EU allocates grants to ports, icebreakers in Baltic, inland waterways

The European Commission (EC) has selected 94 key transport projects under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to receive nearly €2.8bn in grants, aiming to modernize railways, inland waterways and maritime routes across the trans-European transport network.

Maritime and inland waterway transport projects focus on sustainability, with funding for shore-side electricity in specific ports to cut ship emissions and icebreaker upgrades in the Baltic to protect submarine cables.

Specifically, the EU is investing in a range of projects to reduce the environmental impact of maritime and inland waterway transport.

This includes upgrading ports in Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, Croatia, and Poland with shore-side electricity to reduce emissions from ships at berth.

EC support will also go to the construction and upgrading of multi-purpose icebreakers in Estonia, Finland and Sweden to strengthen the security and resilience of submarine cables, in line with the EU’s recent action plan.

In France and Spain, digital traffic management systems will be deployed to improve the safety and efficiency of short-sea shipping and reduce congestion.

For inland waterways, France will see upgrades along the Rhine, while digitalisation of waterborne transport will be advanced in Belgium.

The CEF Committee approved on July 2 the list of 94 selected projects. The Commission will now formally adopt the selection decision, and CINEA will start preparing grant agreements for the chosen projects. These agreements are expected to be finalised by October 2025.

Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas said: “With nearly €2.8 billion in EU funding, we are delivering on Europe’s promise of a modern, sustainable, and resilient transport network. These 94 projects will not only boost cross-border connectivity and efficiency but also boost competitiveness across the continent. From Rail Baltica in the north, to shore-side electricity in our southern ports, and from secure road networks to a smarter Single European Sky – this investment is a cornerstone of our Green Deal and our geopolitical resilience.”