Amended proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on guidelines for trans-European telecommunications networks and repealing Decision No 1336/97/EC
Date: 2013-05-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU financing, Internet, electronic government, exchange of information, investment aid, investment project, project of common interest, trans-European network, transmission network

EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION 

Brussels, 28.5.2013  
COM(2013) 329 final 

2011/0299 (COD) 

Amended proposal for a 

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on guidelines for trans-European telecommunications networks and repealing Decision 
No 1336/97/EC 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

General context 

This  initiative  is  anchored  in  the  Europe  2020  Strategy  for  smart,  sustainable  and  inclusive 
growth1,  which  put  digital  infrastructures  at  the  forefront  as  part  of  the  flagship  initiative 
"Digital Agenda for Europe"2. It underlined The Digital Agenda seeks, among other things, 
to  deploy  cross-border  public  online  services,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  mobility  of 
businesses  and  citizens.  In  particular,  interoperability  of  public  services  is  required 
where  single  market  legislation  and  initiatives  (such  as  the  Services  Directive  or  the 
eProcurement  Action  Plan)  rely  on  the  possibility  for  businesses  to  interact  and  do 
business  with  public  administrations  by  electronic  means  and  across  borders.  The 
Digital Agenda further underlines the need to ensure the roll-out and take-up of broadband 
for  all,  at  increasing  speeds,  through  both  fixed  and  wireless  technologies,  and  to  facilitate 
investment in the new very fast open and competitive internet networks that will be are the 
arteries  of  a  future  modern  economy.  The  EU  has  set  itself  ambitious  targets  in  terms  of 
broadband roll-out and take up by 2020. 

On 29 June 2011, the Commission adopted the Communication "A Budget for Europe 2020" 
on  the  next  multi-annual  financial  framework  (MFF)  (2014-2020)3,  which  proposes  the 
creation of a Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to promote the completion of priority energy, 
transport  and  digital  infrastructures  with  a  single  fund  of  EUR  40  billion,  out  of  which  the 
Commission  proposed  that  EUR  9.2  billion  are  be  dedicated  to  digital  networks  and 
services. 

On 8 February 2013, the European Council adopted conclusions on a new MFF setting 
the  budget  for  "CEF  Digital"  at  EUR  1  billion.  On  this  basis,  the  Commission  now 
proposes  to  modify  its  proposal  for  a  Regulation  on  guidelines  for  trans-European 
telecommunications  networks.  At  the  time  of  writing,  the  negotiations  between  the 
Council  and  the  European  Parliament  on  the  next  Multiannual  Financial  Framework 
have  not  yet  been  concluded.  Likewise,  negotiations  on  the  proposal  for  a  Regulation 
establishing the CEF are on-going. 

The modified proposal takes, to the extent possible, account of the latest positions in the 
Council and in the relevant European Parliament committee. It aims to focus the CEF 
intervention on a smaller number of digital service infrastructures, based on a stringent 
set  of  criteria  for  prioritisation,  and  a  limited  contribution  to  broadband  via  financial 
instruments,  with  a  view  to  leverage  private  investment  as  well  as  investment  from 
public  sources  other  than  CEF.  Despite  its  limited  financial  contribution  regarding 
broadband, the proposal sets a framework enabling wider contributions from business 
and institutional players such as the European Investment Bank. 

Purpose of the proposal 

The  purpose  of  this  Regulation  is  to  establish  a  series  of  guidelines  covering  the  objectives 
and priorities envisaged for broadband networks and digital service infrastructures in the field 
of telecommunications in the context of the Connecting Europe Facility CEF.  

1 
2 
3 

COM(2010) 2020. 
COM(2010) 245. 
COM(2011) 500/I final and COM(2011) 500/II final (Policy Fiches). 

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The guidelines identify in annex projects of common interest for the deployment of broadband 
networks  and  digital  service  infrastructures  and  broadband  networks.  These  projects  shall 
contribute  to  improving  the  competitiveness  of  the  European  economy  including  small  and 
medium  sized  enterprises  (SMEs),  promote  the  interconnection  and  interoperability  of 
national,  regional  and  local  networks  as  well  as  access  to  such  networks  and  support  the 
development of a Digital Single Market. They shall be eligible for EU financial support under 
the  instruments  available  under  the  Regulation  on  Connecting  Europe  Facility  which 
accompanies this Regulation. 

This  Regulation  aims  at  removing  The  approach  in  this  Regulation,  is  to  aim  for  the 
removal  of  bottlenecks  which  hinder  the  completion  of  the  Digital  Single  Market  i.e. 
providing  connectivity  to  the  network  and  access,  including  across  borders,  to  an 
infrastructure  of  public  digital  services.  The  blockages  in  operational  terms  for  the  telecom 
networks, in contrast to e.g. financing a ring-road around a capital city which is essential for 
fluidity  in  a  transport  corridor,  concern  both  supply-side  and  demand  side  aspects.  For  the 
supply side, the limitations relate to a strong degree of sub-optimal market failures situation 
and the concomitant weak business cases for investment in broadband networks and delivery 
of  essential  public  interest  services  (e.g.  eHealth,  eIdentity,  eProcurement  and  their  cross-
border interoperability). On the demand side, the Digital Single Market with its considerable 
growth  potential  relies  on  all  citizens,  businesses  and  administrations  being  connected  to 
digital networks.  

The Connecting Europe Facility aims at using innovative financial instruments to incentivise 
infrastructure investment by reducing investment risk and providing longer-term financing for 
both  alternative  and  incumbent  investors.  Innovative  financial  instruments  provide  an 
important leverage effect on private and other public investment while still relying on market 
mechanisms.  Where  the  business  case  for  infrastructure  investment  is  particularly  weak  the 
Connecting Europe Facility also foresees the possibility to offer co-financing via grants. 

In the field of broadband networks, actions contributing to projects of common interest in the 
area of broadband shall support investments in networks capable of achieving, by 2020, the 
Digital Agenda for Europe targets of universal coverage at 30Mbps; or having at least 50% of 
households subscribing to speeds above 100Mbps. A balanced portfolio of 30 and 100 Mbps 
projects will be created and due account should also be taken of Member States' investment 
needs which are indicatively assessed to be up to 270 billion €.   

For  the  digital  service  infrastructure  infrastructures,  the  bottlenecks  in  terms  of  service 
deployment within interoperable frameworks are addressed through procurement and direct 
grant schemes, in certain cases mostly with high co-funding rates full funding of platforms 
at EU level, as there are no natural owners of a European interoperable service infrastructure. 
Indeed, neither single Member States, nor private investors would ensure service deployment 
within interoperable frameworks of cross-border services. The EU added value is thus high. 

Projects of common interest in the field of digital service infrastructures give priority firstly 
to  building  blocks  as  listed  in  the  Annex  include  trans-European  high-speed  backbone 
connections for public administrations, cross–border delivery of eGovernment services based 
on interoperable identification and authentication (e.g. Europe-wide electronic procedures: to 
set  up  a  business;  for  cross-border  procurement,  e-Justice,  cross-border  eHealth  services); 
enabling access to public sector information, including digital resources of European heritage, 
data.eu  and  multilingual  resources;  safety  and  security  (safer  internet  and  critical  service 
infrastructures) and smart energy services. Projects of common interest may also include the 
operation of electronic public services implemented under other Community programs such as 
the  ISA  program  (“Interoperability  solutions  for  European  public  administrations”).  On  a 

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yearly basis, according to the funding available, specific Digital Service Infrastructures 
in the annex will be identified in view to be deployed. 

For broadband networks, the amount of resources available under this Regulation will 
be  small.  While  the  rationale  for  public  financial  support  in  areas  where  private 
investment is insufficient remains valid, public support will need to come primarily from 
other  sources  than  CEF,  in  particular  from  national  sources  and  from  the  European 
Structural and Investment Funds, where Information and Communication Technologies 
are likely to be included among the thematic objectives covered by the thematic priority 
concentration requirements. 

However, given the key importance of broadband networks for growth and jobs, and in 
view of the challenges – both financial and technical – connected to public investment in 
the sector, this Regulation foresees a limited, enabling intervention. CEF will finance a 
small  contribution  to  the  setting  up  of  financial  instruments  at  European  Union 
(hereafter referred to as 'Union') level, in particular in cooperation with the European 
Investment Bank, with the potential to facilitate the efficient use of other public as well 
as  private  resources.  Hence,  CEF  will  only  be  able  to  finance  a  limited  number  of 
broadband  projects  by  itself,  but  in addition it will facilitate the efficient allocation of, 
for example, European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), by enabling Managing 
Authorities  to  make  a  contribution  from  the  operational  programmes.  Such 
contributions will be ring-fenced for use in the Member State or region concerned and 
could  facilitate  critical  mass  and  economies  of  scale  in  project  delivery.  In  setting  a 
framework  enabling  wider  contributions  from  business  and  institutional  players,  the 
proposal  seeks  to  multiply  the  level  of  contribution  to  broadband  projects  of  common 
interest well beyond the funding enabled through the Regulation.  

Actions contributing to projects of common interest shall be eligible for EU financial support 
under  the  instruments  available  under  the  Regulation  establishing  the  CEF  Connecting 
Europe Facility4. The present proposal is therefore to be seen in conjunction with the proposal 
for  that  Regulation.  The  Regulation  also  stipulates  the  criteria  for  the  identification  of  new 
projects  of  common  interest,  on  the  basis  of  the  Commission's  assessment  of  changing 
political priorities, technological developments or the situation in the relevant markets. 

2. 

RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES AND 
IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 

As  regards  broadband  rollout,  numerous  consultations  with  Member  States,  industry  and 
social  stakeholders  have  been  carried  out.  Notably,  these  included  a  roundtable  of  Vice-
President  Kroes  with  CEOs  from  content  providers,  equipment  makers,  investors  and 
telecoms  operators  from  the  world's  leading  companies  such  as  Nokia,  Alcatel  Lucent, 
Google, Ericsson, News Corp etc, and the first Digital Agenda Assembly, which took place in 
Brussels  on  16th  and  17th  June  2011,  bringing  together  more  than  1,000  stakeholders  from 
the  private  and  the  public  sectors,  as  well  as  civil  society.  On  these  and  numerous  other 
occasions, stakeholders widely shared the Commission's assessment that the existing telecom 
investment  model  is  insufficient  to  bring  about  the  rollout  of  affordable,  high-quality 
broadband infrastructures for all European citizens, and they welcome the Commission's plans 
to use targeted public investment, e.g. through the use of innovative financial instruments, to 
leverage  the  necessary  infrastructure  investment  to  support  alternative  and  more  sustainable 
models of investment. 

4 

OJ C […], […], p. […]. 

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The  European  Parliament  in  a  draft  report  on  the  future  Multi-annual  Financial  Framework 
(MFF) recognised the importance of using the budget to leverage investment in broadband.  

As far as cross-border digital service infrastructures are concerned, the Commission has been 
working  with  various  stakeholder  groups  for  many  years.  Evaluations  and  expert  advise  on 
existing activities, such as Europeana (for cultural heritage) or the Safer Internet programme 
generally call for activities to be continued and expanded. 

In light of the indicative budget cut from 9.2bn to 1bn EUR, there is a clear need to limit 
the  scope  of  the  programme.  For  digital  service  infrastructures,  this  could  have  be 
achieved  either  by  reducing  the  number  of  services  proposed  originally,  or  by 
introducing a more stringent set of funding criteria. The present Commission proposal 
in  fact  does  both:  Two  services  have  been  not  been  a  retained  in  the  annex  of  this 
public 
proposal 
administrations", "Information and communication technology solutions for intelligent 
energy  networks  and  for  the  provision  of  Smart  Energy  Services")  for  budgetary 
reasons, while one general service infrastructure has been added (see below). 

("Trans-European 

connections 

high-speed 

backbone 

for 

so 

the 

legislative  deliberations 

In 
the  Council  Working  Group  on 
far, 
Telecommunications  suggested  adding  additional  digital  service  infrastructures  on 
"Electronic procedures for moving from one European country to another", "European 
platform  for  the  interconnection  of  employment  and  social  security  services",  and 
"Online  administrative  cooperation  platforms".  For  budgetary  reasons,  not  all  are 
retained in the annex of the present proposal. 

