Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy supports application for financing Kvarken connection project

On Tuesday 16 February, the Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy decided to support supplementing Finland's CEF support application by EUR 10 million. The additional resources will be used for the Midway Alignment project in the Kvarken.

The overall costs of the project amount to EUR 191.5 million, of which Finland's Government has made a pledge for a maximum of EUR 25 million.  A total of EUR 20 million is now being applied to finance the Midway Alignment project, which will be split in two between Finland and Sweden. The rest of the funding will come from various Finnish and Swedish actors.

The project aims to ensure the development of transport connections across the Kvarken, to provide potential for expanding goods and passenger flows between Finland and Sweden, and to link these connections to the European transport network. The project includes a new customised passenger ferry between Vaasa and Umeå, capable of winter navigation and suitable for alternative fuels.

'This project combines innovations and environmentally-friendly technology for the benefit of clients and business life. I'm pleased that the project can proceed thanks to collaboration between the Government, the City of Vaasa and different actors in the area. An active contribution will be needed from regional actors even after the ferry is ready, says Minister of Transport and Communications Anne Berner.

Funding for the project is being applied from the Motorways of the Sea (MoS) programme under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). Midway Alignment is responsible for the overall funding of the project.

Midway Alignment is a project set up by the City of Vaasa and country of Länsi-Pohja together with the City of Umeå.

Inquiries: Mikael Nyberg, Director-General, tel. +358 40 837 8794 and Lassi Hilska, Senior Adviser for Goods Transport, tel. +358 40 543 6573, Ministry of Transport and Communications