On 11 September 2014, Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Transport, gave a press conference on the new EU transport infrastructure policy. The European Commission invited Member States to propose projects to use €11.9 billion of EU funding to improve European transport connections. This is the largest ever single amount of EU funding earmarked for transport infrastructure. Member States have until 26th February 2015 to submit their bids.