Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital

The digital part of the Connecting Europe Facility, known as CEF Digital, supports and catalyses public and private investments in digital connectivity infrastructures across Europe between 2021 and 2027. This page explains what the CEF Digital programme is, who it is for, and how its funding works.

What is CEF Digital and what is its aim?

Making Europe more digital is one of the defining challenges of our generation. The rise in online interactions and new ways of living, working and doing business has shown how central digital technologies have become to our economy and society. Those technologies can only function on top of reliable digital connectivity infrastructures: the networks that connect everything from operational digital platforms and cloud services to everyday online activities.

Despite this growing need, a significant gap remains in public and private funding for connectivity, and CEF Digital was created to help close it. Working alongside instruments such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility and InvestEU, the programme aims to support investment in safe, secure and sustainable high-performance infrastructure — in particular Gigabit and 5G networks across the European Union. It also strengthens the capacity and resilience of digital backbone networks in all EU territories, including the Outermost Regions, helping Europe stay digitally sovereign.

The main actions funded under CEF Digital include:

• deploying very high-capacity networks, including 5G systems, in areas where key socioeconomic drivers and local communities are located;
• guaranteeing uninterrupted 5G coverage along major transport paths, including the trans-European transport networks;
• deploying new, or a significant upgrade of existing, backbone networks (including submarine cables) within and between Member States and between the Union and other countries;
• supporting digital connectivity infrastructure linked to cross-border projects in transport or energy.

How does funding through CEF Digital work?

Each year, the European Commission publishes calls for proposals, opening up new funding opportunities. Successful projects receive EU grants and, once selected, move into implementation through signed grant agreements. The eligible activities and conditions are set out in the CEF Digital multiannual work programme.

Who can apply?

CEF Digital calls are open to public and private entities, including joint ventures, established in EU Member States and in their overseas countries and territories. In practice, many projects are delivered by partnerships between companies, knowledge institutions and public authorities, and cross-border or international cooperation with other countries is possible where certain conditions are met. Because each call sets its own eligibility criteria, it is important to check the relevant work programme and call text before you apply.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online through the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Portal, where you can find open calls, deadlines and all the information you need. The main steps are:

1. find a relevant call on the Funding & Tenders Portal and review the requirements;
2. develop your project proposal together with your partners;
3. arrange any national approvals — depending on the country and the type of project, applicants may need a national letter of support, and 5G-related projects may require additional security approval;
4. submit the completed proposal before the call deadline.

National contact points can advise on feasibility and procedures, so it is wise to contact them well before the deadline.

General funding information

Total budget: €1.6 Billion Total Funding 2021-2027, with approximately €865 million allocated under the 2024–2027 work programme.

Funding rate: fixed co-funding rate is 30% under the general envelope and 50% under the cohesion envelope.

Participating Countries:  Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom and Ukraine

Scope: aims to support and catalyse investments in digital connectivity infrastructures of common interest.

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