Money for energy infrastructure must follow the Green Deal

The EPP Group wants to change the criteria for the funding of European energy infrastructure projects to be in line with EU Climate Policy. 

“The old criteria are outdated. In the future, we need to ensure that the spending and selection of EU energy infrastructure projects are in line with commitments made under the Paris Agreement and the Green Deal. And importantly, the guidelines should not hinder the other EU objectives of energy market integration, energy security and affordable energy,” stated Christian Ehler MEP, EPP Group Spokesman in the Industry Committee (ITRE).

The Committee voted today on a request to the European Commission to update the guidelines for the selection of energy projects (the so-called TEN-E) in the EU. The recent guidelines date from 2013, before the Paris Climate Agreement.

“We look forward to a new proposal from the European Commission by the end of 2020 at the latest. The guidelines should in particular take into consideration the EU’s climate targets for 2030 and the Energy Efficiency First Principle,” said Ehler.

“The revision should also make adjustments for the energy and industry sectors of the future; for instance, energy storage is currently not eligible in the TEN-E and could be added. Gas plays a crucial role as a bridge technology and long-term as a provider of decarbonised and renewable gases. Hence, we need to future-proof gas infrastructure and prepare it for hydrogen in order to help our industry sectors decarbonise,” concluded Ehler.

The so-called Trans European Energy Infrastructure (TEN-E) guidelines are used to select EU energy infrastructure projects (PCI list) that are eligible for receiving EU financing. The latest list (4th) of energy projects was adopted by the European Parliament in February 2020. The next list (5th) is expected to be published in autumn 2021.