Deadline: 27 May 2020
The European Commission has announced a Call for Proposals for concerning projects of common interest under the connecting Europe facility in the field of trans-European energy infrastructure.
This call for proposals aims to enable projects of common interest to be prepared and implemented within the framework of the trans-European networks policy in the energy sector. In particular, the call shall contribute to supporting energy infrastructure projects of common interest that have significant societal benefits and that ensure greater solidarity among Member States, but which do not receive adequate financing from the market. Special focus shall be placed on the efficient use of public investment.
Objectives
- Ending energy isolation
- Increasing competitiveness by promoting the integration on the internal energy market and the interoperability of electricity and gas networks across borders
- Enhancing the Union’s security of supply
- Integrating energy from renewable sources nd developing smart energy networks
- Eliminating energy bottlenecks
- Completion of the internal energy market
- Contributing to sustainable development and protection of the environment, inter alia by the integration of energy from renewable sources and by the development of smart energy networks and cross-border carbon dioxide networks
- Providing other benefits, e.g. in relation to the European “Green Deal” objectives.
Funding Information
The indicative amount to be allocated on the basis of this call for proposals to projects of common interest in the field of trans-European energy infrastructure is € 979.6 million.
Expected Results
It is expected that the financial assistance contributes to the further development and implementation of projects of common interest in electricity (including smart grids), gas and cross-border carbon dioxide networks helping to achieve the broader energy policy objectives of:
- Increasing competitiveness by promoting the further integration of the internal energy market and the interoperability of electricity and gas networks across borders;
- Enhancing the Union security of energy supply, and
- Contributing to sustainable development and protection of the environment, inter alia by the integration of energy from renewable sources into the transmission network and by the development of smart energy networks and carbon dioxide networks.
Eligibility Criteria
Only those proposals submitted by one of the following types of applicants are eligible:
- One or more Member States;
- With the agreement of the Member States concerned, international organizations, Joint Undertakings, or public or private undertakings or bodies established in Member States.
- For UK applicants
- Please be aware that following the entry into force of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement* on 1 February 2020 and in particular Articles 127(6), 137 and 138, the references to natural or legal persons residing or established in a Member State of the European Union are to be understood as including natural or legal persons residing or established in the United Kingdom. UK applicants are therefore eligible to participate under this call.
- * Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community.
- Third countries and third country entities
- Where necessary to achieve the objectives of a given project of common interest and where duly motivated, third countries and entities established in third countries may participate in Actions contributing to the projects of common interest. They may not receive funding except where it is indispensable to achieve the objectives of a given project of common interest.
- Applications presented by third countries and entities established in third countries must contain the agreement of the Member State concerned by the proposed Action and a declaration on why the participation of the applicant is indispensable.
- Applicants that are entities established in a third country must also provide proof of the support of the third country authorities concerned by the Action. Applicants without legal personality Proposals may be submitted by entities which do not have legal personality under the applicable national law, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf and offer guarantee for the protection of the EU financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons.
- Natural persons Proposals submitted by natural persons are not eligible.
- Affiliated entities
- Applicants may designate affiliated entities within the meaning of Article 187 of the Financial Regulation, 10 for the purpose of supporting the implementation of the Action submitted for funding. Such affiliated entities must comply with the eligibility criteria for applicants.
- Member State agreement
- Any applicant that cannot provide the agreement of the EU Member State concerned will not be eligible.
For more information, visit https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/connecting-europe-facility/cef-energy/calls/2020-cef-energy-call-proposals