Finnish operators apply for more than EUR 80 million of EU funding for transport projects

Finnish operators apply for more than EUR 80 million of EU funding for transport projects

The State of Finland and private Finnish operators are applying for around EUR 80 million in financial support from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Transport. Projects of the state infrastructure network account for around EUR 37 million and private projects for around EUR 43 million of the total amount. The Ministerial Finance Committee endorsed the applications on 24 September 2026.

The operators are seeking funding under the 2026 Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Transport calls for proposals, which is the last call in this funding period (2021-2027). The Finnish operators are seeking funding for projects under the standard CEF calls and the military mobility calls, which are making available EUR 720 million and EUR 130 million respectively.

The funding will promote investment in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), combining railways, inland waterways, roads, sea routes and air routes into a single transport network. The European Commission requires Member States to cover 50-70 per cent of total project costs with national funding.

Finnish State is applying for funding for military mobility projects and rail projects

The State of Finland is applying for a total of EUR 37 million in CEF funding for four projects: two military mobility projects together with Sweden and two projects for the planning of rail infrastructure improvements.

1. Rail Nordica project

Finland and Sweden are submitting a joint application for CEF funding for the Rail Nordica project which is drawing up plans to extend the European standard rail gauge network from Sweden to Northern Finland. The application is for approximately EUR 25 million, Finland's share being EUR 22 million. CEF support is also applied for the general planning, environmental impact assessment process and track planning of the Tornio-Kemi-Ajos rail section and for the technical surveys of the rail sections Laurila-Rovaniemi and Kemi-Oulu.

2. Planning of E8 border bridges between Finland and Sweden

Finland and Sweden are submitting a joint application for CEF funding for improving border bridges between the two countries for military mobility purposes. The application is for around EUR 3.3 million, Finland's share being around EUR 1.5 million. The Finnish-Swedish joint project promotes the road and construction planning of bridges in Pello and Aavasaksa.

3. Planning of the Liminka-Oulu double-track rail line

The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency and the municipalities of Liminka and Kempele are applying for CEF funding for the construction planning of a 25 km long double-track rail line between Liminka and Oulu and for the track and construction planning of track infrastructure at the Liminka station. The application is for EUR 8.5 million. The building of a double track on the Liminka-Oulu rail section would remove one of the biggest bottlenecks on Finland's main rail line and improve the capacity, reliability and service level of the rail network in Northern Finland.

4. Construction planning of the Karelian railway section in Lappeenranta

The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency is applying for CEF funding for the construction planning of the Karelian railway. The project will draw up construction plans for the double-track rail line between Lappeenranta and Lauritsala and for Lappeenranta station. The application is for EUR 5 million.

Private operators are applying for funding for rail projects, ports and energy systems

Companies operating in Finland are applying for a total of EUR 43.4 million in CEF funding for seven projects:

1. Dual-use RoRo infrastructure in the port of Kokkola

Port of Kokkola Ltd is applying for EUR 13 million.

2. Shore-side electricity in the ports of Turku and Stockholm and a ship battery charging system for Viking Line

Port of Turku Ltd, Ports of Stockholm (Stockholms Hamnar AB) and Viking Line are applying for EUR 7.2 million.

3. Onshore power supply and charging infrastructure at the port of Naantali

Port of Naantali Ltd is applying for EUR 2.3 million.

4. Construction of a substation and an onshore power supply system at the Port of Helsinki West Harbour

Port of Helsinki Ltd is applying for EUR 9 million.

5. Construction planning of the Salo-Kupittaa double-track rail line

West Railway Ltd is applying for EUR 9.2 million.

6. Retrofitting wind-assisted propulsion to a Finnlines ship

Finnlines Plc is applying for EUR 1.3 million.

7. Electrification of ground infrastructure at Finnish airports

Finavia Corporation is applying for EUR 1.5 million.

What's next?

The European Commission call for proposals closes on 6 October 2026. According to the Commission's indicative timeline, decisions on funding will be made in spring 2027.

Inquiries:

Marjukka Vihavainen-Pitkänen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 40 825 1255, [email protected]