Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The Connecting Europe Facility is a key EU funding instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness through infrastructure investment at European level.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The objective of this call is to support the deployment of strategic networks as part of the Digital Global Gateway Strategy of the EU, contributing to strengthen the quality of connectivity within the Union as well as with third countries. Access to backbone connectivity in EU Member States may differ significantly. In certain regions a lack of adequate backbone connectivity may have an impact on the development of, and service provided by access networks, and may generate possible imbalances in the prices of services, both for network operators in these regions, as well as for the users. This can be the case, for example, for Member States that are themselves islands and/or have islands as part of their territory. For some remote territories such as islands, Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories, commercial prices and other conditions of backbone connectivity may hinder the full participation of both users and enterprises in the digital European economy.
This topic will support studies for the deployment of backbone connectivity for routes within Member States (including OCTs), between Member States (including OCTs), and between Member States (including OCTs) and third countries.
Detailed Call Description
Proposals under this topic shall address studies including the preparatory work required prior to signing a contract with a supplier, such as marine ground surveys for submarine cables and application for required permits.
Activities to be performed in the territory of third countries (target countries) or in international waters, are also eligible (article 16(a) of the CEF Regulation) if considered indispensable to the achievement of the objectives of a given project of common interest in line with CEF Regulation (Article 8 and Article 9(4) (d) and point 3 of Annex Part V of the CEF Annex regulation).
Digital security requirements:
Legal entities established, or deemed to be established, in Member States and directly or indirectly controlled by Member States or by nationals of Member States will be eligible to receive funding under this topic.
The assessment of the foreign (non-EU) control will be addressed in principle during the evaluation of proposals and at the latest during the grant agreement preparation. Participants will be requested to submit an ownership control questionnaire for this purpose to determine their control status. They will also be requested to submit supporting documents in order for the Commission to determine that the entities are not controlled by third countries or nationals of third countries or by entities established in third countries.
Legal entities established in third countries, including associated countries, will exceptionally be eligible where this is indispensable for the achievement of the objectives of a given PCI, on the condition that those entities provide security guarantees, approved, on the basis of national law, by the country in which they are established.
Further details in p. 14 – 15 of the call document.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The costs will be reimbursed at the funding rates fixed in the Grant Agreement (maximum 50% for the costs of studies, maximum 70% for the costs of works in outermost regions and maximum 30% for all other costs categories.
Those interested can apply for a higher project funding rate if your project concerns: strong cross-border dimension: maximum 50%.
The maximum requested grant amount should not be higher than €5.000.000 per project for the studies topic.
In exceptional cases, proposals combining complementary projects, which may come from different promoters, to achieve a greater geographical reach and avoid overlapping segments may benefit from a higher grant amount, not exceeding however €60.000.000. This would need to be justified through a greater impact (e.g. substantially higher geographical scale, etc.) and catalytic effect (e.g. synergy between different promoters resulting in substantial cost-efficiency gains).
The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.
Thematic Categories
- Education and training
- Information Technology
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- International Organisations
- Legal Entities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
- be legal entities (public or private bodies)
- be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- EU Member States including Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)
- non-EU countries (except for topics with restrictions; see below):
- countries associated to the CEF Programme or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature (list of participating countries)
Consortium composition: There are no specific eligibility conditions concerning consortium composition for this call.
Beneficiaries can include (local) operators, utilities, (local) authorities, investors and vendors i.e., entities supplying hardware (including cables, equipment, devices) or systems (including software) that are essential for the performance of the action.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Department of Electronic Communications – State Department for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy
Website: https://bit.ly/39IYcFZ
Address: 286 Strovolou Avenue, Strovolos, PO Box 24647, 1302 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22814854/22814846
Fax: +357 22321925
Email: info.dec@dec.dmrid.gov.cy
Contact person:
Mr. Nikos Ioannou
Electronic Communications Officer
Telephone: +357 22814875
Fax: +357 22321925
Email: nioannou@dec.dmrid.gov.cy
EU Contact Point
For questions please contact: HADEA-CEFDIGITAL-CALLS@ec.europa.eu