On 19 June the European Commission launched the final Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) call of the current budget cycle, making €1.1 billion available for projects that remove ‘bottlenecks’ on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). Priority areas include high-speed rail corridors that cross Belgium, electrification of road-haulage nodes at Brussels Airport and Zeebrugge Port, and upgrades that allow heavy military vehicles to use civilian infrastructure. Belgian transport minister Georges Gilkinet welcomed the call, noting that Brussels-Amsterdam trains still crawl at 160 km/h on some sections because of outdated signalling. The federal infrastructure agency Infrabel confirmed it will submit proposals to co-finance ETCS Level 2 rollout on the Brussels-Antwerp-Rotterdam axis and reinforce key bridges on the E40 motorway for dual civilian-military use. From a corporate-mobility perspective the CEF grants can shorten journey times for cross-border commuters and reduce freight delays for multinational supply chains. If approved, the electrification funds could also expand airside e-bus fleets at Brussels Airport, improving sustainability metrics for corporate travel programmes. Applications are due by 6 October 2026, with grant agreements expected in the first quarter of 2027. Global companies with large Belgian operations should monitor consortia opportunities: up to 85 % of pilot-project costs can be covered, and private entities are eligible provided they partner with a public infrastructure manager.
Source: The Brussels Times
