The European Union is taking a new step in defining the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for the period 2028–2034, after the EU Council adopted a partial negotiating mandate on the future program. The decision allows negotiations with the European Parliament to begin, while financial aspects remain part of broader discussions on the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
CEF 2028–2034, also known as CEF III, will continue to be the EU’s main funding instrument for strategic transport and energy infrastructure, with a focus on cross-border projects, resilience, decarbonization, and adapting infrastructure to the new geopolitical context.
Transport and energy, the main pillars of CEF III
The Council’s partial mandate confirms the structure of the program in two major components:
- CEF Transport, dedicated to the development of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T);
- CEF Energy, focused on interconnections, security of supply, and energy transition.
The European Commission’s proposal provides for an allocation of EUR 51.5 billion for the transport component, of which EUR 17.5 billion would be directed towards military mobility.
However, these amounts are not yet final and will be determined during negotiations on the EU budget for the period 2028-2034.
Focus on cross-border projects and military mobility
The CEF remains focused on projects of common interest, in particular those with a cross-border dimension, which are considered essential for the completion of a smart, resilient and sustainable TEN-T network.
The program will also continue to support projects involving third countries, where these contribute to the connectivity and security of European networks.
A key element is the adaptation of transport infrastructure for dual civil and military use. The Council confirms the importance of focusing investment on the four priority EU military mobility corridors identified by Member States, while stressing the need to respect national sovereignty and security and public order considerations.
European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said that the CEF is essential for completing the European transport network, strengthening cross-border links and increasing the resilience, digitization, and sustainability of transport, including by supporting dual-use infrastructure.
Stronger role for Member States
Compared to the Commission’s initial proposal, the EU Council calls for greater involvement of Member States in:
- the adoption of work programs;
- the selection of projects to receive funding;
- the definition of eligibility and award criteria.
The Council’s position also stresses the need to take into account the specific geographical characteristics of each member state, including island states, when assessing the cross-border dimension of eligible projects.
Energy: resilience, interconnections, and green transition
With regard to CEF Energy, the Council has introduced amendments aimed at clarifying the program’s objectives and strengthening the focus on the resilience of energy infrastructure, including against cyber and hybrid threats.
The updated text explicitly highlights the role of the Energy Union in developing projects of common interest (PCIs) and mutual interest (PMIs), with objectives such as:
- removing interconnection bottlenecks;
- reducing energy isolation;
- integrating the internal energy market.
At the same time, the central role of renewable energy is reconfirmed, and the conditions for supporting cross-border projects in this area are more clearly defined, with an emphasis on economic efficiency, system integration, and decarbonization.
Next steps
The mandate adopted by the Council is partial, as it excludes financial aspects and some horizontal issues, which are the subject of negotiations on the future multiannual EU budget.
On the basis of this mandate, the Council will start negotiations with the European Parliament, with the final form of CEF 2028-2034 and its budget to be determined once the MFF has been agreed.
The European Commission presented the proposal for CEF III in July 2025 as part of the legislative package for the next multiannual financial framework, in a context marked by geopolitical pressures, the need for more resilient infrastructure, and the acceleration of the green transition.
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