EU releases further 600 mil. EUR for Czech infrastructure projects

The European Union will allocate a further 600 mil. EUR this year to energy infrastructure projects in EU Member States. This is already the second grant of this kind this year. Czech companies ČEPS, NET4GAS and MERO are also eligible to apply for funding.

Since 2014, the European Union has provided financial support to the most important projects in the EU as part of its support for the development of energy infrastructure. This is already the second round of funding to be released this year. In the first round, the EU provided 200 mil. EUR.

To apply for funding for project studies or construction, a project must first be included on the list of EU projects of common interest (the list was last updated in November 2015). Projects must be cross-border or have at least a significant cross-border impact.

„Cross-border infrastructure projects are one of the Energy Union's main objectives. Interconnection makes us stronger as the EU.“
Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for the Energy Union

Among Czech companies, NET4GAS, ČEPS and MERO have projects included on the list.

• MERO – Litvínov – Spergau oil pipeline
• NET4GAS – Stork II and BACI gas pipelines
• ČEPS – Line from the Čebín substation to Vernéřov

Each project may apply for funding either for studies or works. Funding may cover a maximum of 50 % of eligible costs for both works and studies (75 % for projects of exceptional importance).

This is the final opportunity to apply for a grant this year. The EU will therefore provide a total of 800 mil. EUR this year. The programme is set to continue at least until 2020, with around 5,35 bn EUR to be distributed over those years.

Several similar calls have been held in the past. The first took place in 2014, when 647 mil. EUR in EU funding was earmarked for a total of 34 projects. A year later, the European Commission allocated 366 mil. EUR to 35 projects.