The EUR 8 billion budget over the 2007-2013 funding period is primarily allocated to projects (which may be studies or works) selected via calls for proposals which are launched each year by DG MOVE and, as of 2009, by the TEN-T EA on its behalf. The norm is that, each year, a Multi-Annual Call and an Annual Call are launched.
Overall, the Multi-Annual Calls aim to give an important impetus to the implementation of the TEN-T priority projects - as defined in the TEN-T Guidelines - and to address some horizontal priorities.
Projects funded under the Multi-Annual Calls are expected to help complete the TEN-T network as approved by the European Parliament and the Council, with a target completion date of 2020. For this purpose, EU funding aims to mobilise as much public and private financing as needed to meet the challenging timetables. In general, Multi-Annual projects are of a larger size and longer duration than projects selected under Annual calls. 80-85% of the TEN-T budget is allocated through Multi-Annual Calls.
Annual Calls are intended to complement the Multi-Annual Calls, thus also giving priority to projects that address key TEN-T issues such as bottlenecks or cross-border projects. However, given their annual nature, Annual Calls have a higher degree of flexibility to meet new priorities.