Transport

Investments in transport services and infrastructure directly benefit citizens and businesses. Smart mobility, multi-modal transport, clean transport and urban mobility are particular priorities for the Cohesion Policy. Cohesion policy also supports investments in infrastructure for smart energy distribution, storage and transmission systems (particularly in less developed regions). 

General Objectives and Funds of ERDF and Cohesion Policy

In 2021-2027 EU Regional Development Fund ERDF and Cohesion Policy have set 5 policy objectives, supporting growth for the period 2021-2027:
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1. a more competitive and smarter Europe, through innovation and support to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as digitisation and digital connectivity
2. a greener, low‑carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy
3. a more connected Europe by enhancing mobility
4. a more social and inclusive Europe, as well as education, skills, social inclusion and equal access to healthcare, as well as enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism
5. Europe closer to citizens by fostering the sustainable and integrated development of all types of territories

Funds priorities:
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• The European Regional Development Fund will support investments all 5 policy objectives, but 1 and 2 are the main priorities
• The European Social Fund+ main priority is 4
• The Cohesion Fund supports policy objectives 2 and 3
• The Just Transition Fund provides support under dedicated specific objectives (art. 8 of JTF regulation) 
• The Interreg programmes have 2 additional policy objectives at their disposal (art. 14, Interreg regulation) :  “A better cooperation governance” and  “A safer and more secure Europe”

Sustainable transport and mobility
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The Cohesion Fund contributes to projects in the field of environment and trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure (TEN-T) and will support these Political Objectives:

1.   The Cohesion Fund shall support the following:

• investments in the environment, including investments related to sustainable development and energy presenting environmental benefits, with a particular focus on renewable energy;
• investments in TEN-T;
• technical assistance;
• information, communication, and studies.

​Member States shall ensure an appropriate balance between investments under points (a) and (b), based on the investment and infrastructure needs specific to each Member State.


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2.   The amount of the Cohesion Fund transferred to the Connecting Europe Facility shall be used for TEN-T projects.

For above-mentioned Transport and Mobility investments, Cohesion policy support should be planned in close cooperation with support from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) to ensure complementarity and optimal linkages of different types of infrastructure at local, regional, national, macro-regional level and European level. 

Private funding sources are expected to cover the bulk of investment in this area, complemented by public sources in cases of funding gap. Public funding should not replace but complement and leverage private investment, in accordance with state aid rules.
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