Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways - Studies

No, a third-country entity (associated to CEF or not) cannot submit a proposal alone. The proposal must be submitted by an entity based in and supported by an EU Member State. Although it is not mandatory, it is recommended to have a support letter from respective third-country authorities.

Entities from non-EU countries, including Ukraine, are exceptionally eligible for projects of common interest, if the granting authority considers their participation indispensable for the implementation of the project, and on the condition that those entities provide security guarantees, approved, on the basis of national law, by the country in which they are established.

The CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS callPDF is technologically neutral. The best suited technology should be proposed and justified by the applicant, and can include e.g. submarine cable systems, terrestrial links or satellite based communication. Therefore, terrestrial backbones are eligible for the interconnection of backbones.Exceptionally, costs covering construction of the local access network can also be eligible in order to take advantage of the reinforced backbone infrastructure, in areas where there is no access network capable of supporting gigabit connectivity and when such infrastructure is unlikely to be developed in the near future.Project costs may include ancillary costs required to construct the local access network if these solutions address the identified market failure and provide a sufficient step change. In such a case, costs related to the deployment or significant improvement of the access network must not exceed 5% of the total project costs.

Both can apply (if necessary to implement the cross-border project), but cross-border dimension is not limited to participation of entities from both sides of the border, it’s more about technical deployment across the borders.

If the project is about deploying a new cable infrastructure system, the proposal should be submitted under theCEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYSPDF Call. If it is about retrofitting, upgrading existing systems or other existing critical infrastructures to smart capabilities, then it should be submitted under the CEF-DIG-2026-SMART-CABLESPDF Call.

The CEF-DIG-2026-SMART-CABLES WORKSPDFtopic supports the upgrade of existing equipment to make fibre cable systems “smart”. The CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS WORKSPDF topic support the deployment or significant upgrade of backbone networks – in particular submarine cables but also terrestrial backbone networks and satellite infrastructure.

If you plan to deploy a cable with smart components, only one proposal should be submitted to CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS WORKS call.

Whether or not such company is considered EU-controlled will be subject to a specific assessment by our Central Validation Service, based on Ownership Control Declaration and additional documents that will be requested by the service to conclude the control status. For further information refer to ‘Guidance on participation in EU restricted calls with ownership and control restrictions’.PDF

As regards eligibility, please refer to the section 6. Eligibility (Eligible participants) of the call texts. As regards financial capacity, please refer to the section 7. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion of the call text.

Under CEF-DIG-2026 calls each entity in the consortium must submit the form Ownership Control Declaration (the template is provided in the Submission System) as part of the application. The information provided in this declaration as well as other supporting documents the applicants will be requested to submit, will be used to assess the control and ownership of the entity. Further details on the ownership and control assessment can be found in the guidance documentPDF.

It is not necessary to have works regarding submarine cables. The applicants should justify that their proposal provides the best technology suited for the call objectives, which may include submarine cables systems, terrestrial backbone networks and satellite infrastructure.

Deploying data centres is not in scope of this call. However, interconnecting data centres and/or internet exchange points can be in scope provided that all the call conditions are complied with.

The financial spreadsheet is meant to capture the profitability potential of the proposed project. Revenues from internal usage of the cable capacity shall be included on the same footing as sold capacity.

Private equity infrastructure funds are eligible for participating, subject to the eligibility conditions in Section 6 of the call textPDF.

Legal entities established in third countries can exceptionally be eligible to receive Union financial support if this is essential for the achievement of the objectives of a given project of common interest, which will be assessed during evaluation of the proposal and if the granting authority considers their participation indispensable for the implementation of the action, and on the condition that those entities provide security guarantees, approved, on the basis of national law, by the country in which they are established. All other call requirements are applicable to the third-country participating legal entities.

Member State letters of support are required from all Member States benefiting from the action, regardless whether their entities participate or not.

The call document specifies that only legal entities established in EU Member States and directly or indirectly controlled by Member States or by nationals of Member States will be eligible to receive funding under this topic. Exceptionally, non-EU controlled entities established in EU Members can participate under the condition that they provide security guarantees approved, on the basis of national law, by the EU Member State in which they are established.

