Energy Union goal: EU offers €600 million funding for cross-border projects

Brussels – European industry and citizens have long been suffering from high energy costs and inefficient power grids, problems fatally compounded by the issue of energy security and combating climate change. For these reasons, the European Commission plans to boost decarbonisation and energy market integration by putting €600 million on the table to support projects related to critical energy infrastructures.

The call, launched today (April 3), aims to incentivise the submission of new proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) by co-financing cross-border infrastructure programs. The study projects or construction works that will be eligible for these funds are those included in the “Programs of Common Interest” (PCI) list and among the “Projects of Mutual Interest” (PMI), i.e., conducted through the cooperation of at least two member states and aimed at eliminating fossil resources and achieving climate and energy goals. Specifically, 85 of these projects involve the electricity sector, 65 hydrogen and electrolysers, 12 offshore infrastructure, and as many as 10 include electricity interconnections with the United Kingdom, the Western Balkans, and North Africa.

At the announcement, Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen emphasised the urgency of the funding: “Now more than ever, we need to step up our investments to ensure a true Energy Union, to empower competitiveness, ensure our energy security, and reduce costs for all. Connecting the fundamental missing links for a seamless cross-border energy flow is essential.”

The CEF energy online info day, aimed at informing interested entities about the selection process, will be held in May. These will have until September 16, 2025, to submit funding applications to the Commission. The results of the call will be published early next year.