The  European  Parliament's  Industry,  Research  and  Energy  Committee  added 
additional  digital  service  infrastructures  on  "Deployment  of  infrastructures  in  public 
transports  allowing  the  use  of  secure  and  interoperable  mobile  proximity  services", 
"Online Dispute  Resolution Platform", "European Platform  for Access to  Educational 
Resources",  and  "Cross  border  interoperable  electronic  invoicing  services".  Some  of 
them are retained in the annex of the present proposal. 

In the area of broadband, the programme could either not foresee any intervention, or 
provide for a limited intervention seeking to leverage private and other public funds. As 
there will be EU funds available for broadband under the ESIF, in particular as a fourth 
priority concentration theme under the European Regional Development Fund, and as 
the  use  of  structural  funds  for  broadband  has  been  a  challenge,  the  present  proposal 
foresees the setting up of financial instruments with a view to providing an efficient way 
to allocate, inter alia, structural funds. 

Both Council and Parliament shared the view that the intervention should not displace 
private  investment.  Both  institutions  further  agreed  that  it  should  be  based  on  the 
principle of technological neutrality – however, the EP introduced very ambitious target 
transmission  speeds  ("1Gbps  where  possible  and  above  "),  while  some  Member  States 
sought  to  relax  the  Commission's  original  proposal  linking  CEF  intervention  to  the 
second  Digital  Agenda  for  Europe  target  of  30  Mbps.  By  insisting  that  EU  funds  be 
prioritised to state-of-the art technologies, while giving Member States flexibility in the 
choice of projects in their countries that would benefit from access to long term funds, 
the present proposal reaffirms the link to the Digital Agenda targets, while retaining the 
spirit  of  preferences  expressed  by  both  institutions.  There  were  further  discussions  on 
the  preferred  method  of  intervention,  i.e.  grants  or  financial  instruments  (loans, 
guarantees, project bonds, equity). In view of the limited resources, the present proposal 
only provides for the setting up of financial instruments, as sources of efficiently priced 
long term funds, aligned to the infrastructure needs. 

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On horizontal points, the original Commission proposal foresaw Delegated Act powers 
to  amend  the  list  of  Projects  of  Common  Interest  in  the  Annex.  The  present  proposal 
takes  account  of  the  concerns  expressed  in  particular  by  Member  States,  and  instead 
foresees  sufficiently  flexible  wording  in  the  Annex,  and  recognises  that  the  necessary 
programme adjustments will be made by Implementing Act. 

During  the  legislative  and  budget  negotiations,  the  CEF  was  endorsed  by  numerous 
stakeholder  organisations,  such  as  Digital  Europe,  the  Europeana  Foundation,  the 
Public  Sector  Information  Alliance,  Multilingual  Europe  Technology  Alliance,  the 
European  Telecommunications  Network  Operators'  Association,  and  the  European 
Competitive Telecommunications Association, and the FTTH Council. 

The  original  Impact  Assessment  report,  carried  out  in  2011,  discussed  discusses  two 
options.  The  first,  baseline  option  foresees  foresaw  no  EU  funding  to  be  allocated  to 
broadband other than, potentially, through the structural funds ESIF and the continuation of 
the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme for digital service infrastructures in the scale 
of  pilots  only.  In  this  scenario  no  critical  mass  or  deployment  of  digital  services  would  be 
achieved,  investment  in  broadband  would  continue  to  be  insufficient  and  inefficiently 
funded  in  many  regions  due  to  lack  of  competitive  pressure  and  high  commercial  risk. 
Equally,  public  online  services  can  be  expected  to  remain  under-developed  and  not  inter-
operable  across  borders  due  to  fragmentation  or  of  sub-optimal  efforts  and  technical 
solutions, lack of critical mass, high costs for service providers and beneficiaries of services. 
Hence,  this  option  would  not  contribute  to  attaining  the  Digital  Single  Market,  and  many 
Europeans would continue to miss out on digital opportunities. 

The second option proposes a financing tool tools which would complement and leverage the 
financing  resources  currently  available  under  the  first  option.  This  is  the  line  of  action 
included  in  the  MFF  proposal  released  by  the  European  Commission  on  29  June  2011, 
creating  a  "Connecting  Europe  Facility"  to  finance  infrastructure.  The  new  facility  will 
finance  infrastructure  projects  with  high  EU  added  value,  not  only  'hard'  infrastructure,  but 
also  'soft  and  smart'  infrastructure  and  governance  structures  to  realise  the  transport  "core 
network", the energy "priority corridors" as well as digital infrastructure. The facility would 
target projects with high European value added, such as cross-border interconnections or the 
deployment of EU-wide systems, which must be implemented by 2020. In order to maximise 
impact,  appropriate  provisions  would  ensure  the  combination  of  market  -  based  instruments 
and  EU  direct  support,  in  order  to  encourage  the  participation  of  specialised  infrastructure 
investors.  In  the  case  of  grants,  the  Commission  would  remain  responsible  for  the  overall 
planning and project selection, with the possible support of an executive agency, while project 
promoters  would  ensure  physical  implementation  on  the  ground.  In  the  case  of  financial 
instruments,  implementation  will  be  delegated  to  specialised  financial  institutions,  but  the 
Commission  will  determine  the  eligibility.  Member  States  will  contribute  to  the  effort  by 
developing  national  plans  for  high  speed  internet  in  line  with  the  broadband  targets,  while 
mapping  of  broadband  infrastructure  and  services  (at  EU  and  national/regional  level)  will 
identify  gaps  in  coverage  and  stimulate  initiatives  from  a  multiplicity  of  private  and  public 
investors. The new proposal does not fundamentally change the spirit or the methods of 
intervention  analysed  in  the  second  option,  but  through  more  stringent  eligibility 
criteria it reduces its scope. 

A  large  number  of  cross-border  digital  services,  implementing  exchanges  between 
European  public  administrations  in  support  of  EU  policies,  are  a  reality.  When 
providing new solutions, it is important to capitalise on existing solutions implemented 
in  the  context  of  other  European  initiatives,  avoid  duplication  of  work,  and  ensure 

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coordination and  alignment of  approaches  and solutions across initiatives and policies, 
such as for instance the ISA programme, the Fiscalis programme and Horizon 2020. 

3. 

LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

Legal basis 

The  proposed  Regulation  will  repeal  and  replace  Decision  1336/97  of  the  European 
Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 1997 on a series of Guidelines for trans-European 
telecommunications networks. 

The proposed intervention will be pursuant to Article 172 TFEU, which provides a legal base 
for  the  EU  intervention  supporting  the  establishment  and  development  of  trans-European 
networks in the areas of transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructures.  

Subsidiarity and proportionality 

The  coordinated  development  of  a  trans-European  telecommunications  networks  to  support 
the  deployment  of  broadband  infrastructures  and  promotion  of  services  within  the  single 
European market and the economic, social and territorial cohesion requires action to be taken 
at Union level as the actions could not be taken individually by Member States.  

The proposal complies with the proportionality principle, and stays within the scope of action 
in the field of the trans-European telecommunications networks, as defined in Article 170 of 
the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. 

Choice of legal instrument 

The current Telecommunications Guidelines have been proposed and adopted as a Decision 
of the European Parliament and of the Council which is specifically addressed to the Member 
States, rendering the Guidelines binding in their entirety for all the Member States. 

However,  the  instrument  will  facilitate  in  particular  the  deployment  of  telecommunications 
infrastructure  and  promotion  of  services  by  private  entities  (including  operators,  utilities, 
equipment manufacturers etc) and regional and local authorities. With more actors besides the 
Member  States  becoming  involved  in  the  planning,  development  and  operation  of  digital 
telecommunication  telecommunications  networks,  it  is  important  to  ensure  that  the 
Guidelines be binding for all. The Commission has therefore chosen a Regulation as the legal 
instrument for this proposal. 

Funding 

Projects of common interest shall be eligible for EU financial support under the instruments 
the  CEF  Connecting  Europe  Facility 
available  under 
[XXX/20012]. Financial support shall be provided in accordance with the relevant rules and 
procedures adopted by the Union, funding priorities and the availability of resources. 

the  Regulation  establishing 

Delegation of powers 

Telecommunication networks are evolving quickly and the list of projects of common interest 
might  have  to  be  modified  in  future  to  reflect  this  fast  evolution.  To  accomplish  this,  it  is 
proposed  that  power  to  adopt  acts  in  accordance  with  Article  290  of  the  Treaty  on  the 
Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission. 

Implications for other Commission proposals 

The  present  modification  of  the  Commission  proposal  affects  another  file  currently  in 
the  legislative  process,  which  is  the  Regulation  establishing  the  CEF.  This  Regulation 

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determines the conditions, methods and procedures for providing Union financial aid to 
trans-European networks in the transport, energy, and telecommunications sectors. 

The  necessary  changes  will  not  affect  the  horizontal  elements  of  the  CEF  Regulation, 
apart  from  marking  the  Regulation  as  EEA  relevant,  in  order  to  allow  for  the 
participation of EEA countries. 

Changes  in  the  CEF  Regulation  will  be  limited  and  may  include  the  re-formulation  of 
certain  recitals  to  reflect  the  change  in  the  intervention's  focus  and  the  adjustment  or 
deletion  of  certain  provisions,  including  Article  7.4  on  eligibility  and  conditions  for 
financial assistance in the  field of telecommunications and Art.10.4. (b) concerning  the 
funding rates for actions in the field of broadband. In Article 20 the delegation of power 
to  amend  the  part  of  the  annex  dealing  with  telecommunications  will  no  longer  be 
necessary.  

4. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 

The proposal will not entail any additional cost for the EU budget. 

The  proposal  for  a  Regulation  on  guidelines  for  the  implementation  of  trans-European 
telecommunication telecommunications networks is linked to the proposal for a Regulation 
establishing  the  CEF  Connecting  Europe  Facility  (CEF)  which  will  provide  the  legislative 
and  the  financial  framework.  An  The  Commission  proposal  for  a  new  MFF  foresaw  an 
 EUR 9.2 billion5 is allocated for telecommunications within the envelope of the 
amount of €
CEF. The European Council conclusions of 8 February 2013 on MFF 2014-2020 for the 
telecommunications part of CEF set an amount at EUR 1.0 billion (in 2011 prices). The 
final amount allocated to telecommunications will be known once the political agreement 
on the MFF figures will be reached and the new legal base is adopted by the Legislative 
Authority. 

5 

Figures are provided in constant 2011 prices. 

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2011/0299 (COD) 

Amended proposal for a 

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on guidelines for trans-European telecommunications networks and repealing Decision 
No 1336/97/EC 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union,  and  in  particular 
Article 172 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national Parliaments, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee6,  
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions7,  

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

Telecommunications networks and services are increasingly becoming internet-based 
infrastructures, with broadband networks and digital services closely interrelated. The 
internet  is  becoming  the  dominant  platform  for  communication,  services,  and  doing 
business. Therefore, the trans-European availability of fast Internet access and digital 
services in the public interest is essential for economic growth and the Single Market.  
(2)  On 17 June 2010, the European Council endorsed the Digital Agenda for Europe8 
which  aims  to  chart  a  course  to  maximise  the  social  and  economic  potential  of 
information  and  communication  technologies.  It  seeks  to  stimulate  supply  and 
demand  of  competitive  high  speed  internet  infrastructure  and  internet-based 
digital services in view to advance towards a true Digital Single Market, which is 
essential for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.  

(3) 

Regulation  (EU)  No  […/…]  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of 
[…]  establishing  the  Connecting  Europe  Facility  (CEF)9  determines  the 
conditions,  methods  and  procedures  for  providing  Union  financial  assistance  to 
trans-European networks in transport, energy and digital communication. Given 
that there are similar challenges and opportunities in the sectors covered by the 
CEF  Regulation,  there  is  important  scope  for  exploiting  synergies,  including  by 
combining CEF funding with other sources of funding. 

6 
7 
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9 

OJ C […], […], p. […]. 
OJ C […], […], p. […]. 
COM(2010) 245 final/2. 
OJ […], […], p. […]. 

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(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

A large number of cross-border digital services, implementing exchanges between 
European  public  administrations  in  support  of  EU  policies  are  a  reality.  When 
providing  new  solutions,  it  is  important  to  capitalise  on  existing  solutions 
implemented  in  the  context  of  other  European  initiatives,  avoid  duplication  of 
work, and ensure coordination and alignment of approaches and solutions across 
initiatives  and  policies,  such  as  for  instance  the  ISA  programme,  the  Fiscalis 
programme  and  Horizon  2020.  Similarly,  it  is  important  that  solutions  comply 
with  agreed  standards,  specifications  and  orientations,  such  as  the  European 
Interoperability Framework for European public services (EIF)10. 

