Europe’s energy system is undergoing a rapid transformation to become greener, more resilient, and more accessible to all. The Connecting Europe Facility programme for Energy (CEF Energy) plays a key role in this transition by funding critical cross-border energy infrastructure and supporting innovative projects that deliver affordable, secure, and sustainable energy across the EU.
Building on a decade of progress
Since its launch in 2014, CEF Energy continues to strengthen Europe’s energy infrastructure, improve security of supply, and accelerate the integration of renewables. Through strategic investment, more than 200 Actions with a cross-border dimension have already been supported, helping to build an integrated EU energy network that is more resilient and competitive, and able to integrate the renewable energy that the EU needs. For a detailed look at the 10 years of progress until 2024, please see last year’s 10th anniversary publication.
Evolving to meet new challenges
Looking forward, CEF Energy is evolving to address today’s most pressing challenges: ensuring affordability, further supporting the shift to clean energy, and enhancing access to energy for all European citizens and businesses; but it will also be helping to develop the energy system of tomorrow. In line with the TEN-E Regulation, the programme now supports strategic new areas such as hydrogen infrastructure and offshore energy, as well as traditional sectors such as electricity transmission, cross-border CO₂ networks, and smart grid projects. At the same time, several natural gas actions that the programme has been supporting until recently are still pending, soon to be completed. These investments are designed to accelerate decarbonisation, improve market integration between EU countries and strengthen European competitiveness, while ensuring the affordability of energy prices.
By modernising and smartening Europe’s grids and expanding access to innovative infrastructure, CEF Energy helps build a future-proof, integrated energy system - one that delivers affordable, secure, and sustainable energy for everyone.
CEF Energy portfolio
The portfolio chart for CEF Energy illustrates the allocation and breadth of funding across six strategic infrastructure strands, showcasing how the programme channels investment into key sectors to build a more affordable, secure and green European energy system.
The graph highlights the relative scope and evolution of each area: from conventional electricity and gas networks to emerging hydrogen, cross-border renewables and CO₂ transport - underlining how CEF Energy supports the transition to a fully integrated, decarbonised energy market.
What's next
In the upcoming years, CEF Energy will increasingly focus on integrating cross-border offshore wind power, advancing Europe’s emerging hydrogen market, supporting carbon capture and storage (CCS), and smartening energy systems to foster the development of sustainable and resilient EU energy networks in line with the EU’s energy policy and ambitions.
In this context, CEF Energy has joined forces with several other EU funding programmes, including Horizon Europe and the Innovation Fund. Together, these programmes - each with its own priorities and areas of support - will address different types and scales of projects across Europe, ensuring that collaborative efforts enable large-scale deployment and maximise impact, accelerating the EU’s energy transition.
The momentum for implementing the CEF Energy Work Programme 2021-2027 for energy infrastructure and renewable energy remains strong for 2026 and will continue until the end of the programme. CEF Energy will continue to financially support infrastructure and renewable energy projects with a remaining budget of more than €1.63 billion to be allocated in 2026 and 2027 through annual calls for proposals. These calls will provide funding opportunities for proposed projects contributing to the recently published 2nd list for Projects of Common and Mutual Interest (PCIs/PMIs) as well as for cross-border renewable energy projects with the CB RES status.
CEF Energy’s significant investments in energy infrastructure demonstrate how the programme is driving Europe’s energy transition, directly funding infrastructure that connects clean energy to consumers, enhances Europe’s competitiveness, and ensures a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy supply. By supporting projects like those showcased in each sector, CEF Energy plays a crucial role in achieving the EU’s energy and climate objectives and shaping the next generation of European energy infrastructure.