Updated with main results

The two-day informal Energy Council, chaired by H.E. Tinne Van der Straeten, Belgian Federal Minister for Energy, represented a stocktaking moment for European energy ministers to discuss the development of an integrated European electricity grid. Transmission and distribution grids play a crucial role in providing access to abundant volumes of affordable energy for our industries and citizens. By consequence, grids are pivotal in boosting Europe’s industrial competitiveness, in the achievement of our climate and energy objectives, in boosting European energy sovereignty, reducing the bloc’s dependency on the imports of fossil fuels and in promoting social inclusion across the continent.

Monday’s discussions focused on the planning of European electricity networks, where Ministers expressed the need for a better integration of grid planning, linking a top down and bottom-up approach, including through a regional dimension. A work lunch was dedicated to the security and resilience of our energy infrastructure. The Ministers also exchanged views on financing and de-risking cross-border electricity grid infrastructure projects. They concluded that a better coordination of existing structural funds is needed and that additional institutional and innovative financing streams should be explored. Ministers underscored the need to mitigate the impact of these investments on end consumers, in order to keep momentum for the energy transition.

In light of the recent targeted attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure by Russia, Ministers were updated on the situation by Ukrainian Minister for Energy, German Galushchenko. The Council of the EU and the European Commission expressed their unwavering support for Ukraine. An extraordinary follow-up meeting in G7+ format to further coordinate energy assistance to Ukraine will be convened in order to assist Ukraine in repairing its energy infrastructure.

The Ministers and the Commission finished the formal part of the first day of exchanges with a formal signing ceremony of the European Solar Charter between the European Commission, 23 EU countries and industry representatives. This charter is a concrete follow-up from the working lunch discussion hosted at the 4 March formal Energy Council and serves to show a clear engagement from European policy makers towards the solar industry as a key technology provider for the energy transition in the years and decades ahead.

On Tuesday, the agenda centered around driving scale and speed of network development and ensuring adequate supply chains through standardization of grid materials and streamlining permit-granting. The Ministers highlighted the need for continued dialogue between governments and industry on scaling-up supply chains for cables and essential grid components. Aggregation of demand and standardization could push timely delivery and lower costs. Call for accelerated implementation of existing provisions within RED III and NZIA, while also giving increased attention to nature inclusive design and public acceptability.

Furthermore, a press conference was held by the Presidency together with Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič to present the conclusions.

This event was an important step towards enabling ministers to lay out the energy priorities for the next European Commission regarding the energy infrastructure needs. The build-out of an EU integrated grid will be a crucial enabler for a safe, reliable, competitive, sustainable, affordable, just and efficient energy transition in the EU.

Next steps

The next formal European Energy Council will take place on Thursday 30 May in Brussels, at which Council Conclusions on the topic of electricity networks will be presented for adoption.