Large  scale  pilots  between  Member  States  and  co-financed  by 
the 
Competitiveness and Innovation Programme such as PEPPOL, STORK, epSOS, 
eCODEX  or  SPOCS  have  validated  key  cross  border  digital  services  in  the 
internal market, based on common building blocks. These have already reached 
or  are  in  the  near  future  reaching  the  maturity  level  required  for  deployment. 
Existing projects of common interest have already demonstrated the clear added 
value  of  action  at  European  level,  such  as  in  the  fields  of  cultural  heritage 
(Europeana),  child  protection  (Safer  Internet),  social  security  (EESSI),  while 
others such as in the field of consumer protection (ODR) have been proposed. 

infrastructures 

implemented  conforming  to  the  Decision 
Digital  service 
922/2009/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  16  September 
2009  on  interoperability  solutions  for  European  public  administrations11  will 
facilitate  the  electronic  cross-border  and  cross-sector  interaction  between 
European  public  administrations.  This,  in  turn,  will  enable  the  provision  of 
essential  services  in,  inter  alia,  areas  such  as  electronic  identification  and 
procurement,  cross-border  interconnection  of  business  registers,  interoperable 
electronic  cross-border  health  services,  as  well  as  cross-border  cooperation  on 
cyber  security,  thereby  contributing  to  the  Digital  Single  Market.  Such 
interaction between administrations will be achieved through the creation and/or 
enhancement  of  interoperable  core  service  platforms,  built  on  existing  common 
building  blocks  and/or  providing  additional  building  blocks  essential  for  the 
development of other core service platforms, and related generic services linking 
national infrastructures  to  core  service platforms to deliver cross border  digital 
services. 

(7)  With regard to digital service infrastructures, building blocks shall take priority 
over other digital service infrastructures, since the former are a pre-condition for 
the later. Digital service infrastructures should, inter alia, create European added 
value and meet proven needs. They should be sufficiently mature for deployment, 
technically  as  well  as  operationally  as  proven  in  particular  through  successful 
piloting.  They  should  be  based  on  a  concrete  sustainability  plan  to  ensure  the 
long-term  operation  of  core  service  platforms  beyond  the  CEF.  Financial 
assistance  under  this  Regulation  should  therefore  wherever  possible  be  phased 
out over time and funding from sources other than the CEF should be mobilised. 

(8) 

10 

11 

Digital service infrastructures that are necessary to meet legal obligations under 
EU law and/or are developing or providing building blocks, with a potential high 
impact  on  the  development  of  pan-European  public  services,  should  be 

Annex II of COM(2011) 744final 
Decision  No  922/2009/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  on  interoperability 
solutions for European public administrations (ISA); OJ L 260, 3.10.2009, p. 20. 

EN 

10 

   EN 

                                                 
prioritised  for  funding,  so  as  to  support  multiple  digital  service  infrastructures 
and over time gradually build up a European interoperability ecosystem. In this 
context, legal obligations mean specific provisions requiring either developing or 
using  digital  service  infrastructures,  or  requiring  results  which  can  only  be 
achieved through European digital service infrastructures.  

(9)  Member  States  should  encourage  local  and  regional  authorities  to  be  fully  and 
effectively  involved  in  the  governance  of  digital  service  infrastructures,  and 
ensure  that  projects  of  common  interest  relating  to  cross-border  delivery  of 
eGovernment services take into account the EIF recommendations.  

(10) 

In  its  resolution  of  6  July  2011  on  European  Broadband:  investing  in  digitally 
driven  growth12,  the  European  Parliament  emphasised  that  broadband  services 
are key to the competitiveness of Union industry and greatly contribute to Union 
economic growth, social cohesion and the creation of quality employment. 

(11)  The Digital Agenda for Europe stipulates that by 2020 all Europeans should have 
access  to  internet  speeds  of  above  30  Mbps  and  50%  or  more  of  European 
households should subscribe to internet connections above 100 Mbps. 

(12)  The  private  sector  should  play  a  leading  role  in  rolling  out  and  modernising 
broadband  networks,  supported  by  a  competitive  and  investment-friendly 
regulatory  framework.  Where  private  investment  falls  short,  Member  States 
shall undertake the necessary efforts to achieve the targets of the Digital Agenda. 
Public  financial  assistance  to  broadband  should  be  limited  to  programmes  or 
initiatives  targeting  projects  which  cannot  be  solely  financed  by  the  private 
sector,  confirmed  by  an  ex-ante  assessment  identifying  market  imperfections  or 
sub-optimal investment situations.  

(13)  Financial  instrument(s)  for  broadband  networks  must  not  unduly  distort 
competition,  crowd  out  private  investments  or  create  disincentives  on  private 
operators  to  invest.  In  particular,  they  will  be  in  compliance  with  Articles  101, 
102, 106 and 107 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.  

(14)  Since  the  financial  resources  available  under  CEF  are  limited,  financial 
assistance  should  focus  on  the  establishment  of  financing  mechanisms  at  Union 
level  to  attract  additional  investments,  promote  a  multiplier  effect,  and  so 
facilitate the efficient use of private and other public funds for investment. This 
approach  allows  for  contributions  from  business  and  institutional  players  well 
beyond the funding levels directly eligible through CEF. 

(15)  The  CEF  support  to  broadband  deployment  should  complement  assistance 
provided under other Union programmes and initiatives, including the European 
Structural  and  Investment  Funds  (ESIF)  in  cases  where  an  ex-ante  assessment 
identifies  market  failures  or  sub-optimal  investment  situations  and  where  thus 
decided  by  Managing  Authorities.  CEF  financial  assistance  to  broadband 
deployment  should  contribute  to  Member  States'  efforts  both  directly  and  by 
providing  an  investment  vehicle  for  voluntary,  ring-fenced  contributions  from 
other sources, including ESIF, thus allowing Member States to take advantage of 
the know-how and scale-effects of EU-managed facilities with a view to increasing 
the efficiency of public spending.  

12 

2013/C 33 E/09 

EN 

11 

   EN 

                                                 
(16)  The Union may support the deployment of broadband networks contributing to 
the  objectives  of  the  Digital  Agenda  for  Europe  in  all  types  of  areas,  including 
suburban, rural, sparsely populated and less developed regions. This includes the 
deployment  of  broadband  networks  to  link  islands,  landlocked,  mountainous, 
remote and peripheral regions, including island Member States, with the central 
regions  of  the  Union  and/or  actions  to  improve  reliability  or  performance  of 
connections between such regions and central regions of the Union.  

(17) 

In  implementing  this  Regulation,  the  method  of  intervention  should  be  aligned 
with  the  characteristics  of  the  actions  in  question.  Thus,  in  the  field  of  digital 
service  infrastructures,  core  service  platforms,  which  cannot  be  funded  from 
other  sources,  should  be  prioritised  for  funding  in  the  form  of  procurement  or, 
exceptionally, grants, while generic services should be given only limited financial 
assistance  from  the  CEF.  Furthermore,  any  financial  assistance  from  the  CEF 
should aim at efficient use of Union's funds and, therefore, broadband networks 
should  be  supported  by  financial  instruments,  which  ensure  higher  leverage 
effect than grants.  

(18)  The  intervention  under  this  Regulation  should  aim  at  the  achievement  of 
synergies  and  interoperability  between  different  projects  of  common  interest 
described in the Annex, as well as with other infrastructures, including transport 
and  energy 
the  CEF,  relevant  research 
infrastructures supported inter alia by Horizon 2020 and relevant infrastructures 
supported by ESIF, while avoiding duplication and undue administrative burden. 

infrastructures  supported  by 

(19)  Financial  assistance  to  projects of common interest should be complemented by 
horizontal  actions,  including  technical  assistance,  demand  stimulation  measures 
and  coordination,  which  should  aim  at  maximizing  the 
impact  of  EU 
intervention.  

(20)  When  committing  funds  to  the  intervention  in  broadband  networks,  the 
Commission should take due account of the results of the evaluations of existing 
Union's financial instruments. 

(21)  Selection of new actions to be funded under CEF, as well as their level of funding, 
will be done as part of an annual work programme proposed by the Commission. 

(22)  The  Commission  should  be  assisted  by  an  Expert  Group  of  representatives  of 
Member  States  which  shall  be  consulted  on  and  contribute  to,  inter  alia, 
monitoring  of  the  implementation  of  these  guidelines,  planning,  evaluation  and 
addressing implementation problems. 

(2) 

(3) 

On  26  March  2010,  the  European  Council  welcomed  the  Commission's  proposal  to 
launch the strategy Europe 2020. One of the three priorities of Europe 2020 is smart 
growth through the development of an economy based on knowledge and innovation. 
Investments  in  telecommunications,  notably  broadband  networks  and  digital  service 
infrastructures, are a necessary condition for smart but also sustainable and inclusive 
economic growth of the Union.  
On 17 June 2010, the European Council endorsed the Digital Agenda for Europe13 and 
called  upon  all  institutions  to  engage  in  its  full  implementation.  The  Digital  Agenda 
aims to chart a course to maximise the social  and economic potential of information 
and communication technologies, in particular through the deployment of high-speed 

13 

COM(2010) 245 final/2. 

EN 

12 

   EN 

                                                 
broadband  networks  by  seeking  to  ensure  that  by  2020  all  Europans  have  access  to 
internet speeds of above 30 Mbps and 50% or more of European households subscribe 
to internet connections above 100 Mbps. The Digital Agenda aims to establish a stable 
legal  framework  to  stimulate  investments  in  an  open  and  competitive  high  speed 
internet infrastructure and in related services; a true single market for online content 
and services; active support for the digitisation of Europe's rich cultural heritage, and 
the  promotion  of  internet  access  and  take-up  by  all,  especially  through  support  of 
digital  literacy  and  accessibility.  In  addition,  Member  States  should  implement 
operational  national  plans  for  high  speed  internet,  targetting  public  funding  on  areas 
not  fully  served  by  private  investments  in  internet  infratructures  and  promote 
deployment and usage of modern accessible online services.  

The  Communication  from  the  Commission  to  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council, 
the  European  Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  -
European Broadband: investing in digitally driven growth14 concludes that the critical 
role of the internet means that the benefits for society as a whole appear to be much 
greater than the private incentives to invest in faster networks. Public support for this 
area is therefore necessary, but should not unduly distort competition. 

The  Communication  from  the  Commission  to  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council, 
the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – A 
Budget for Europe 202015 recognises the creation of a Connecting Europe Facility in 
the  context  of  the  Multiannual  Financial  Framework  in  order  to  address  the 
infrastructure  needs 
information  and 
communication  technologies.  Synergies  between  these  sectors  as  well  as  with  other 
Union  investment  programmes  are  key  as  similar  challenges  emerge  requiring 
solutions that unlock growth, combat fragmentation, reinforce cohesion, favour the use 
of innovative financial instruments and address market failures as well as the removal 
of bottlenecks which hinder the completion of the Single Market. 

transport,  energy  and 

the  areas  of 

in 

Regulation  (EU)  No  […/…]  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  […] 
establishing the Connecting Europe Facility16 determines the conditions, methods and 
procedures  for  providing  Union  financial  aid  to  trans-European  networks  in  order  to 
support  projects 
telecommunications 
infrastructures. 

transport,  energy  and 

the  field  of 

in 

Actions  in  the  field  of  broadband  networks  will  be  in  line  with  the  relevant  Union 
policies, regulation and guidance. This includes the set of rules and guidelines for the 
telecommunications  markets  and  in  particular  the  Regulatory  Framework  for 
electronic  communications  adopted  in  2009  which  provides  a  coherent,  reliable  and 
flexible approach to the regulation of electronic communication networks and services 
in  fast  moving  markets.  These  rules  are  being  implemented  by  national  regulatory 
authorities  and  the  Body  of  European  Regulators  for  Electronic  Communications 
(BEREC).  The  NGA  Recommendation17  adopted  in  2010  aims  at  fostering  the 
development  of  the  Single  Market  by  enhancing  legal  certainty  and  promoting 
investment,  competition  and  innovation  in  the  market  for  broadband  services  in 
particular in the transition to next generation access networks (NGAs).  

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

14 
15 
16 
17 

COM(2010) 472. 
COM(2011) 500 final. 
OJ […], […], p. […]. 
L 251, 25.9.2010, p. 35. 

