€250 MILLION CEF BUDGET FOR SAFE AND SECURE PARKING
On 13 September, the European Commission launched a call for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Transport programme which makes available over €5 billion for European transport infrastructure projects, including €250 million dedicated to improve the network of Safe and Secure Truck Parking Areas (SSTPAs) across the EU.
CLECAT welcomes the call for proposals, which is urgently needed in view of the current lack of 300.000 parking spaces across the EU. Commenting on the call, Nicolette van der Jagt, Director General of CLECAT, said “There is an urgent need for more Safe and Secure Truck Parking Areas (SSTPAs) across Europe. CLECAT has been an active supporter of the Delegated Regulation on SSTPA Standards and regrets that the success rate of the 2021 CEF Call for SSTPAs has been low. More work has to be done and we hope that the 2022 CEF Call will be a success in order to boost the number of available parking spaces across the EU, said. In that regard, CLECAT, together with other stakeholders, has called on the Commission for a number of measures, including targeted modifications of the selection criteria to include the comprehensive network in the eligibility criteria. CLECAT remains strongly committed to work together with the Commission and industry stakeholder to increase the number of SSTPAs.”
The Commission is also organising an info day for the call on 5 October. Registration is possible for all interested parties here. Moreover, on 13 October, the European Safe Parking Organisation (ESPORG), is organising an info session at 10.00h CET specifically aimed for the CEF Funding on SSTPAs, together with DG MOVE and the European Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Registration is possible here.