Over EUR 90 million in EU funding awarded to Finnish transport projects including new icebreaker
Finnish Government
Ministry of Transport and Communications
Publication date 3.7.2025 13.18
Type:Press release
The European Commission has awarded EUR 91.01 million under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to nine projects in Finland. Of this, around EUR 59.60 million will go to government initiatives.
The CEF Transport Coordination Committee decided in favour of awarding funding to the projects on 2 July 2025. Out of the EUR 2.7 billion in funding allocated by the Commission, around EUR 970 million was open to applications from Finland. The total value of applications submitted across the EU was over EUR 9 billion. The Commission aims to fund projects with a high degree of readiness for planning and implementation.
"This is a fantastic outcome. We applied for EU funding for critical infrastructure - and we got it. Especially the funding secured for the new icebreaker and main road 21 will both strengthen Finland's security of supply and military mobility and facilitate foreign trade," says Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne.
The funding will promote investment in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), which links railways, inland waterways, roads, ports, airports, urban nodes and multimodal freight terminals into a single transport network. The Commission requires Member States to cover 50-70 per cent of total project costs with national funding.
Government projects receive funding for a new icebreaker and northern connections
Of Finland's CEF funding, around EUR 59.60 million will support government initiatives. The following projects received funding:
1. Acquisition of a new icebreaker
Finland will receive around EUR 42.22 million for a new Baltic Sea class B icebreaker under the WINMOS IV project. The vessel's concept is currently being developed under the WINMOS III project, which also receives CEF funding. In total, EUR 80.78 million was awarded to the project, shared between Finland, Sweden and Estonia.
Finland's new vessel will replace ageing icebreaking capacity. Procurement will begin in autumn 2025 with a market dialogue as part of a call for tenders for a shipyard. Construction is expected to start in early 2026, with the vessel entering service in autumn 2029. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency will oversee the project.
2. Improvement of main road 21 between Palojoensuu and Kilpisjärvi
EUR 11.90 million was awarded to improve the resilience of transport infrastructure along main road 21. The project will improve road safety, promote accessibility in sparsely populated areas and support security of supply and military mobility in northern Finland.
The project includes both planning and construction, such as widening or, if necessary, rebuilding more than 30 kilometres of road, reinforcing road sections to prevent damage caused by melting permafrost, replacing three bridges and improving lighting.
3. Implementation of digital management of rail traffic capacity 2025-2029
The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency and Railnet Europe will receive around EUR 2.05 million in funding for Finland for a joint project involving 11 Member States. The project will develop the planning process for rail traffic capacity and track work. It aims to make the management and allocation of rail capacity more systematic and efficient in order to make better use of the scarce capacity.
4. European Intelligent Transport Services project
The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom and Fintraffic Road Ltd will receive around EUR 8.84 million in Finland for a joint project involving 13 Member States. The project will improve traffic control systems and the operation of road traffic control centres. For example, the project will upgrade the traffic control system in the Vuosaari road tunnel.
5. Intelligent maritime transport services
Fintraffic Vessel Traffic Services Ltd, the Finnish Meteorological Institute and private operators will receive around EUR 4.87 million for a joint project with Swedish and Spanish partners to develop vessel traffic services, the related information systems and other services.
Private sector projects receive funding for ports and intelligent transport services
Private sector operators will receive CEF funding for the following projects:
1. Development of the maritime traffic connection between the ports of Helsinki and Lübeck
EUR 12.03 million to Port of Helsinki Ltd
2. Development of the maritime traffic connection between Hanko and Rostock
EUR 7.85 to Port of Hanko Ltd
3. Implementation and updating of ITS infrastructure and services
EUR 300,000 to Fintraffic Ltd and Fintraffic Road Ltd
4. Expansion of the acceleration of electronic freight and transport data flow
EUR 1.00 million to Fintraffic Ltd
What's next?
The European Commission will sign payment agreements with each applicant by November 2025.
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