During a high-level conference in Brussels, speakers and participants appreciated the innovative character and important added value that the Connecting Europe Facility would provide. According to the European Commission, with up to €50 billion the Connecting Europe Facility could become a key instrument for targeted infrastructure investment at European level to ensure the smooth functioning of the Single Market and boost sustainable growth, jobs and competitiveness across the European Union.

At a high-level conference held in Brussels, business leaders and policy-makers strongly supported the creation of a Connecting Europe Facility. The European Commission proposed to create this instrument for targeted infrastructure investment at European level with up to €50 billion euros for the period 2014-2020. European Commission President José Manuel Barroso highlighted that the Connecting Europe Facility provides a European solution to a European problem with its focus on strategic infrastructure, its innovative character and its true European added value. In June 2012, the Council agreed on a partial general approach on a draft regulation establishing the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

Participants and speakers agreed at the Conference that the Connecting Europe Facility would help getting strategic infrastructure off the ground that helps Europe to compete and to grow in a globalised world, in line with the Europe 2020 strategy and the recently agreed Compact for Growth. Without it, participants agreed, many necessary infrastructure investments in transport, energy and internet in the EU would not happen if dealt with purely at national level.

Negotiations on the Connecting Europe Facility are on-going in the Council and the European Parliament. The 2012 June European Council agreed the Compact for Growth and Jobs which includes the removal of barriers in the Single Market and which refers explicitly to those sectors that are at the heart of the Connecting Europe Facility: transport, energy and internet. The European Council also agreed on the immediate launch of pilot project bonds.