Ownership control declarations for Subcontractors will be processed during project implementation. The Central Validation Service (REA Validation) will manage the validation process. For more information on security conditions, please consult section 6 (Eligibility) of the CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYSPDF & SMART-CABLESPDF call texts.

For the difference between purchase and subcontracting please refer to page 12 (Subcontractors vs suppliers of goods, works and services) of the annotated grant agreement.PDF

There are no specific eligibility conditions concerning consortium composition for these calls. Please see subsection “Consortium composition” of the CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYSPDFand SMART-CABLESPDF call texts. In part B of the application, Applicants are requested to demonstrate their organisational structure for the implementation, which will be assessed under quality criterion.

The call texts (CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYSPDF and SMART-CABLESPDF) specify that 'The (…) security guarantees shall certify the legal entity'. It means that we are interested in the fact that the guarantees are signed by the relevant authorities of the member state. The level of details to be provided by the entity to the authorities of their respective country has to be sufficient so that the authorities can confidently approve the guarantees to certify the compliance of the entity with the requirements defined in the call. For further information please see Guidance on participation in EU restricted calls with ownership and control restrictions.PDF

The UK is a third country. The call textPDFindicates that proposals must connect one or several Member States between themselves or with a third country. A cable between two third countries is not in scope of this call.

Under the CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYSPDF and CEF-DIG-2026-SMART-CABLESPDF calls, as mentioned in section 6. Eligibility, participation of entities (including subcontractor at any level), is limited to entities from eligible countries, i.e. established in one of EU Member States, and EU-controlled. Exceptionally, entities (including subcontractor at any level) that are established in EU Member States, but are not EU controlled, shall also be eligible to participate on the condition that they provide security guarantees, approved, on the basis of national law, by the EU Member State in which they are established.

According to the call textPDF section 6under Specific cases Exceptional funding - entities from countries associated to CEF and from non-associated third countries, are exceptionally eligible for projects of common interest if the granting authority considers their participation essential for the implementation of the action, on the condition that those entities provide security guarantees, approved, on the basis of national law, by the country in which they are established. Whether the participation of an entity is essential, will be assessed at evaluation stage.

Entities established in EU Member States, which are not directly or indirectly controlled by third countries or nationals of third countries, are eligible to apply to the call. Concerning the scope, this call can support the deployment of backbone connectivity for routes between Member States (including Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)) and third countries, if properly justified in the proposal. For the participation of legal entities established in third countries, please see the Article 11 (2) of the Regulation 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility

The joint venture entity must submit the Ownership Control Declaration, as required by the call document, using the template provided in the Submission System, as part of the application. This declaration, together with other supporting documents that will be requested, will be used for the assessment of foreign control of each partner. In addition, without the full information about the joint venture (notably its governance), it is not possible to confirm whether it would be considered controlled by an EU country, and therefore eligible.

There is no definition of ‘indefeasible right of use (IRU)’ under the Connecting Europe Facility Programme from a cost eligibility perspective. However, the CEF Model Grant Agreement under article C.2 Equipment provides that "If such equipment, infrastructure or other assets are rented or leased, full costs for renting or leasing are eligible, if they do not exceed the depreciation costs of similar equipment, infrastructure or assets and do not include any financing fees." In cases where the rental/lease is concluded effectively for the lifetime of the equipment during which it will be fully depreciated, the granting authority may exceptionally assimilate those costs to a purchase of equipment, infrastructure or other asset if justified by the nature of the action, the context of the use of the equipment or assets and its contribution to the achievement of the specific policy objective of the Call. In that case, full purchase costs could be eligible under the usual conditions, in particular, that the costs are used specifically for the action (or developed as part of the action tasks), and that they are recorded under a fixed asset account of the beneficiary in compliance with international accounting standards and the beneficiary’s usual accounting practices. Every situation will require a case-by-case assessment.

