EC ALLOCATES €352 MILLION TO FUND LOW AND ZERO-EMISSION TRANSPORT PROJECTS
On 11 September, the European Commission approved a total financial support of € 352 million for 26 infrastructure initiatives, with the aim to establish an environmentally sustainable transportation network. These projects were selected under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and play a crucial role in aligning with the ambitious goals outlined in the EU Green Deal.
These projects submitted their proposals during the fourth application cycle for the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) call for proposals, which ended in April 2023. The primary objective of the AFIF is to support the deployment of alternative fuel supply infrastructure, contributing to the decarbonisation of transportation along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
Adina Vălean, Commissioner for Transport, highlighted that the significant volume of applications for AFIF funding demonstrates that the transport industry is committed to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable transportation. The 26 selected projects will result in approximately 12 000 charging points, 18 hydrogen refuelling stations, and the electrification of ports and airports, including the Port of Rotterdam and 37 Spanish airports.
CLECAT welcomes this financial support, recognising the need to establish a dense network of charging and refuelling stations suitable for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) as an indispensable requirement for the sector to achieve the ambition set by the new CO2 standards for HDVs and the objectives outlined in the 'Fit for 55' package.
The call for proposals remains open, with the final deadline set for 7 November 2023.
For more information on the selected projects, please refer to this link.
Source: European Commission