eFTI4EU is helping make the future of freight transport digital by supporting the implementation of the electronic Freight Transport Information (eFTI) Regulation across Europe.
Funded by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme of the European Commission, eFTI4EU is the first project aimed at implementing EU Regulation 2020/1056 on electronic freight transport information. The project brings together a pan-European consortium of 23 partners, including 9 Member States and 4 observers, to pave the way for a harmonised and interoperable eFTI exchange environment across the European Union.
The project aims to create a unified approach to the operation of eFTI Gates and to implement a reference architecture for exchanging logistics and transport data. This architecture is being piloted through a series of national and cross-border use cases in the Member States directly involved.
By replacing paper-based freight documentation with standardised electronic information exchange, eFTI4EU contributes to more seamless, efficient and cost-effective freight transport and logistics across Europe.
The mission of eFTI4EU is to encourage Member States to work together to develop a well-harmonised and interoperable European-wide eFTI exchange environment.
The project supports the transition to digital freight transport by helping authorities and economic operators implement the eFTI framework in practice. In doing so, it aims to improve administrative efficiency, strengthen enforcement capabilities, and support more sustainable and connected logistics operations across Europe.
eFTI4EU is working to:
These goals are fully aligned with the broader objective of the eFTI Regulation: creating a reliable and interoperable electronic environment for freight transport information exchange across the EU.
The project’s activities and pilots focus on the practical building blocks needed for eFTI implementation.
These include:
Through these activities, eFTI4EU is helping create a more seamless system for exchanging freight information across borders, while supporting Member States in preparing their long-term operational environments.
A core part of eFTI4EU is its work on IT architecture and interoperability, gathered into a dedicated harmonisation work package for participating Member States.
This work supports the development of a common approach to eFTI implementation, while also recognising national specificities. The project uses country-specific roadmaps to identify existing systems, implementation requirements, financial and technical resource needs, pilot plans, and long-term operational requirements.
These national roadmaps serve as project plans for introducing eFTI at country level. Together, they help identify commonalities and differences across Member States and provide a benchmark for harmonisation, ultimately supporting the interoperability of the wider European eFTI exchange environment.
eFTI4EU also relies on close exchange between the European Commission, which developed the eFTI Regulation and legal acts, and the stakeholders responsible for implementation, particularly Member States, competent authorities and economic operators interested in operating eFTI platforms.
A key strength of eFTI4EU is its broad set of national and cross-border pilots, which test the eFTI framework in real operational environments.
Austria is leading a cross-border interoperability pilot focused on establishing a standardised, secure and interoperable eFTI framework. In June 2025, Austria and Italy successfully tested electronic freight information in a cross-border pilot in which authorities verified transport via QR codes and CA User Apps, demonstrating the feasibility of the full eFTI system.
Estonia aims to serve as a European testbed by creating a functioning freight data network between the public and private sectors. The pilot supports the development of all core components necessary for a standards-based eFTI network in both domestic and international freight transport.
Finland has been highly active in developing the eFTI reference implementation and national eFTI Gate. Its pilots cover road, air and maritime transport, as well as real-time economy and supply chain processes, with a strong focus on scalability and interoperability.
France is investing in the dematerialisation of freight transport and is contributing to the development and testing of the eFTI Gate. Its pilots are designed to address real-world implementation challenges while also supporting the future certification and accreditation of eFTI platforms.
Germany’s pilots focus on developing an open-source eFTI Platform Reference Implementation for eCMR and an eFTI authority access point, demonstrating how company data can be processed and accessed within the eFTI environment.
Italy is piloting both multimodal and cross-border use cases. These pilots aim to simplify controls by public authorities, strengthen interoperability between public IT systems, and evaluate eFTI together with e-CMR in real transport operations.
Lithuania’s pilot is centred on the port of Klaipėda, an intermodal hub of national importance. The pilot focuses on dangerous goods and on integrating eFTI requirements into the port’s existing information management ecosystem.
Portugal is developing a pilot with competent authorities and logistics stakeholders to test connectivity, compliance, usability and cybersecurity using an eFTI Gate prototype and emulated eFTI platform, with real roadside checks and cross-border tests planned.
Project website: eFTI4EU