EU funds for roads - CEDR

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Of all the EU funds listed above, only three are used to finance road projects: the ERDF,
the CF (with important funds), and the EAF (with minor amounts for rural roads).
The total amount of funds made available to EU MS through these funds (for all kinds of
projects, not only for roads) is very large: €183.6 billion for the period 2000–2006 (2008)
and €336.1 billion for the period 2007–2013 (2015). An analysis of the above funds is
provided in Annex 1.
EU funds are provided to MS according to the principle of additionality, which seeks to
ensure that EU funds add to, rather than substitute, national efforts to promote economic
and social cohesion. Therefore, the average annual level for public structural expenditure in
real terms has to be at least equal to the established baseline (for the programming period).
This principle is also served by the imposed upper limits (ceilings) for the EU funds’
contribution to the financing of the total cost of the projects 10 .
More information on these funds can be found in the following EC documents: Regulations
EU/1083/2006 (11-07-2006), EU/1080/2006 (5-07-2006), EU/1084/2006 (11-07-2006),
EU/1081/2006 (5-07-2006), EU/1082/2006 (5-07-2006).
Web site of the EC (DG REGIO): [http://ec.europa.eu/inforegio_en.htm].
• Sectoral EU funds
For the facilitation of the implementation of its sectoral strategies and endeavours in the MS,
the EU uses special funds (thematic budget lines) to finance relevant interventions and
projects. An example of such a fund is the one dedicated to the development of the Trans-
11
European Transport Networks (TEN-T Fund).
10 These ceilings are different for each objective served: Thus, in the period 2007–2013 (2015) the ceilings for EU
fund contributions to the financing of a project’s cost, are:
For projects serving Objective 1 (Convergence):
• 75% by the ERDF [Note: this percentage can be increased up to 80% if the project is implemented in regions
eligible for the CF and up to 85% if the project is implemented in an outermost region] and ESF,
• 85% by the CF
For projects serving Objective 2 (Regional Competitiveness and Employment):
• 50% by the ERDF or ESF [Note: this percentage can be increased up to 85% if the project is implemented in an
outermost region].
For projects serving Objective 3 (European territorial cooperation):
• 75% by the ERDF.
It should be noted that by implementing certain criteria such as the ‘polluter pays principle’ or the financial
feasibility of the projects, their total eligible cost is reduced and therefore the percentage of the EU funds’
contribution to the projects’ total cost is below these max. ceilings.
11 The Trans-European Networks (TENs) are large infrastructure networks of transport, energy, and
telecommunications underpinning the developmental and integration goals of the European Union. The TENs
facilitate:
• the economic and social integration of the union
• the free movement of people and goods
• the development of less favoured EU areas
The trans-European transport, energy, and telecommunications networks cover the whole of the Union of 27
member states. In the context of the transport corridors in the countries of the wider European neighbourhood,
there is also a focus on EU neighbours, specifically:
• accession countries (Croatia and Turkey)
• The European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein)
• The Balkans
• The Mediterranean Partner Countries
• Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus
EU funds for roads