The European Commission has approved nearly €2.8 billion in funding for 94 strategic transport projects across the EU under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
While the lion’s share of investments is heading to rail and maritime infrastructure, a significant portion of the funds will directly support road safety and intelligent mobility systems, aiming to reduce fatalities and improve efficiency across Europe’s road networks.
Safer and Smarter
Among the selected projects, road transport safety features prominently, with a dedicated focus on secure parking areas for trucks and long-distance drivers. These will be constructed or upgraded across 10 Member States, including Germany, France, Italy, and Romania. The goal is to address a long-standing concern in the road freight sector: the shortage of safe, well-equipped, and accessible rest areas. These facilities will help combat driver fatigue — one of the leading causes of serious road accidents – by also targeting cargo theft – a phenomenon hindering drivers opportunities for a quality rest.
Intelligence
The EU will also support the deployment of Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) in urban areas. These digital technologies enable real-time communication between vehicles and infrastructure, enhancing traffic flow, reducing congestion, and improving road user safety, particularly in densely populated cities. C-ITS plays a vital role in preventing collisions, managing speed limits dynamically, and facilitating emergency vehicle prioritisation at intersections.
Urban Mobility
Road safety in cities will benefit from the development of multimodal passenger hubs in several EU locations. Cities like Leuven (Belgium), Norrköping (Sweden), Nice and Marseille (France), and Bolzano (Italy) will receive funding to prepare or upgrade hubs that link different modes of transport — including buses, bicycles, cars, and trains. These projects aim to streamline passenger flows, reduce risky road-user interactions, and encourage a shift to safer, sustainable transport alternatives.
Looking Ahead
Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas emphasised the importance of the investment in the EU’s safety goals: “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 secure road networks to a smarter Single European Sky – this investment is a cornerstone of our Green Deal and our geopolitical resilience.”
Final Steps
The list of 94 projects was approved by the CEF Committee and will become official once the European Commission formally adopts the decision. Grant agreements with project promoters are expected to be finalised by October 2025. The 94 successful projects were chosen from 258 applications submitted by 21 January 2025. The CEF Transport Programme 2021–2027, with a total budget of €25.8 billion, aims to build a more connected and safer Europe. With this round, 95% of the programme’s funds have now been allocated.