The calculation methodology for personnel costs is described within article 6.2 the Model of the Grant AgreemPDFent (see Portal Reference Documents). The calculation method depends on the type of cost and the provisions for each personnel cost category. Costs are in pro rata of the days worked on the project. Some detailed examples are available in the Annotated Grant Agreement (see Portal Reference Documents). Specific conditions for the use of average personnel costs (unit cost according to usual cost accounting practices) are listed in the Commission ‘ Decision authorising the use of unit costs based on usual cost accounting practicesPDF for actions under the Digital specific objective of the Connecting Europe Facility’ (see Portal Reference Documents).

VAT is not an eligible cost under the CEF programme. See Article 6.3 of the Model Grant AgreementPDF referring to “Ineligible costs and contributions”.

Proposals should comply with the strictest cybersecurity requirements, imposed by national law, in accordance with the 5G Cybersecurity toolbox (where applicable) and other relevant EU guidance, of all the eligible countries where the infrastructure is deployed. The EU guidance on the subject, namely the “Communication on implementing the 5G cybersecurity Toolbox C (2023)4049” of 15 June 2023, which applies to EU programmes, explicitly excludes equipment from high risk suppliers. In addition, where the project provides that network technologies and equipment funded under the project could interconnect (or are part of the same network) with other network technologies and equipment not funded under the project, in a way that could undermine the security of the networks, the requirement to comply with the security requirements of the call, in particular the exclusion of high risk suppliers, shall apply also to any network technology and equipment that would represent a risk as regards the security of networks.

No. Indirect cost flat-rate is 0% of the eligible direct costs under the CEF Digital programme.

It is not mandatory to have partners from different MS for justifying the cross-border dimension. According to Article 15.4 of the CEF Regulation, a cross-border project entails the deployment of backbone networks between at least two Member States, or between a Member State and third countries. Applicants must therefore describe in the application form Part B, Section 1.3, the cross-border dimension of the project, i.e. which Member States are involved and the geographical area on which the deployed infrastructure would have an impact (for instance in terms of enabling new cross-border services, strengthening trade relations, improving mobility, etc.). Proposals with a justified strong cross-border dimension can apply for a funding rate of maximum 50% for the entire project.

Interconnecting data centres and/or internet exchange points can be in scope provided the rest of the call conditions are respected. Equipment costs can be eligible if properly justified for implementing the proposed solution according to the objectives of the call and if they comply with the costs eligibility conditions as per the grant agreement. There is no minimum performance requirement for the equipment.

A cost-benefit analysis, as defined in the "Guide to Cost-Benefit Analysis of Investment Projects" and the "Economic Appraisal Vademecum 2021-2027" by DG REGIO, is not a mandatory supporting document for CEF Digital calls for proposals, including this call. Nevertheless, applicants who have prepared a CBA are encouraged to submit it to support the claimed impact of their project. Please note the "financial spreadsheet" - which is mandatory for proposals under the CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS-WORKS topic - is already partially covering the same scope of a "financial analysis" component of a CBA.

If the proposal will connect an outermost region, it qualifies for up to 70% co-funding for the works part of the project. The studies part of the project qualifies for up to 50% co-funding. Note however that, irrespective of the type of action and funding rate, the amount of funding requested will be considered in the assessment of the “Catalytic effect” evaluation criterion. The Commission also has the right to propose lower co-funding depending on budget availability and the interest of the programme.

The total budget of the call is EUR 180 million in total for CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS-WORKS and CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS-STUDIES topics together. The maximum requested grant should not be higher than EUR 20 000 000 per project for the CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS topic and EUR 5 000 000 for the CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS-STUDIES topic. In exceptional cases, proposals combining systems, still under development by different promoters, that achieve a greater geographical reach and avoid overlapping segments may benefit from a higher grant amount, not exceeding EUR 60 000 000. This would need to be justified through a greater impact (e.g. synergy leading to substantially higher geographical scale, etc.) and catalytic effect (e.g. synergy between different promoters resulting in substantial cost-efficiency gains). Similarly, proposals whose scope is entirely and significantly contributing to one of the areas identified as CPEIsStage 1 may also benefit from a higher grant amount, not exceeding EUR 60 000 000. This would need to be justified through a greater EU priority and urgency (underpinning a specific CPEI priority area) as well as high levels of maturity and quality.

