Chapter I, Article 3 · Regulation (EU) 2021/1153

Contents

Article 3Objectives#

1.The general objectives of the CEF are to build, develop, modernise, complete and make resilient the trans-European networks in the transport, energy and digital sectors and to facilitate cross-border cooperation in the field of renewable energy, taking into account the long-term decarbonisation commitments and the goals of increasing European competitiveness; smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; territorial, social and economic cohesion; and the access to and integration of the internal market, with an emphasis on facilitating the synergies among the transport, energy and digital sectors.

2.The specific objectives of the CEF are:

(a)in the transport sector:

(i)to contribute to the development of projects of common interest relating to efficient, interconnected and multimodal networks and infrastructure for smart, interoperable, sustainable, inclusive, accessible, safe and secure mobility in accordance with the objectives of Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013; and

(ii)to adapt parts of the TEN-T for the dual use of the transport infrastructure with a view to improving both civilian and military mobility;

(b)in the energy sector:

(i)to contribute to the development of projects of common interest relating to further integration of an efficient and competitive internal energy market, interoperability of networks across borders and sectors, facilitating decarbonisation of the economy, promoting energy efficiency and ensuring security of supply; and

(ii)to facilitate cross-border cooperation in the area of energy, including renewable energy;

(c)in the digital sector: to contribute to the development of projects of common interest relating to the deployment of and access to safe and secure very high capacity networks, including 5G systems, to the setting up and deployment of digital capacities such as cloud, AI, AI factories and AI Gigafactories, to the increased resilience and capacity of digital backbone networks on Union territories by linking them to neighbouring territories, as well as to the digitalisation of transport and energy networks.

Defined terms · 20

Show every defined term

action
means any activity which has been identified as financially and technically independent, has a set time-frame and is necessary for the implementation of a project;
alternative fuels
means alternative fuels for all modes of transport as defined in Article 2, point (1), of Directive 2014/94/EU;
beneficiary
means an entity with legal personality with which a grant agreement has been signed;
blending operation
means actions supported by the Union budget, including within blending facilities pursuant to Article 2, point (6), of the Financial Regulation combining non-repayable forms of support and/or financial instruments and/or budgetary guarantees from the Union budget with repayable forms of support from development or other public finance institutions, as well as from commercial finance institutions and investors;
comprehensive network
means the transport infrastructure identified in accordance with Chapter II of Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013;
core network
means the transport infrastructure identified in accordance with Chapter III of Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013;
core network corridors
means instruments to facilitate the coordinated implementation of the core network as provided for in Chapter IV of Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 and listed in Part III of the Annex to this Regulation;
cross border link
means, in the transport sector, a project of common interest which ensures the continuity of the TEN-T between Member States or between a Member State and a third country;
cross-border project in the field of renewable energy
means a project selected or eligible to be selected under a cooperation agreement or any other kind of arrangement between two or more Member States or arrangements between one or more Member States and one or more third countries as set out in Articles 8, 9, 11 and 13 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 in the planning or deployment of renewable energy, in accordance with the criteria set out in Part IV of the Annex to this Regulation;
digital connectivity infrastructure
means very high capacity networks, 5G systems, very high-quality local wireless connectivity and backbone networks, as well as operational digital platforms directly associated with transport and energy infrastructure;
dual-use infrastructure
means a transport network infrastructure that addresses both civilian and defence needs;
energy efficiency first
means energy efficiency first as defined in Article 2, point (18), of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999;
missing link
means an all modes of transport missing section of the TEN-T or a transport section that is providing the connection of core or comprehensive networks with the TEN-T corridors which hampers the continuity of the TEN-T or containing one or more bottlenecks affecting the continuity of the TEN-T;
operational digital platforms directly associated with transport and energy infrastructure
means physical and virtual information communication technology resources, operating via the communication infrastructure, which support the flow, storage, processing and analysis of transport or energy infrastructure data, or both;
project of common interest
means a project identified in Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 or Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 or in Article 8 of this Regulation;
socioeconomic drivers
means entities which by their mission, nature or location can directly or indirectly generate important socioeconomic benefits for citizens, business and local communities located in their surrounding territory, or in their area of influence;
studies
means activities needed to prepare project implementation, such as preparatory, mapping, feasibility, evaluation, testing and validation studies, including in the form of software, and any other technical support measure, including prior action to define and develop a project and decide on its financing, such as reconnaissance of the sites concerned and preparation of the financial package;
third country
means a country that is not a Member State of the Union;
very high capacity networks
means very high capacity networks as defined in Article 2, point (2), of Directive (EU) 2018/1972;
works
means the purchase, supply and deployment of components, systems and services including software, the carrying-out of development and construction and installation activities relating to a project, the acceptance of installations and the launching of a project.