EN 

13 

   EN 

                                                 
(8) 

These actions will also be in compliance with Articles 101, 102 and 106 of the Treaty 
on the Functioning of the European Union, as well as with the Community Guidelines 
for  the  application  of  State  aid  rules  in  relation  to  rapid  deployment  of  broadband 
networks, adopted in 2009, which provide a framework for stakeholders and Member 
States  to  accelerate  and  extend  broadband  deployment.  The  EU  guidance  for  NGA 
investment  models  for  EU  management  authorities  and  other  relevant  agencies 
(published in October 2011) provide a step by step approach to the implementation of 
a  range  of  models  that  ensure  fair  competition  among  all  suppliers  and  aim  at  the 
realisation of the objectives of cohesion and rural development policies. 

(9)  Within  the  framework  of  a  system  of  open  and  competitive  markets,  the  Union's 
intervention  is  necessary  where  market  failures  need  to  be  overcome.  By  providing 
financial support and additional financing leverage to infrastructure projects the Union 
can  contribute  to  the  establishment  and  development  of  trans-European  networks  in 
the  area  of  telecommunications,  thus  generating  higher  benefits  in  terms  of  market 
impact, administrative efficiency and resource utilisation. 

(10)  Substantial economic and social benefits, which cannot be captured nor monetised by 
investors, are associated with higher broadband speeds. Fast and ultra-fast broadband 
is  the  key  enabling  infrastructure  for  the  development  and  deployment  of  digital 
services, which rely on the availability, speed, reliability and resilience of the physical 
networks.  The  deployment  and  take-up  of  faster  networks  opens  the  way  for 
innovative  services  exploiting  higher  speeds.  Action  at  Union  level  is  necessary  to 
maximise  the  synergies  and  interactions  between  those  two  components  of  digital 
telecommunications networks. 

(11)  The  deployment  of  ultra-fast  broadband  will  particularly  benefit  small  and  medium 
enterprises (SMEs) which often cannot benefit from web-based services such as 'cloud 
computing'  due  to  inadequate  connectivity  and  speed  of  existing  broadband 
connections.  This  will  unlock  the  potential  for  substantial  productivity  gains  for 
SMEs.  

(12)  By opening business opportunites, the deployment of broadband networks and digital 
service  infrastructures  will  stimulate  job  creation  in  the  Union.  Construction  of 
broadband networks will also have an immediate effect on employment in particular in 
civil engineering sector. 

(13)  The  development  of  broadband  networks  and  digital  service  infrastructures  will 
contribute  to  the  Union's  objective  to  reduce  greenhouse  gas  emission  by  enabling 
energy-efficient  solutions  in  many  sectors  of  Europe's  economy.  This  positive  effect 
will be limited, but only to some extent, by the growing energy and resource demand 
related mainly to the construction of broadband networks and the operation of digital 
service infrastructures.  

(14)  The  interoperability  of  the  broadband  networks  and  the  digital  communications 
infrastructure  associated  to  energy  networks  enables  converged  communications  for 
the  deployment  of  energy-efficient,  reliable  and  cost-effective  digital  networks. 
Furthermore,  convergence  will  be  extended  beyond  connectivity  to  allow  for  the 
packaged  provision  of  energy  and  telecom  services  by  energy  and  telecom  services 
providers respectively.  

(15)  The  development,  deployment  and  long-term  provision  of  interoperable  cross-border 
eGovernment services enhance the functioning of the Single Market. Governments are 

EN 

14 

   EN 

recognised  for  providing  public  online  services  which  contribute  to  increasing 
efficiency and effectiveness of the public and private sector 

(16)  The  operation  of  common  electronic  public  services  implemented  conforming  to  the 
Decision  922/2009/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  16 
September  200918  will  aim  at  the  availability  of  common  services  in  support  of  the 
cross-border and cross-sector interaction between European public administrations.  

(17)  Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 
on  the  application  of  patients'  rights  in  cross-border  healthcare19  gives  the  legal 
framework for the cross-border provision of healthcare, including eHealth services, in 
Europe.  Their  deployment  is  expected  to  improve  the  quality of  care  and  the  patient 
safety,  to  reduce  medical  costs,  to  contribute  to  modernising  national  healthcare 
systems  and  increasing  their  efficiency,  and  to  make  them  better  adapted  to  the 
individual  needs  of  citizens,  patients,  health  professionals,  and  the  challenges  of  an 
ageing society. 

(18) 

(19) 

(20) 

(21) 

Increasing and preserving access to Europe's rich and diverse cultural content and data 
held by public sector bodies, and opening them up for reuse in full respect of copyright 
and  related  rights,  will  nurture  creativity  and  spur  innovation  and  entrepreneurship. 
Unhampered  access  to  re-usable  multilingual  resources  will  help  overcome  language 
barriers,  which undermine the internal market  for online services and limit access to 
knowledge.  

In  the  area  of  safety  and  security,  an  EU-wide  platform  for  sharing  resources, 
information  systems  and  software  tools  promoting  online  safety  will  contribute  to 
creating  a  safer  environment  for  children  online.  It  will  enable  centres  handling 
hundreds of thousands of requests and alerts per year to operate across Europe. Critical 
Information  Infrastructures  will  enhance  the  Union-wide  capability  for  preparedness, 
information sharing, coordination and response to cyber security threats.  

It  is  expected  that  innovative  applications  of  commercial  nature  running  on  digital 
service infrastructures will emerge. Their exploration and testing can be co-financed as 
part  of  research  and  innovation  projects  in  the  Horizon  2020  programme  and  their 
deployment under the cohesion policy.  

In  order  to  take  into  account  the  developments  in  the  areas  of  information  and 
communication technologies, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 
of  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union  should  be  delegated  to  the 
Commission  in  respect  of  amending  the  Annex  to  this  Regulation.  It  is  of  particular 
importance  that  the  Commission  carries  out  appropriate  consultations  during  its 
preparatory  work,  including  at  expert  level.  The  objective  of  this  delegation  is  to 
address  new  technological  and  market  developments,  emerging  political  priorities  or 
opportunities  for  exploiting  synergies  between  different  infrastructures,  including 
those  in  the  fields  of  Transport  and  Energy.  The  scope  of  delegation  is  limited  to 
modifying the description of projects of common interest, adding a project of common 
interest  or  removing  an  obsolete  project  of  common  interest  according  to  pre-
established, clear and transparent criteria. 

(22)  The  Commission,  when  preparing  and  drawing-up  delegated  acts,  should  ensure  a 
simultaneous,  timely  and  appropriate  transmission  of  relevant  documents  to  the 
European Parliament and Council.  

18 
19 

OJ L 260, 3.10.2009, p. 20. 
OJ L 88, 4.4.2011, p. 45. 

EN 

15 

   EN 

                                                 
(23)  Decision  No  1336/97/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  17  June 
1997  on  a  series  of  guidelines  for  trans-European  telecommunications  networks20 
covers  the  objectives,  priorities  and  broad  lines  of  measures  envisaged  in  the  trans-
European networks in the area of telecommunications infrastructure. In the light of the 
recent developments that Decision should be replaced.  

(24)  Decision No 1336/97/EC should therefore be repealed. 

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 
Subject matter 

1. 

lays  down  guidelines  for 

This  Regulation 
timely  deployment  and 
interoperability  of  projects  of  common  interest  in  the  field  of  trans-European 
telecommunications 
trans-European 
telecommunication  networks  that  shall  be  supported  in  accordance  with  Regulation 
XXX  (CEF  Regulation) 
implementation,  deployment, 
their  development, 
interconnection, and interoperability. 

determine 

networks 

those 

the 

in 

to 

These  guidelines  provide  for  the  objectives  and  priorities  of  projects  of  common 
interest, identify projects of common interest and set out criteria for the identification 
of new projects of common interest. 

2. 

In particular, this Regulation provides for: 

(a) 

(b) 

the objectives for projects of common interest; 

the  conditions  under  which  projects  of  common  interest  may  be  eligible 
for  Union  financial  assistance  in  accordance  with  Regulation  (EU)  No 
xxx/2012 
implementation, 
deployment, interconnection, and interoperability.  

their  development, 

[CEF  regulation] 

in 

(c) 

the  criteria  for  the  establishment  of  priorities  for  projects  of  common 
interest to receive or benefit from Union financial assistance. 

Article 2  
Objectives  

The projects of common interest shall: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

contribute  to  economic  growth  and  support  the  development  of  the  Single 
Market  resulting  in  the  improvement  of  the  competitiveness  of  the  European 
economy, including small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). 

contribute  to  improvements  in  daily  life  for  citizens,  businesses  and 
governments through the promotion of the interconnection and interoperability 
of national telecommunication networks as well as access to such networks. 

stimulate  Europe-wide  deployment  of  fast  and  ultra-fast  broadband  networks 
which,  in  turn,  shall  facilitate  the  development  and  deployment  of  trans-
European digital services.  

sustainable  deployment  of 

facilitate 
service 
infrastructures, their interoperability and coordination at European  level,  their 
operation, maintenance and upgrading.  

trans-European  digital 

20 

OJ L 183, 11.7.1997, p. 12. 

EN 

16 

   EN 

 
 
                                                 
(5) 

contribute  to  greenhouse  gas  emission  reductions,  as  well  as  protecting  and 
improving the environment.  

Article 2 3 
Definitions 

1. 

For  the  purposes  of  this  Regulation,  the  definitions  set  out  in  Article  2  of 
Regulation (EU) No xxx/2012 (CEF Regulation) apply. following definitions shall 
apply:  

2. 

The following definitions shall also apply: 

(a) 

"Telecommunication  Telecommunications  networks"  means  broadband 
networks and digital service infrastructures.  

(b)  "Digital service infrastructures" enable networked services to be delivered 
electronically,  typically  over  the  internet,  providing  trans-European 
interoperable  services  of  common  interest  for  citizens,  businesses  and/or 
governments. Digital service infrastructures are composed of core service 
platforms and generic services. 

(c)  “Building blocks” means reusable digital service infrastructures,  

(d)  “Core  service  platforms”  means  central  hubs  of  digital  service 
infrastructures aiming to ensure trans-European connectivity, access and 
interoperability.  Core  service  platforms  shall  be  open  to  Member  States 
and may be open to other entities.  

(e)  "Generic  services”  means  services 

linking  one  or  more  national 
infrastructure(s)  to  one  or  more  core  service  platform(s)  with  a  view  to 
deliver cross border digital services. 

(f) 

(g) 

(h) 

"Broadband  networks"  means  wired  and  wireless  (including  satellite)  access 
networks, ancillary infrastructure and core networks capable of delivering very 
high  speed  connectivity,  thereby  contributing  to  the  broadband  targets  of 
the Digital Agenda for Europe. 

infrastructures"  means  networked  services  delivered 
"Digital  service 
trans-European 
electronically, 
interoperable  services  in  the  public  interest  and  having  an  enabling  character 
for citizens, businesses and/or governments.  

internet,  providing 

typically  over 

the 

"European  added  value"  means  the  value  resulting  from  an  EU  intervention 
which  is  additional  to  the  value  that  would  have  otherwise  been  achieved  by 
Member State action alone or an action by a group of Member States. 

For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions set out in Regulation XXX 
(CEF Regulation) shall also apply. 

Article 3  
Objectives  

1. 

2. 

The  projects  of  common  interest  shall  contribute  to  achieving  the  general 
objectives  specified  in  article  3  of  Regulation  (EU)  No  xxx/2012  [CEF 
regulation]. 

In  addition  to  the  general  objectives,  the  projects  of  common  interest  shall 
pursue one or more of the following specific objectives:  

EN 

17 

   EN 

 
 
(a) 

(b) 

economic  growth  and  support  to  the  completion  of  the  Digital  Single 
Market  in  support  of  the  competitiveness  of  the  European  economy, 
including small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).  

improvements  in  the  daily  life  for  citizens,  businesses  and  governments 
through the promotion of interconnection and interoperability of national, 
regional and local telecommunications networks as well as access to such 
networks. 

3. 

The  following  operational  priorities  shall  contribute  to  the  achievement  of  the 
objectives mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2):  

(a) 

interoperability,  connectivity,  sustainable  deployment,  operation  and 
upgrading  of  trans-European  digital  service  infrastructures  and  their 
common building blocks, as well as coordination at European level. 