Under section 2 - Objectives — Scope (including digital security requirements) — Expected Impact, the call textPDF indicates,

"In the case of submarine cables, proposals should specify whether they contribute to the resilience and security of submarine cables connectivity in CPEI Areas 1-13 (except Areas 8 and 10), and in particular Areas 1-7 from the CPEI list published in February 2026, as projects contributing to such areas will be scored positively under the evaluation criterion “Priority and Urgency”."

The EU added value should be demonstrated in the Part B of the application.

A proposal that is contributing to a phase 2 or 3 area is not automatically scored below the pass mark under "Priority and Urgency".

Please refer as well to Q&A 90125

Validation is typically executed post-submission during application processing. The CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYSPDF & SMART-CABLESPDF call texts make reference to legal and financial validation under sections 5 "Admissibility and documents", 6 "Eligibility" and 7 "Financial and operational capacity and exclusion".

No, security compliance declarations do not need to be approved by Member State authorities.

According to the call texts (see Language in Section 13): Language — You can submit your proposal in any official EU language (project abstract/summary should however always be in English). For reasons of efficiency, we strongly advise you to use English for the entire application.

No. The works need to provide connectivity infrastructure and although ducts may be needed and could be an eligible cost if combined with the actual cable laying, they are considered as ancillary connectivity infrastructure and a pre-requisite component.

Any applicant can submit or re-submit a proposal, considering the admissibility and eligibility conditions of the call text.PDF

No, there is no such prioritisation. Annex – Part V provides an indicative list of cross-border backbone connections eligible for funding, but other projects are not excluded.

Yes, deliverables are expected to demonstrate project progress and achievement of the technical work and should refer only to major outputs. Do not include minor sub-items, internal working papers, meeting minutes, etc.

As defined in the call texts (CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYSPDF and SMART-CABLESPDF), for ownership control restrictions: ‘Control’ means the possibility to exercise decisive influence on the participant, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediate entities, ‘de jure’ or ‘de facto’. This includes not only ownership of more than 50% (shareholding), but also any other elements and/or rights that can amount to control. For further information please see Guidance on participation in EU restricted calls with ownership and control restrictions.PDF

Yes. The call can support the deployment of backbone connectivity for routes within Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)), without a cross border dimension, if properly justified.

It is an option, but in CEF-Digital, we have not yet accepted any third-party guarantee. If it is the case, it will be discussed case-by-case by our services with the entity concerned. For more information, please see the Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment.PDF

In part B of the application form, applicants are requested to demonstrate that such participation is indispensable to achieve the objectives of the project of common interest, meaning in practice that without this entity’s participation, the project cannot be implemented.

According to Article 15.4 of the CEF Regulation, a cross-border project entails the deployment of backbone networks between at least two Member States, or between a Member State and a third country.

Applicants must therefore describe in the application form Part B, Section 1.3, the cross-border dimension of the project, i.e. which Member States are involved and the geographical area on which the deployed infrastructure would have an impact (for instance in terms of enabling new cross-border services, strengthening trade relations, etc.). Proposals with a justified cross-border dimension can apply for a funding rate of maximum 50% for the project's total eligible costs.

Under section 2 Objectives — Scope (including digital security requirements) — Expected Impact, the call textPDF indicates,

"In the case of submarine cables, proposals should specify whether they contribute to the resilience and security of submarine cables connectivity in CPEI Areas 1-13 (except Areas 8 and 10), and in particular Areas 1-7 from the CPEI list published in February 2026, as projects contributing to such areas will be scored positively under the evaluation criterion “Priority and Urgency”".

The EU added value should be demonstrated in the Part B of the application e.g. in relation to Outermost Regions or OCTs in the respective areas, or enhancing cross-border benefits.

Online banks for financial transactions are subject to verification procedures and governance standards.

The CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS call textPDFmakes reference to the CPEI list published in February 2026 indigital-strategy.ec.europa.eu

The eligibility of studies projects is explained in section 2.2 of the call textPDF and subsections "objective" and "scope". The Call covers studies related to the deployment/significant upgrade of backbone networks that address risks, vulnerabilities and dependencies in the EU backbone infrastructure.

Conditions to be met by the proposals are laid down in section 2.1 of the call textPDF and subsections "Objectives" and "Scope". The importance of the project should be demonstrated in the Part B of the application. During the evaluation of proposals particular attention will be given to projects in priority areas identified as CPEIs Stage 1 as projects contributing to such areas will be scored positively under the evaluation criterion “Priority and Urgency”. However, a proposal that is not contributing to any such areas is not automatically scored below the pass mark under "Priority and Urgency".

Yes, it is possible. The call does not impose a specific connectivity technology. Under the CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYSPDF call, CEF Digital can co-fund connectivity with other technologies like satellite and terrestrial cables that comply with the conditions and the scope of the call. The applicants should justify that their proposal provides the best technology suited for the call objectives, which may include submarine cables systems, terrestrial backbone networks and satellite infrastructure.

CEF Digital funds studies and works projects, as defined in the CEF Regulation, and in principle research activities are out of the scope: “studies” means activities needed to prepare project implementation, such as preparatory, mapping, feasibility, evaluation, testing and validation studies, including in the form of software, and any other technical support measure, including prior action to define and develop a project and decide on its financing, such as reconnaissance of the sites concerned and preparation of the financial package; “works” means the purchase, supply and deployment of components, systems and services including software, the carrying-out of development and construction and installation activities relating to a project, the acceptance of installations and the launching of a project.

According to the call textPDF(see Duration in section 6): Projects should normally be up to 36 months (extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment).

As CEF Digital supports not only the deployment, but also the upgrade of backbone networks, such an upgrade could be in scope provided that all the call conditions are complied with. The applicants should justify that their proposal provides the best technology suited for the call objectives.

Under CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS, proposals shall address studies including the preparatory work required prior to signing a contract with a supplier, such as marine ground surveys for submarine cables and application for required permits. In principle the management of security of cables is not in scope, unless it is part of the required preparatory work, but not as a dedicated activity.

According to Article 15.4 of the CEF Regulation, a cross-border project entails the deployment of backbone networks between at least two Member States, or between a Member State and third countries.

Applicants must therefore describe in the application form Part B, Section 1.3, the cross-border dimension of the project, i.e. which Member States are involved and the geographical area on which the deployed infrastructure would have an impact (for instance in terms of enabling new cross-border services, strengthening trade relations, improving mobility, etc.). Proposals with a justified cross-border dimension can apply for a funding rate of maximum 50% for the entire project.

Cable landing station and terrestrial backhauls may be eligible insofar they fulfil the conditions set in section 2.1 and 2.2 of the call textPDF, including that in the case of terrestrial backbones, only cross-border segments necessary to connect national backbones will be funded.

Satellite infrastructure is one of the possible technologies eligible under this call; other examples include submarine cable systems, connectivity to internet exchange points and inter-connection of backbones. In the case of satellite backbone solutions, only the costs linked to the construction of satellite ground stations and their interconnection with local networks are within the scope of the call.

Yes, proposals contributing to the resilience and security of submarine cable connectivity in CPEI Areas 1-13 (except Areas 8 and 10), and in particular Areas 1-7 from the CPEI list published in February 2026, will be scored positively under the evaluation criterion ”Priority and Urgency”

The call is open to entities or consortia addressing the specific objectives described in thecall textPDF. In this context, “vendors” can be defined as entities supplying hardware (including cables, equipment, devices) or systems (including software) that are essential for the performance of the action (project).

The scoring does not prioritise projects based on whether they have been funded by the CEF-DIG programme before.

Please refer to Q&A 90125 as well.

For more information on the methodology used to design the CPEIs please refer to the Report of the Experts' group.

