to those specified in any Parts of the application form may be included as separate annexes. However, all relevant information for assessing the proposal must be provided in the application form. The purpose of additional annexes - which are not systematically read through - is to provide further information that supports, illustrates or provides evidence of an element described in the application form.
13. Priority 1 refers to intermodal platforms or terminals whose total transhipment of freight exceeds the quantitative threshold of 500,000 tonnes. Is that amount per year?
Yes
14. What is the co-funding rate for studies under Priority 1?
Studies under Priority 1 have the same co-funding rate as all studies co-financed under the TEN-T Programme and namely up to 50% of the eligible costs.
15. Is it possible to apply for funding of a study which concerns rail infrastructure that does not belong to the applicant himself?
Yes, it is possible provided a) the applicant has an specific agreement with the owner of the infrastructure b)that the approval of the MS concerned has been received and c) that it is explained how the action will be implemented (who does what).
Regarding the first condition, please bear in mind that the beneficiary is considered to be the owner of the result of the action (see article III.2.1 of the model decision).
16. Is there a minimum number of beneficiaries for a proposal under the annual call?
There is no minimum requirement for the number of beneficiaries involved in a proposed Action under the Annual Call for Proposals 2012.
17. Can a proposal with the objective of retrofitting a vessel's propulsion equipment or of the construction of new vessels equipped with LNG propulsion system be considered eligible?
Retrofitting of propulsion equipment of vessels and the fitting of LNG propulsion systems are in line with the objectives of priority 2. Please note that only costs related to LNG equipment would be considered eligible.
18. For a proposal addressing scrubber technologies on ships, do we need any kind of acceptance by any national or EU body with respect to the environmental issues related to this action ( part 1.2 on page 4, application form part B 1)?
There is no need to fill in section 1 of the second part of Form B1 dedicated to the compliance with the EU environmental law for this type of activity. However, please note that the impact on the environment should be duly described in the relevant section of the application form (part B2).
19. Regarding retrofitting of propulsion equipment of vessels and the fitting of LNG propulsion systems (Priority 2): Can these activities be included into a study with pilot deployment in one or more Member States? And consequently, can they be financed with a maximum of 50% of the eligible costs?
The above mentioned activities would not be eligible unless they are part of a pilot project. There are no requirements for a minimum participation. Studies that include pilot components and activities are considered to be studies in so far as they comply with the definition given under Article 2(8) of the TEN-T Regulation:
(1) "Studies means activities needed to prepare project implementation, including preparatory, feasibility, evaluation and validation studies, and any other technical support measure, including prior action to define and develop a project fully and decide on its financing, such as reconnaissance of the sites concerned and preparation of the financial package"
The co-funding rate of maximum 50% applies.
Please also note that, in this area, applicants should check existing projects and knowledge to avoid duplication, to re-use "standards" and to plan collaboration, i.e. projects cannot repeat what has been done.
20. In the area of innovation, can studies without deployment be considered "research-oriented"?
No, a study without deployment cannot be considered as 'research-oriented' as it is already implementing research results that are mature enough to be taken up by the market.
21. Is it possible to apply for funding for airport infrastructure projects?
Direct support to infrastructure, in other words works, is limited only to rail connections with airport (for passenger transport only) if the proposal is able to demonstrate how the terminal design will contribute to the intermodal aspect, i.e. the proposal concerns connections between airport and rail (only for passenger transport), it would be considered eligible and will be evaluated along with others.
As far as studies are concerned these may cover any aspect of the airport. However, the studies need to lead to implementation (no feasibility, but rather design or EIA, etc), as mentioned in the WP concerned. Please see also question 10 in this respect.
22. What does "date of dispatch" mean? Can we send our proposal by registered courier on 28 February 2013?
"Date of dispatch" means the date on which the courier has been sent, i.e. the date which will appear on the envelope and or the accompanying receipts or slips. Proposals bearing the date 28 February 2013 will be considered as sent in accordance with the set deadline.
23. In case of a study without physical interventions to be submitted under Priority 1, rail transport, are the signature and stamp of the authority responsible for rail certification necessary (application form part B1, section 2)?
The certification on interoperability is not applicable to studies. However, the study's anticipation of compatibility of future works with Union policy on Interoperability will be assessed/checked during the selection.
24. Are the costs of building a new completely "green" vessel eligible?
According to the Annual call text, section 2.2 "Specific Priorities", "[...] perfecting, the necessary TEN-T infrastructure and facilities that will support the use of alternative fuels and propulsion replacing fossil fuels, including, electric batteries (charging & swapping), hydrogen, CNG, LNG, including LNG bunkering vessels and biofuels as well as any combination thereof. Facilities may include also emission reduction technologies and energy storage equipment installed in the vehicles."
Therefore out of all vessel building costs only those related to decarbonization (as specified in the Call text quoted above) are eligible for TEN-T co-funding.
25. With regard to Priority 2, are there any specific instructions as to how the measurements of "a trajectory / stretch of at least 500 km" should be done? For example, could both sides of a highway be added up (e.g. 250 km one way and 250 km the opposite way of the same segment)?
There are no restrictions as to how the measurements are done. However, please note that this provision applies to "studies with pilot deployment [...] serving at least 2 Member States" (letter (c) of section 3.2 of the Annual Work Programme).