(b)  efficient  flow  of  private  and  public 

investments  to  stimulate  the 
deployment  and  modernisation  of  broadband  networks  in  view  to 
contribute towards achieving the broadband targets of the Digital Agenda 
for Europe. 

Article 4 
Priorities for projects of common interest 

Taking into account the objectives set out in Article 2, the priorities for projects of 
common interest shall be:  

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

the  deployment  of  ultra  fast  broadband  networks  ensuring  the  speed  of  data 
transmission of 100 Mbps and above;  

the  deployment  of  broadband  networks  to  link  island,  landlocked  and 
peripheral  regions  with  the  central  regions  of  the  Union  ensuring  in  those 
regions  that  speeds  of  data  transmission  are  sufficient  to  permit  broadband 
connectivity of 30 Mbps and above; 

the  support  to  core  service  platforms  in  the  field  of  digital  service 
infrastructures;  

actions  allowing  to  achieve  synergies  and  interoperability  between  different 
projects  of  common  interest  in  the  field  of  Telecommunications,  between 
projects  of  common  interest  concerning  different  types  of  infrastructures, 
including  Transport  and  Energy,  between  project  of  common  interest  in  the 
field  of  Telecommunications  and  projects  supported  by  the  Structural  and 
Cohesion funds, as well as relevant research infrastructures.  

Article 4 5 
Projects of common interest 

1. 

1. 

Projects of common interest set out in the Annex shall contribute to the achievement 
of the objectives set out in Article 2.  

Projects of common interest shall in particular:  

(a)  aim  at  the  creation  and/or  enhancement  of  interoperable  and,  whenever 
possible,  internationally  compatible  core  service  platforms  and  their 
common  building  blocks,  accompanied  by  generic  services  for  digital 
service infrastructures.  

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(b)  provide efficient investment vehicles for broadband, attract new categories 
of  investors  and  project  promoters  and  encourage  replicability  of 
innovative projects and business models. 

A  project  Projects  of  common  interest  may  encompass  their  its  entire  cycle, 
including feasibility studies, implementation, continuous operation, coordination and 
evaluation.  

Projects of common interest may be supported through horizontal actions.  

Projects  of  common  interest  and  actions  contributing  to  them  are  further 
described in the Annex to this Regulation. 

Member  States  and/or  other  entities  in  charge  of  the  implementation  of  projects  of 
common  interest  or  contributing  to  their  implementation  shall  take  the  necessary 
legal,  administrative,  technical  and  financial  measures  in  compliance  with  the 
corresponding specifications of this Regulation.  

The  Union  may  facilitate  the  implementation  of  the  projects  of  common  interest 
through  regulatory  measures,  where  appropriate,  through  coordination,  through 
support  measures  and  through  financial  support  to  stimulate  their  deployment  and 
take-up, as well as public and private investment.  

Actions contributing to projects of common interest shall be eligible for EU financial 
support  under  the  conditions  and  instruments  available  under  the  Regulation 
establishing  the  Connecting  Europe  Facility  [REF].  Financial  support  shall  be 
provided in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures adopted by the Union, 
funding priorities and the availability of resources. 

The  Commission  shall  be  empowered  to  adopt  delegated  acts  modifying  the 
description  of  projects  of  common  interest  included  in  the  Annex,  adding  new 
projects of common interest to the Annex, or removing obsolete projects of common 
interest  from  the  Annex,  in  accordance  with  paragraphs  7,  8  and  9  below  and  in 
accordance with Article 8.  

While adopting the delegated act referred to in paragraph 6 above, the Commission 
shall  assess  whether  modifying  the  description  of  project  of  common  interest  or 
adding a new project of common interest responds to the needs arising from:  

(a)  new technological and market developments; or 

(b) 

emerging political priorities; or 

(c)  new  opportunities  for  exploiting  synergies  between  different  infrastructures, 

including those in the field of Transport and Energy. 

In  addition  to  the  criteria  established  in  paragraph  7,  if  the  delegated  act  concerns 
adding a new project of common interest the Commission shall also assess whether 
such project meets cumulatively the following criteria:  

(a) 

(b) 

contributes to the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 2; 

is based on mature technology ready for deployment; 

(c)  demonstrates European added value.  

While  adopting  a  delegated  act  removing  an  obsolete  project  of  common  interest 
from Annex, the Commission shall assess whether such project no longer responds to 
the needs set out in paragraph 7 or no longer meets the criteria set out in paragraph 8.  

2. 

3. 

4. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

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Article 5  
Methods of intervention 

1. 

2. 

3. 

In  the  area  of  digital  service  infrastructures,  core  service  platforms  shall  be 
implemented  primarily  by  the  Union  while  generic  services  shall  be 
implemented  by  the  parties  connecting  to  the  relevant  core  service  platform. 
Investments  in  broadband  networks  are  undertaken  predominantly  by  the 
private  sector.  Public  support  shall  be  provided  only  where  there  is  market 
failure or a sub-optimal investment situation.  

Member States, including local and regional authorities, and/or other entities in 
charge of or contributing to the implementation of projects of common interest 
shall take the necessary legal, administrative, technical and financial measures 
in compliance with the corresponding specifications of this Regulation. 

Actions  contributing  to  projects  of  common  interest  shall  be  eligible  for  EU 
financial  support  under  the  conditions  and  instruments  available  under 
Regulation  (EU)  No  xxx/2012  [CEF  regulation].  Financial  support  shall  be 
provided in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures adopted by the 
Union, funding priorities and availability of resources. In particular:  

(a)  Actions contributing to projects of common interest in the field of digital 

service infrastructures can be supported by: 

(a)  procurement and/or 

(b)  grants. 

(b)  Actions  contributing  to  projects  of  common  interest  in  the  field  of 

broadband networks can be supported by: 

(a) 

financial  instruments  as  defined  in  Regulation  (EU)  No  xxx/2012 
[CEF  regulation],  which  shall  be  open  to  additional  contributions 
from  other  parts  of  the  Connecting  Europe  Facility,  other 
instruments,  programmes  and  budget  lines  in  the  Union  budget, 
Member  States,  including  regional  and  local  authorities  and  any 
other  investors,  including  private  investors  in  accordance  with 
Article  15.2  of  Regulation  (EU)  No  xxx/2012  [CEF  regulation]  and 
/or  

(b) 

the  combination  of  financial  instruments  and  grants  from  public 
sources other than the CEF, whether EU or national. 

(c)  Horizontal actions shall be supported by  

(a)  procurement and/or 

(b)  grants. 

4. 

Where  the  support  from  the  CEF  complements  ESIF  and  other  direct  public 
support,  the  achievement  of  synergies  between  CEF  actions  and  support  from 
ESIF may be reinforced by using an appropriate coordination mechanism.  

Article 6  

Eligibility criteria and priorities for funding 

1. 

Actions contributing to projects of common interest in the field of digital service 
infrastructures must, to be eligible for funding, cumulatively:  

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20 

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(a)  have  reached  sufficient  maturity  to  be  deployed,  as  proven  in  particular 
through  successful  piloting  under  programmes  such  as  the  Union 
programmes related to innovation and research,  

(b)  contribute to Union policies and activities in support of the single market; 

(c) 

create  European  added  value  and  long  term  sustainability,  where 
appropriate through funding sources other than CEF, as demonstrated by 
a feasibility and cost-benefit assessment;  

(d)  comply  with  agreed  standards,  specifications  and  orientations  for 
interoperability,  such  as  the  European  Interoperability  Framework,  and 
capitalise on existing solutions. 

Building blocks essential for, and with demonstrable prospects of being used in, 
the  development,  deployment  and  operation  of  other  digital  service 
infrastructures as listed in the annex shall be given first priority for funding.  

Second  priority  shall  be  given  to  digital  service  infrastructures  in  support  of 
specific provisions of EU legislation and based on existing building blocks.  

On  the  basis  of  the  objectives  provided  for  in  Article  3  and  in  function  of  the 
available  budget,  the  work  programmes  may  establish  further  eligibility  and 
priority criteria in the field of digital service infrastructures.  

Actions  contributing  to  projects  of  common  interest  in  the  field  of  broadband 
networks  shall  cumulatively  meet  the  following  criteria  in  order  to  be  eligible 
for funding: 

(a)  make  a  significant  contribution  to  the  realisation  of  the  targets  of  the 

Digital Agenda for Europe.  

(b)  have sufficiently mature project development and preparation stages that 

are underpinned by effective implementation mechanisms. 

(c)  address market imperfections or sub-optimal investment situations.  

(d)  not lead to market distortions and crowding out of private investment 

(e)  use the technology which is deemed most suitable to address the needs of 
the  area  in  question  taking  into  account  geographic,  social  and  economic 
factors  based  on  objective  criteria  and  in  line  with  technological 
neutrality.  

(f)  deploy state of the art technology and/or be based on innovative business 

models, and have a high potential for replicability. 

The  criteria  mentioned  in  point  (f)  of  the  preceding  paragraph  shall  not  be 
required for project funded from additional ring-fenced contributions provided 
in  accordance  with  Article  15.2  of  Regulation  (EU)  No  xxx/2012  [CEF 
regulation]  

Eligibility  criteria  for  horizontal  actions  shall  be  set  out  in  the  work 
programmes.  

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

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21 

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Article 7 6  

Cooperation with third countries and international organisations 

The Union may establish contacts, discuss, exchange information and cooperate with 
public  authorities  or  any  other  organisations  in  third  countries  to  achieve  any 
objective  pursued  by  these  guidelines  where  such  cooperation  gives  rise  to  a 
European  added  value.  Among  other  objectives,  this  cooperation  shall  seek  to 
promote 
telecommunication 
networks  telecommunications  networks  in  the  Union  and  telecommunication 
telecommunications networks of third countries. 

interoperability  between 

trans-European 

the 

the 

2. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

The  Union  may  further  establish  contacts,  discuss,  exchange  information  and 
cooperate  with  international  organisations  and  legal  entities  established  in  third 
countries to achieve any objective pursued by these guidelines.  

Article 8 7 
Exchange of information, monitoring and reporting review 

On  the  basis  of  information  received  under  Article  21  of  the  Regulation  XXX 
establishing  the  CEF  Connecting  Europe  Facility,  Member  States  and  the 
Commission  shall  exchange  information  about  the  progress  made  with  the 
implementation of these guidelines.  

The Commission shall consult and be assisted by an Expert Group, composed of a 
representative of each Member State, for monitoring of the implementation of these 
guidelines,  assisting  in  the  planning  through  the  national  strategies  for  high  speed 
internet  and  mapping  of  infrastructures,  and  exchanging  information.  The  Expert 
Group  may  also  consider  any  other  issue  relating  to  the  development  of  the  trans-
European  telecommunication  networks.  In  particular,  the  Expert  Group  shall 
assist the Commission in:  

(a)  monitoring the implementation of these guidelines; 

(b)  planning national plans or national strategies, where applicable; 

(c)  undertaking  measures  to  evaluate  the  implementation  of  the  work 

programmes on a financial and technical level; 

(d)  addressing existing or emerging project implementation problems.  

The  Expert  Group  may  also  consider  any  other  issue  relating  to  the 
development of the trans-European telecommunications networks. 

In  conjunction  with  the  mid-term  evaluation  and  the  ex-post  evaluation  of  the 
Regulation  XXX  establishing  the  CEF  Connecting  Europe  Facility  and  after 
consulting the Expert Group, the Commission shall publish a report on the progress 
in the implementation of these guidelines. That report shall will be submitted to the 
European  Parliament  and  the  Council,  the  European  Economic  and  Social 
Committee and the Committee of the Regions. 

interest  continues 

In these reports the Commission shall also evaluate whether the scope of the projects 
of  common 
technological 
developments  and  innovations  as  well  as  regulatory  or  market  and  economic 
developments and whether, in view of such developments and the need for long-
term sustainability, funding for any of the project of common interest supported 

to  reflect  political  priorities, 

EN 

22 

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should  be  phased  out  or  sourced  in  other  ways  or  the  situation  in  the  relevant 
markets.  For  major  projects  which  are  likely  to  have  significant  effects  on  the 
environment,  these  reports  shall  include  an  analysis  of  the  environmental  impact, 
taking  into  account,  where  appropriate  climate  change  adaptation  and  mitigation 
needs, and disaster resilience. Such an evaluation a review may also be carried out 
at any other time when it is deemed appropriate.  

5. 