The scoring will reflect the assessment by the independent evaluators. The evaluation criteria are clearly described in the call textPDFand the evaluators will assess these criteria based on the justifications provided in the application for the proposed project, including the justification for the cross-border dimension.

According to CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS and CEF-DIG-2026-SMART-CABLESPDF call documents, all proposals must include security declarations by the participating entities, by which they confirm that the results of the CEF-funded action shall remain with the beneficiary/beneficiaries during the action and for 10 years after its completion. The template of the security declaration specifically requires applicants to demonstrate/explain how they will comply with this requirement regarding their part of the project. According to the Work Programme, the content of the declarations and commitments in the project proposal, notably regarding arrangements related to IRUs/leases and SPV ownership structure, will be assessed during the evaluation phase, in particular as regards the implications related to the security requirements of the Call. Transfer of the control over part of the infrastructure related to IRUs/leases implies also transfer of the security requirements. This does not preclude any further assessment at implementation and post-action stages.

Project management costs are any costs related to managing the project (including personnel costs), which are not related to “technical” implementation of the project. The 10% cap is indicative only, but if it’s exceeded, it should be justified in the proposal. For further information on project management costs please refer to page 49 (A.1 Employees) of the annotated grant agreement.PDF

Ownership control declarations and ownership control assessments for Subcontractors can be processed during project implementation.

"No prefinancing" can indeed be proposed by the granting authority as a mitigating measure. For more information, please see the Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR appointment and Financial Capacity AssessmentPDFand consult the subsection "Pre-financing guarantees" of the call texts (CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYSPDF & SMART-CABLESPDF)

The Commission’s Central Validation Service (CVS) will carry out Financial Capacity Assessment (FCA) for each participating entity. If the result of the FCA of the coordinator is WEAK or INSUFFICIENT, the granting authority will propose some mitigation measures, which may include a financial guarantee from the coordinator. For more information, see: Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment.PDF

The Central Validation Service (REA Validation) will carry out the financial capacity check on the basis of the documents you will be requested to upload in the Participant Register during grant preparation. Please consult section 7 of the CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYSPDF & SMART-CABLESPDF call texts (Financial and operational capacity and exclusion) and subsection “Financial capacity”.

All entities participating in the project will be subject to ownership control assessment (OCA). If ownership changes during implementation, the granting authority must be notified by the beneficiary and it may require a new OCA. It should be noted that eligibility conditions apply throughout the whole project implementation. For further information please see Guidance on participation in EU restricted calls with ownership and control restrictions.PDF

The Central Validation Service (REA Validation) will assess the financial capacity on the basis of the documents you will be requested to upload in the Participant Register during grant preparation. Please consult section 7 of the CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYSPDF & SMART-CABLESPDF call texts (Financial and operational capacity and exclusion) and subsection “Financial capacity”.

Since the beginning of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, some basic acts (including Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility) specifically allow EU granting authorities to impose ownership control restrictions for participating entities in calls for proposals where this is necessary to protect EU interests.

Thus, in such calls, entities that would normally be eligible to participate will be ineligible, unless they comply with additional conditions regarding their ownership control situation. For these calls, the EU services will therefore verify the ownership control status of the participants (and, in some cases, also if the conditions for an exception apply, e.g. guarantee, etc).

‘Control’ means the possibility to exercise decisive influence on the participant, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediate entities, ‘de jure’ or ‘de facto’. This includes not only ownership of more than 50% (shareholding), but also any other elements and/or rights that can amount to control.

The ownership control status is defined through the assessment conducted by the Central Validation Service of the European CommissionPDF, based on the documents and information provided by the applicant during and following the submission of the proposal. However, the requirement to comply with the eligibility condition must in principle be fulfilled already at proposal submission stage (call deadline) and changes that occur later or during evaluation or grant preparation will NOT be taken into account – unless agreed by the granting authority.

For Works proposals, according to the Digital security requirements of the call textPDF: "All the proposals submitted to this topic must include security declarations by the participating entities receiving funding for the deployment of equipment and technologies.[…] Finally, the declaration will confirm that the results of the CEF funded action shall remain within the beneficiary during the action and for 10 years after its completion."