The achievement of the sectorial objectives set out in Article 3 shall be measured 
ex post inter alia by: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

the availability of digital service infrastructures, measured by the number 
of Member States connected to each digital service infrastructure.  

the  percentage  of  citizens  and  businesses  using  digital  service 
infrastructures and the availability of such services across borders. 

the  volume  of  investments  attracted  in  the  field  of  broadband  and  the 
leverage effect. 

Article 8 
Exercise of the delegation 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

The  power  to  adopt  delegated  acts  is  conferred  on  the  Commission  subject  to  the 
conditions laid down in this Article.  

The  delegation  of  power  referred  to  in  the  Articles  5(6)  shall  be  conferred  on  the 
Commission for an indeterminate period of time from the date of the entry into force 
of this Regulation. 

The delegation of power referred to in Article 5(6) may  be revoked  at  any time by 
the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision of revocation shall put an end 
to  the  delegation  of  the  power  specified  in  that  decision.  It  shall  take  effect  on  the 
day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European 
Union  or  at  a  later  date  specified  therein.  It  shall  not  affect  the  validity  of  any 
delegated acts already in force.  

As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to 
the European Parliament and to the Council.  

A  delegated  act  adopted  pursuant  to  Article  5(6)  shall  enter  into  force  only  if  no 
objection  has  been  expressed  either  by  the  European  Parliament  or  the  Council 
within a period of 2 months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and 
the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the 
Council  have  both  informed  the  Commission  that  they  will  not  object.  That  period 
shall  be  extended  by  2  months  at  the  initiative  of  the  European  Parliament  or  the 
Council.  

Decision No 1336/97/EC, as amended by Decision No 1376/2002/EC, is repealed. 

Article 9 
Repeal 

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23 

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Article 10 
Entry into force 

This  Regulation  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  twentieth  day  following  that  of  its 
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. 

It shall apply from 1 January 2014. 

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 

Done at Brussels,  

For the European Parliament 
The President 

For the Council 
The President 

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ANNEX  

PROJECTS OF COMMON INTEREST 

Section 1. Digital Service Infrastructures 

Interventions  in  the  area  of  digital  service  infrastructure  generally  rely  on  a 
two-layer  architecture  approach:  core  service  platforms  and  generic  services. 
As the core service platform is a pre-condition for establishing a digital service 
infrastructure, the support to core service platforms and their common building 
blocks shall take priority over generic services.  

The  core  service  platforms  and  their  common  building  blocks  address 
interoperability  and  security  needs  of  projects  of  common  interest.  They  are 
intended  to  enable  digital  interactions  between  public  authorities  and  citizens, 
public authorities and businesses and organisations, or among public authorities 
of  different  Member  States  through  standardised,  cross-border,  and  user-
friendly  interaction  platforms.  Building  block  digital  service  infrastructures 
shall  take  priority  over  other  digital  service  infrastructures,  since  the  former 
are a pre-condition for the latter. The generic services provide the connection to 
the  core  service  platforms  and  enable  the  national  added  value  services  to  use 
the  core  service  platforms.  They  provide  gateways  between  national  services 
and  core  service  platforms  and  allow  national  public  authorities  and 
organisations, businesses and/or citizens to access the core service platform for 
their cross-border transactions. The quality of the services and the support for 
stakeholders involved in cross-border transactions shall be assured. They shall 
support and stimulate take-up of core service platforms.  

The focus shall not be entirely on the creation of digital service infrastructures 
and related services but also on the governance relating to the operation of such 
platforms. 

New  core  service  platforms  shall  mainly  be  based  on  existing  platforms  and 
their building blocks and/or, when possible, shall add new building blocks. 

1. 

Building blocks digital service infrastructures a priori identified to be included 
in the work programmes in accordance with Articles 6.1 and 6.2: 

(a)  Electronic  identification  and  authentication:  this  refers  to  services  to 
enable  cross  border  recognition  and  validation  of  e-identification  and  e-
signature.  

(b)  Electronic  delivery  of  documents:  this  refers  to  services  for  the  secured, 

traceable cross border transmission of electronic documents. 

(c)  Automated  translation:  this  refers  to  machine  translation  engine  and 
specialised 
including  the  necessary  tools  and 
programming  interfaces  needed  to  operate  the  pan-European  digital 
services in a multilingual environment. 

language  resources 

(d)  Critical  digital  infrastructures  support:  this  refers  to  communication 
channels  and  platforms  intended  to  enhance  the  EU-wide  capability  for 
preparedness,  information  sharing,  coordination  and  response  to  cyber 
threats.  

(e)  Electronic invoicing: this refers to services enabling electronic exchange of 

invoices.  

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2. 

Other digital service infrastructures a priori identified as eligible in accordance 
with Article 6.1: 

(a) 

(b) 

Interoperable cross-border electronic procurement services: This refers to 
a  set  of  services,  which  can  be  used  by  public  and  private-sector  e-
Procurement  services  providers  to  set  up  cross-border  e-Procurement 
platforms.  This  infrastructure  will  enable  any  company  in  the  EU  to 
respond to public procurement procedures from any contracting authority 
or  entity  in  any  Member  State  covering  pre-award  and  post-award 
including  functionalities  such  as 
electronic  procurement  activities, 
electronic  submission  of  offers,  virtual  company  dossier,  eCatalogues, 
eOrders and eInvoicing. 

Interoperable  cross  border  eHealth  services:  This  refers  to  a  platform, 
which  enables  the  interaction  between  citizens/patients  and  health  care 
institution-to-institution  and  organization-to-organization 
providers, 
transmission  of  data,  or  peer-to-peer 
communication  between 
citizens/patients and/or health professionals and institutions. The services 
shall  comprise  cross  border  access  to  electronic  health  records  and 
electronic  prescription  services  as  well  as  remote  health/assisted  living 
teleservices, etc.  

(c)  European  Platform  for  the 

interconnection  of  European  business 
registers:  This  refers  to  a  platform,  which  provides  a  set  of  central  tools 
and services enabling business registers in all Member States to exchange 
information  on  registered  businesses,  their  branches,  mergers  and  wind-
ups. It shall also provide a multi-country and multilingual search service 
for users using a Central Access Point accessible via the e-Justice portal. 

(d)  Access to re-usable public sector information: This refers to a platform for 
the single access point to multilingual (EU official languages) datasets held 
by public bodies in the EU at European, national, regional and local levels; 
query and visualisation tools of the data sets; assurance that the available 
datasets are properly anonymised, licensed and where applicable priced to 
be published, redistributed and reused, including a data provenance audit 
trail.  

(e)  Electronic  procedures  for  setting  up  and  running  a  business  in  another 
European  country:  This  service  will  allow  the  dealing  of  all  necessary 
administrative procedures electronically across borders through Points of 
Single Contact. This service is a requirement in the Directive 2006/123/EC 
on services in the internal market. 

(f)  Access  to  digital  resources  of  European  heritage:  This  refers  to  the  core 
service platform based on the current Europeana portal. The platform will 
provide a single access point to European cultural heritage content at item 
level,  a  set  of  interface  specifications  to  interact  with  the  infrastructure 
(search for data, download data), support for the metadata adaptation and 
ingestion of new content, as well as information on conditions for reuse of 
the content accessible through the infrastructure. 

(g)  Safer  internet  service  infrastructure:  This  refers  to  the  platform  for 
acquiring,  operating  and  maintaining  shared  computing  facilities, 
databases and software tools for the Safer Internet Centres (SICs) in the 

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(h) 

Member  States.  Back-office  operations  to  handle  reporting  of  sex  abuse 
content  are  also  included  as  well  as  the  link  with  police  authorities 
including 
international  organisations  such  as  Interpol,  and  when 
appropriate, the handling of the take down of this content by the relevant 
web sites. This will be supported by common databases. 

Interoperable cross-border online services. This refers to platforms, which 
shall facilitate interoperability and cooperation between Member States in 
areas  of  common  interest,  particularly  with  a  view  to  improving  the 
functioning  of  the  Single  Market,  such  as  eJustice,  which  will  enable  the 
online  cross-border  access  of  citizens,  businesses,  organisations  and  legal 
practitioners  to  legal  means/documents  and  judicial  procedures,  Online 
Dispute  Resolution  (ODR)  which  will  enable  online  resolution  of  cross-
border  disputes  between  consumers  and  merchants  and  Electronic 
Exchange  of  Social  Security  Information  (EESSI)  which  will  help  social 
security  bodies  across  the  EU  exchange  information  more  rapidly  and 
securely.  

Section 2. Broadband networks 

1. 

The scope of actions 

Actions shall consist in particular of one or more of the following components: 

(a)  The  deployment  of  passive  physical  infrastructure,  active  physical 
infrastructure or the combination of the two and ancillary infrastructure 
elements, complete with services necessary to operate such infrastructure; 

(b)  Associated  facilities  and  associated  services,  such  as  building  wiring, 
antennae,  towers  and  other  supporting  constructions,  ducts,  conduits, 
masts, manholes, and cabinets; 

(c)  Exploitation  of  potential  synergies  between  the  roll-out  of  broadband 
networks and other utilities networks (energy, transport, water, sewerage, 
etc.), in particular those related to smart electricity distribution. 

2. 

Contribution to the achievement of the targets of the Digital Agenda for Europe.  

All  projects  financially  supported  under  this  Regulation  shall  significantly 
contribute to the achievement of the targets of the Digital Agenda for Europe.  

(a)  Actions funded directly by the Union shall:  

(a)  be  based  on  state-of-the  art  technology,  either  wired  or  wireless, 
capable  of  delivering  very  high-speed  broadband  services,  thus 
meeting demand for applications which require high bandwidth, or  

(b)  be based on innovative business models and/or attract new categories 

of project promoters or new categories of investors, or  

(c)  have  a  high  potential  for  replicability,  thus  allowing  achieving 
broader impact on the market due to their demonstration effect.  

(b)  Actions  funded  from  additional  ring-fenced  contributions  provided  in 
accordance  with  Article  15.2  of  Regulation  (EU)  No  xxxx/2012  [CEF 
regulation] shall bring significant new capabilities to the market in terms 
of  broadband  service  availability,  speeds  and  capacity.  Projects  which 

EN 

27 

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provide  speeds  of  data  transmission  of  less  than  30  Mbps  should  ensure 
the increase of speeds to at least 30 Mbps over time.  

3. 

Project assessment to establish optimal funding structures 

The  implementation  of  actions  shall  be  based  on  a  comprehensive  project 
assessment. Such a project assessment shall cover, inter alia, market conditions 
including  information  on  existing  and/or  planned  infrastructure,  regulatory 
obligations  on  project  promoters,  as  well  as  commercial  and  marketing 
strategies.  In  particular,  the  project  assessment  shall  establish  whether  the 
programme:  

(a) 

is  necessary  to  address  market  imperfections  or  sub-optimal  investment 
situations,  

(b)  does  not  lead  to  market  distortions  and  crowding  out  of  private 

investment.  

These  criteria  shall  be  established  primarily  on  the  basis  of  the  revenue 
potential  and  the  level  of  risk  associated  with  a  project  and  the  type  of 
geographical area covered by an action.  

4. 

Modalities for funding  

(a)  Projects  of  common  interest  in  the  field  of  broadband  shall  be  funded 
through financial instruments. The  budget allocated to  these instruments 
shall be sufficient, but shall not exceed, the amount which is necessary to 
establish  a  fully  operational  intervention  and  to  achieve  a  minimum 
efficient instrument size.  

(b)  Subject  to  the  rules  of  the  Financial  Regulation,  Regulation  (EU)  No 
xxxx/2012 [CEF regulation] and Regulations (EU) No xxxx (2013) [all the 
ESIF regulations], the financial instruments mentioned in point (a) may be 
combined with additional contributions from: 

(a)  other parts of the Connecting Europe Facility, 

(b)  other  instruments,  programmes  and  budget  lines  in  the  Union 

budget; 

(c)  Member States, including regional and local authorities, that decide 
to contribute own resources or resources available from ESIF. ESIF 
contributions  will  be  geographically  ring-fenced  to  ensure  that  they 
are  spent  within  a  Member  State  or  a  region  which  provides  a 
contribution.  

(d)  any other investors, including private investors.  

(c)  Financial instruments mentioned in points (a) to (b) may also be combined 
with  grants  by  Member  States,  including  regional  and  local  authorities, 
that  wish  to  contribute  own  resources  or  resources  available  from  ESIF, 
provided that:  

(a)  an  action  in  question  meets  all  criteria  for  funding  under  this 

Regulation, and  

(b)  relevant state-aid clearance has been obtained.  

Section 3. Horizontal actions 

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The deployment of trans-European telecommunications networks that will help 
to  remove  the  bottlenecks  existing  in  the  digital  single  market  shall  be 
accompanied  by  studies  and  programme  support  actions.  These  actions  may 
consist of: 

(a)  Technical assistance to prepare or support implementation actions in their 
emerging 

existing  or 

deployment,  governance  and  addressing 
implementation problems.  

(b)  Actions  to  stimulate  existing  demand  or  create  new  demand  for  digital 

service Infrastructures.  

(c)  Coordination  of  Union  support  under  this  Regulation  with  the  support 
from  all  other  available  sources,  while  avoiding  duplication  of 
infrastructure and preventing the displacement of private investments.  

The  projects  of  common  interest  shall  aim  for  the  removal  of  bottlenecks  which 
hinder the completion of the Single Market i.e. providing connectivity to the network 
and access, including across borders, to digital service infrastructures. 

The  deployment  and  enhancement  of  trans-European  telecommunication  networks 
(broadband networks and digital service infrastructures) shall contribute to fostering 
economic  growth,  creating  jobs  and  achieving  a  vibrant  digital  single  market.  In 
particular,  their  deployment  will  grant  faster  access  to  the  internet,  bring  about 
information  technology-enabled  improvements  in  daily  life  for  citizens,  including 
children  and  young  persons,  businesses  and  governments,  increase  interoperability 
and facilitate the alignment or convergence to commonly agreed standards.  

Section 1. Horizontal priorities  

The  deployment  of  trans-European  telecommunication  networks  that  will  help  to 
remove the bottlenecks existing in the digital single market shall be accompanied by 
studies and programme support actions. They are: 

(a) 

Innovative  management,  mapping  &  services.  Technical  assistance  measures, 
where  necessary  for  deployment  and  governance,  shall  include  project  and 
investment planning and feasibility studies, in support of investment measures 
and financial instruments. Mapping of pan-European broadband infrastructure 
will  develop  an  on-going  detailed  physical  surveying  and  documentation  of 
relevant sites, analysis of rights of way, assessments of potential for upgrading 
existing  facilities,  etc.  It  should  follow  the  principles  of  the  Directive 
2007/2/EC  (INSPIRE  Directive)  and  related  standardisation  activities. 
Technical  assistance  measures  may  also  support  replication  of  successful 
investment and deployment models.   

These  actions  may  also  include  climate  proofing  to  assess  the  climate  related 
risks  and  ensure  disaster  resilience  of  infrastructure,  in  compliance  with 
relevant requirements set out in EU or national legislation. 

(b)  Support actions and other technical support measures. These actions are needed 
to  prepare  or  support  the  implementation  of  projects  of  common  interest  or 
accelerate  their  take-up.  In  the  field  of  digital  services,  support  actions  shall 
also  stimulate  and  promote  the  take-up  of  new  digital  service  infrastructures 
that  may  become  necessary  or  useful  based  on  technological  developments, 
changes in the relevant markets or emerging political priorities.  

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Section 2. Broadband networks  

All  broadband  investments  within  the  territory  of  the  Union  expand  the  network 
capacity  and  bring  about  benefits  to  all  the  potential  users,  including  those  in 
Member  States  other  than  the  country  of  the  investment.  Investment  in  these 
networks  will  bring  about  more  competition  and  more  innovation  in  the  economy, 
will deliver more efficient and effective public services, contribute to the EU goals 
on a low carbon economy and to the overall EU competitiveness and productivity.  

Investment  in  broadband  infrastructure  has  been  undertaken  predominantly  by 
private  investors  and  it  is  expected  that  this  will  remain  the  case.  However,  the 
achievement of the Digital Agenda targets will require investment in areas for which 
there is not a clear business case or where a business case may need to be enhanced 
within  the  time  frame  of  the  targets.  The  following  types  of  areas  can  be 
characterized on the basis of the likely investment: 

Sub-urban/medium  density  areas  are 
typically  served  with  medium  speed 
connections  but  tend  to  lack  higher  speeds.  Where  it  is  demonstrated  that  the 
business  case  for  investments  in  advanced  technologies  is  insufficient  for  private 
investors in the short run, financial support could generate profitable investment over 
the longer term by closing the viability gap and stimulate competition.  

Rural and low density areas are typically served with low speed connections and in 
some cases even not served at all. The business case for investment is unlikely to be 
viable  and  the  European  targets  are  unlikely  to  be  reached  by  2020.  Investment  in 
these  areas  needs  higher  financial  support,  provided  by  grants,  possibly  in 
combination with financial instruments. Such areas will include remote and sparsely 
populated  regions  where  investment  costs  are  either  very  high  or  where  income  is 
low.  The  support  from  the  Connecting  Europe  Facility  in  these  areas  is  likely  to 
complement  available  cohesion  funds  or  rural  development  and  other  direct  public 
support. 

High  density/urban  areas  –  with  the  exception  of  some  low  income  regions  -  are 
typically  well  served  with  medium  to  fast  speed  connections,  often  provided  by 
competitive offerings of cable and telecom operators. Yet because of this relatively 
satisfactory  situation  the  market  incentives  to  invest  in  very  high  speed  networks 
such as fibre to the home are limited. Thus financial support may be also envisaged 
to investments in urban areas with dense populations which do not attract sufficient 
investment  despite  societal  benefits  it  would  generate,  provided  that  it  is  in  full 
compliance with Articles 101, 102 and 106 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the 
European  Union,  as  well  as,  if  relevant,  with  the  Community  Guidelines  for  the 
application of state aid rules in relation to rapid deployment of broadband networks.  

In  less  developed  regions,  the  support  to  the  deployment  of  broadband  networks 
should  be  provided  primarily  through  the  instruments  of  Structural  and  Cohesion 
funds.  Grants  and  /  or  financial  instruments  from  the  Connecting  Europe  Facility 
may  complement  such  support  where  necessary  to  achieve  the  objectives  of  this 
Regulation. The achievement of synergies between the CEF actions in those regions 
and the support from the Structural and Cohesion Funds may be reinforced by using 
an appropriate coordination mechanism.21 

21 

As  set  out  in  Article  11  (e)  of  the  Regulation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  laying 
down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the 
Cohesion  Fund,  the  European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development  and  the  European  Maritime 

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The classification of regions to the above categories is indicatively provided by the 
map below.  

and Fisheries Fund covered by the Common Strategic Framework and laying down general provisions 
on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and 
repealing Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006. COM(2011) 615 final 

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Actions  contributing  to  the  project  of  common  interest  in  the  field  of  broadband 
networks shall constitute a balanced portfolio including actions contributing to both 
the  30Mbps  and  the  100Mbps  Digital  Agenda  targets,  covering  suburban  and  rural 
areas in particular, as well as areas across the European Union.  

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Actions  contributing  to  the  project  of  common  interest  in  the  area  of  broadband 
networks, irrespective of the technology used, shall: 

(a)  Support  investments  in  broadband  networks  capable  of  achieving  the  Digital 

Agenda 2020 target of universal coverage at 30Mbps; or 

(b)  Support  investments  in  broadband  networks  capable  of  achieving  the  Digital 
Agenda  2020  target  and  of  having  at  least  50%  of  households  subscribing  to 
speeds above 100Mbps; 

(c)  Comply with applicable law, in particular with competition law 

and shall consist in particular of one or more of the following actions: 

(a)  The  deployment  of  passive  physical  infrastructure  or  the  deployment  of 
combined passive and active physical infrastructure and ancillary infrastructure 
elements, complete with services necessary to operate such infrastructure; 

(b)  Associated facilities and associated services, such as building wiring, antennae, 
towers  and  other  supporting  constructions,  ducts,  conduits,  masts,  manholes, 
and cabinets; 

(c)  Exploitation of potential synergies between the roll-out of broadband networks 
and  other  utilities  networks  (energy,  transport,  water,  sewerage,  etc),  in 
particular those related to smart electricity distribution. 

The deployment of broadband networks to connect island, landlocked and peripheral 
regions  with  central  regions  of  the  Union,  including  where  necessary  submarine 
cables,  will  be  supported  where  it  is  essential  to  ensure  access  by  isolated 
communities to broadband at 30 Mbps and above. This support should complement 
other funds, whether EU or national, available for this purpose.  

For the avoidance of doubt, services providing, or exercising editorial control over, 
content  transmitted  using  electronic  communications  networks  and  services  and 
information society services as defined in Article 1 of Directive 98/34/EC, which do 
not  consist  wholly  or  mainly  in  the  conveyance  of  signals  on  electronic 
communications networks, are not covered by the scope of the actions contributing to 
the project of common interest in the field of broadband networks.  

Beneficiaries  of  EU  support  for  the  project  of  common  interest  in  the  area  of 
broadband include, but are not limited to: 

(a)  Telecom  operators  (incumbent,  whether  investing  directly  or  through  a 
subsidiary  or  new-entrant)  launching  investments  in  fast  and  ultra  fast 
broadband networks.  

(b)  Utility  companies  (e.g.  water,  sewage,  energy,  transport),  which  are  expected 
to  invest  in  passive  broadband  networks,  either  alone  or  in  partnership  with 
operators.  

(c)  Regional  decision  makers,  including  municipalities,  who  may  establish 
concessions  for  broadband  infrastructures.  Equipment  providers  may  be 
interested  in  such  an  arrangement,  via  the  creation  of  a  special  purpose 
company.  

(d)  Partnerships between several operators active in wired and wireless markets to 

build new generation of infrastructures.  

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In  building  the  portfolio  due  account  shall  be  taken  of  Member  States'  investment 
needs in terms of the number of households to be connected with the support of the 
Connecting Europe Facility.  

In addition, high speed connections to public internet access points, notably in public 
facilities, such as schools, hospitals, local government offices and libraries, shall also 
be supported. 

Section3. Digital Service Infrastructures 

The  implementation  of  digital  service  infrastructures  shall  contribute  to  the 
realisation  of  digital  single  market  by  removing  existing  bottlenecks  in  terms  of 
service deployment. This will be achieved through the creation and/or enhancement 
of  interoperable  digital  service  infrastructure  platforms,  accompanied  by  essential 
basic digital service infrastructures. It shall rely on a two-layer approach:  

(1)  Core service platforms are the central element(s) or hub(s) of the digital service 
infrastructures  essential  to  ensure  trans-European  connectivity,  access  and 
interoperability. This may also encompass physical equipment, such as servers, 
dedicated  networks  and  software  tools.  Core  service  platforms  are  open  to 
entities in all Member States. 

(2)  Generic  services  provide  the  functionality  and  content  of  digital  service 

infrastructures. They may be interconnected through a core service platform.  

The projects of common interest in the field of digital service infrastructures are the 
following: 

Trans-European high-speed backbone connections for public administrations  

A  public  trans-European  backbone  service  infrastructure  will  provide  very  high 
speed and connectivity between public institutions of the EU in areas such as public 
administration,  culture,  education  and  health.  This  backbone  infrastructure  will 
support public services of European value through controlled quality of services and 
secure  access.  It  will  therefore  guarantee  a  digital  continuum  of  public  service 
provisioning for the greater benefit of citizens, businesses and administrations. It will 
allow  demand  aggregation  for  connectivity,  reaching  critical  mass  and  reducing 
costs. 

Core service platform:  

The  infrastructure  will  be  based  on  the  existing  Internet  backbone  and  where 
necessary  new  networks  will  be  deployed.  Connections  will  be  made  directly  or 
through  regionally-  or  nationally-managed  infrastructures.  In  particular  it  will 
provide connectivity for other trans-European services inter alia those mentioned in 
this  Annex.  This  infrastructure  will  be  fully  integrated  in  the  Internet  as  a  key 
capacity for trans-European public service and will support the adoption of emerging 
standards (e.g. Internet protocols such as IPv622). Dedicated underlying infrastructure 
for  connecting  public  administrations  may  be  considered  if  necessary  for  security 
reasons.  

Generic services:  

The  integration  of  the  core  platform  into  the  European  public  services  will  be 
facilitated by the deployment of generic services: authorisation, authentication, inter-

22 

Reference  to  ipv6  communication:  COM(2008)313  advancing  the  Internet,  action  plan  for  the 
deployment of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) in Europe. 

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domain  security  and  bandwidth  on  demand,  federation  of  services,  mobility 
management,  quality  control  and  performance  control,  integration  of  national 
infrastructures.  

Interoperable  'cloud  computing'  service  will  provide  the  backbone  infrastructure 
functionality on which clouds for trans-European public services can be offered. This 
includes  network-type  of  trans-European  services  such  as  video-conference, 
virtualised storage and supporting computing-intensive applications, including those 
related to other projects of common interest.  

Cross-border delivery of eGovernment services 

eGovernment refers to the digital interaction between public authorities and citizens, 
public authorities and businesses and organisations, and among public authorities of 
interaction 
different  countries.  Standardised,  cross-border,  and  user-friendly 
platforms  will  generate  efficiency  gains  both  throughout  the  economy  and  in  the 
public sector and will contribute to the Single Market. 

Core service platform:  

Interoperable  electronic  identification  and  authentication  across  Europe.  A  set  of 
connected  and  secured  authentication  servers  and  protocols 
that  ensure 
interoperability  of  the  variety  of  authentication  and  identification  and  authorization 
systems that exist in Europe will be deployed. This platform will enable citizens and 
businesses to access online services when needed for example to study, work, travel, 
get  health  care  or  do  business  abroad.  It  will  constitute  the  core  layer  for  all  those 
digital services for which electronic identification and authentication are needed: e.g. 
electronic  procurement,  online  health  services,  standardised  business  reporting, 
electronic  exchange  of  judicial  information,  trans-European  online  company 
registration,  e-Government  services  for  businesses,  including  communication 
between  business  registers  relating  to  cross-border  mergers  and  foreign  branches. 
This platform may also use resources and tools of the multilingual core platform. 

Generic services:  

(a)  Electronic  procedures  for  setting  up  and  running  a  business  in  another 
European  country:  This  service  will  allow  dealing  with  all  necessary 
administrative  procedures  electronically  across  borders  through  Points  of 
Single  Contact.  This  service  is  also a  requirement  the  Directive  2006/123/EC 
on services in the internal market.  

(b) 

(c) 

 Interoperable  cross-border  electronic  procurement  services:  This  service  will 
enable any company in the EU to respond to European public tenders from any 
Member  State  covering  pre-award  and  post-award  electronic  procurement 
activities, integrating activities such as Electronic Submission of offers, Virtual 
Company Dossier, eCatalogues, eOrders and eInvoices.  

 Interoperable  cross-border  e-Justice  services:  This  service  will  enable  the 
online  cross-border  access  of  citizens,  businesses,  organisations  and  legal 
practitioners  to  legal means/documents  and  judicial procedures. It  will  enable 
the  online  cross  border  interaction  (via  online  data  and  document  exchange) 
between legal authorities in different Member States and improve with this the 
ability to process cross border legal cases more efficiently; 

(d) 

Interoperable  cross  border  eHealth  services:  These  services  will  enable  the 
interaction  between  citizens/patients  and  health  care  providers,  institution-to-

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institution  and  organization-to-organization  transmission  of  data,  or  peer-to-
peer communication between citizens/patients and/or health professionals  and 
institutions. The infrastructure to be deployed will comply with the principles 
of  data  protection  as  set  out,  in  particular,  in  Directives  95/46/EC  and 
2002/58/EC, as well as with international and national ethical rules related to 
data.  
the 

personal 

records 

patient 

health 

other 

and 

use 

of 

The services will comprise cross border access to electronic health records and 
electronic  prescription  services  as  well  as  remote  health/assisted  living  tele-
services, cross border multi lingual semantic services linked to the multilingual 
core  platform,  access  to  social  security  information  building  on  the  EESSI 
(Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information) infrastructure, etc. 

(e)  European Platform for the interconnection of European business registers: This 
facility  will  provide  a  set  of  central  tools  and  services  enabling  business 
registers  in  all  Member  States  to  exchange  information  on  registered 
businesses, their branches, mergers and wind-ups. It will also provide a multi-
country and multilingual search service for users using a Central Access Point 
accessible via the e-Justice portal. 

Enabling access to public sector information and multilingual services 

Access to digital resources of European heritage 

The objective of this infrastructure is to make available large collections of European 
cultural  resources  in  digital  form  and  foster  their  re-use  by  third  parties,  in  full 
compliance with copyright and related rights. 

Core service platform:  

The  development  of  the  core  service  platform  will  build  on  the  current  Europeana 
portal.  The  platform  –  which 
the  development,  operations  and 
requires 
administration  of  distributed  computing,  data  storage  facilities  and  software  -  will 
provide a single access point to European cultural heritage content at item level, a set 
of  interface  specifications  to  interact  with  the  infrastructure  (search  for  data, 
download data), support for the metadata adaptation and ingestion of new content, as 
well  as  information  on  conditions  for  reuse  of  the  content  accessible  through  the 
infrastructure.  

It will also provide the means for establishing an interaction with content providers, 
users  (citizens  accessing  the  portal)  and  re-users  (creative  industries),  for  the 
promotion  of  the  platform,  coordination  of  related  networks  and  information 
exchange.  

Generic services: 

(a)  Aggregation of content held by cultural institutions and private content holders 

in the Member States  

(b)  Crowd-sourcing facilities encouraging interactivity and enabling users to make 

an active contribution to the site 

(c)  User-friendly  services  for  the  portal  addressing  issues  such  as  search  and 

browsing improvements as well as cross-language access 

(d)  Exchange of rights information and licensing infrastructures;  

(e)  Competence centres on digitisation and preservation of digital cultural heritage 

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(f)  Content  repositories  for  cultural  institutions  and  user-generated  content  and 

their long-term preservation 

Access to re-usable public sector information 

This  digital  service  infrastructure  will  enable  access  for  re-use  to  disclosable 
information held by the public sector in the EU.  

Core service platform:  

Distributed computing, data storage and software facilities will provide: single access 
point to multilingual (all EU official languages) datasets held by public bodies in the 
EU at  European, national, regional and local level; query and visualisation  tools of 
the data sets; assurance that the available datasets are licensed to be published and re-
distributed, including a data provenance audit trail; a set of application programming 
interfaces  for  software  clients  to  interact  with  the  infrastructure  (search  for  data, 
gather  statistics,  download  data)  for  the  development  of  third-party  applications.  It 
shall also allow for collection and publication of statistics about the operation of the 
portal, the availability of data and applications and the way in which they are used. 

Generic services: 

Gradual extension of the access to all datasets held and made public by virtually all 
public  administrations  within  the  EU,  including  multilingual  search,  which  will  be 
achieved by the following:  

(a) 

(b) 

aggregation of international/EU/national/regional/local datasets; 

interoperability  of  datasets,  including  legal  and  licensing  issues,  to  enable 
better re-use;  

(c) 

interface to open data infrastructures in third countries;  

(d)  data repositories and long-term preservation services. 

Multilingual access to online services  

This service infrastructure will enable any current and future online service providers 
to offer their content and services in the widest range of EU languages in the most 
cost-effective way. 

Core service platform: 

The  platform  will  enable  acquiring,  maintaining  and  making  available  large 
collections of live language data and reusable language processing tools. It will cover 
all EU languages and will comply with the relevant standards and agreed service and 
legal  requirements.  The  platform  will  allow  for  flexible  addition,  curation  and 
refinement  of  language  data  and  tools  by  contributors,  and  ensure  easy,  fair  and 
secure  access  and  repurposing  of  such  resources  by  organisations  offering  or 
developing  language-enabled  services.  The  platform  will  also  support  cooperation 
and  interworking  with  similar  initiatives  and  data  centres,  existing  or  forthcoming, 
within and outside the EU. 

Generic services: 

The  platform  will  be  populated  with  a  broad  range  of  reusable  data  and  software 
resources, covering all EU languages. It shall assemble, harmonise and integrate such 
data and software elements within a distributed service infrastructure. It shall make 
available and in some areas develop or extend data and software resources to be used 

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as  building  blocks  to  develop,  customise  and  deliver  multilingual  services  or 
multilingual gateways to online services. 

Safety and security  

Safer internet service infrastructure 

The  support  will  provide  integrated  and  interoperable  services  at  European  level, 
based on shared awareness, resources, tools and practices and aimed at empowering 
children, their parents and carers, and teachers to make the best use of the Internet.  

Core service platform:  

The core service platform will allow for acquiring, operating and maintaining shared 
computing  facilities,  databases  and  software  tools  for  the  Safer  Internet  Centres 
(SICs)  in  the  Member  States,  as  well  as  back-office  operations  to  handle  the 
reporting  on  sex  abuse  content  including  the  link  with  policy  authorities  including 
international  organisations  such  as  Interpol,  and  when  appropriate,  the  handling  of 
the  take  down  of  this  content  by  the  relevant  web  sites.  This  will  be  supported  by 
common databases.  

Generic services: 

(a)  Help-lines for children, parents and carers on the best means for kids to use the 
Internet avoiding threats from harmful and illegal contents and behaviours, and 
the supporting back-office infrastructure.  

(b)  Hotlines for reporting on illegal child sex-abuse content on the Internet 

(c)  Tools to ensure access to age-appropriate content and services,  

(d)  Software that allows easy and fast reporting of illegal content and its takedown, 

as well as reporting of grooming and bullying. 

(e) 

software systems that allow better identification of (not reported) child sexual 
abuse  content  on  the  internet  as  well  as  technologies  to  support  police 
investigations, especially with a view to identifying child victims, perpetrators 
and commercial trading of such content.  

Critical Information Infrastructures 

Communication channels and platforms will be developed and deployed in order to 
enhance the EU-wide capability for preparedness, information sharing, coordination 
and response. 

Core service platform:  

The  core  service  platform  will  consist  of  a  network  of  National/Governmental 
Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) based on a minimum set of baseline 
capabilities.  The  network  will  provide  the  backbone  of  a  European  Information 
Sharing and Alert System (EISAS) for EU citizens and SMEs.  

Generic services: 

(a)  Proactive  services  –  technology  watch  and  dissemination  and  sharing  of 
security-related  information;  security  assessments;  providing  guidelines  on 
security configuration; providing intrusion detection services; 

(b)  Reactive  services  –  incident  handling  and  response;  issuing  alerts  and 
warnings; vulnerability analysis and handling, artefact handling (proving high-
quality alerts on new malware and other artefacts). 

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Deployment  of  information  and  communication  technology  solutions  for  intelligent 
energy networks and for the provision of Smart Energy Services 

Smart  energy  services  use  modern  information  and  communication  technologies  to 
meet the needs of citizens (who can be producers as well as consumers of energy), 
energy providers and public authorities. Smart energy services cover the interaction 
between  citizens  and  energy  providers,  organization-to-organization  data 
transmission,  and  peer-to-peer  communication  between  citizens.  They  open  up 
opportunities for existing and new actors in both the telecoms and the energy markets 
(e.g.  Energy  Service  Companies  ESCOs).  They  can  also  enable  companies  and 
citizens to trace the greenhouse gas emissions of their purchase decisions. 

Core Service Platforms  

Communications  infrastructure,  typically  deployed  by  utilities  in  partnership  with 
telecom  operators,  as  well  as  the  necessary  IT  hardware  to  be  embedded  in  energy 
components  (e.g.  substations).  They  also  include  the  core  services  that  enable 
monitoring  of  assets,  control  for  power  management,  automation  and  data 
management  and  communication  between  the  different  actors  (service  providers, 
network operators and other utilities, consumers, etc).  

Generic Services: 

Generic Services will be typically delivered by a wide range of new and innovative 
actors,  such  as  energy  service  providers,  ESCOs,  energy  aggregators  facilitating 
especially the entry of different types of local SMEs and preventing monopolisation 
of the retail market. 

They  will  make  available  the  functionality  for  customers  to  manage  their  energy 
demand, their renewable energy sources and their storage capacity, with the aim of 
optimising their energy use, reducing energy bills and greenhouse emissions,  while 
ensuring data privacy and security.  

(a)  Smart  metering  infrastructure  to  measure  and  communicate  information  on 
energy consumption. Generic Services also include customer premises energy 
management  equipment,  i.e.  IT  hardware  devices  associated  to  home  area 
networks that are connected to the smart meter 

(b)  Software agents able to decide when to buy/sell energy, when to switch on/off 
appliances  in  function  of  price  signals  from  the  energy  provider,  weather 
forecast  information,  data  management  and  communication,  control  and 
automation devices and their networked solutions. 

EN 

39 

   EN