Brussels to support 235 energy projects to better connect Union

Brussels – The European Commission announced today, 1 December, support for 235 cross-border energy projects. The aim is to modernise the energy distribution network by 2040, when decarbonisation targets will require the 27 to cut non-renewable sources by 90 per cent.

The plan does not set objectives only within the Union, but also aims to efficiently connect neighbouring economies, such as those in the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova, Israel, and North Africa. “Europe needs a resilient and future-proof energy system. The projects we have chosen to support will play a key role in delivering cleaner, cheaper energy to our citizens,” commented Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen.

The list of initiatives

For this very reason, the list drawn up divides the initiatives into two categories: those of common interest, called PCIs, which have effect only within the Union, and those of reciprocal interest, called PMIs, with extra-EU ambitions.

Going into the details, there is a strong focus on hydrogen circulation. There are 100 initiatives dedicated to H₂ that will play a key role in the circulation of the gas of the future. Most of the projects (113) will instead comprise smart electricity grids, dedicated to the distribution of energy produced from renewables. The aim is to avoid dangerous surpluses, such as those seen in Spain in April 2025. There will be 17 infrastructure projects for carbon transport, aimed at storing CO₂. The list also includes 3 smart gas grid projects to digitise and modernise the natural gas grid and 2 long-standing projects connecting Malta and Cyprus to the grid of continental Europe.

The New Italian Infrastructures

In the EU projects, there is also a special focus on Italy. The most ambitious infrastructure is the one that will enable the distribution of hydrogen from north to south by 2029. The project envisages the commissioning of some 1,920 km that will allow the import of H₂ from the entry point of Mazara del Vallo, in the province of Trapani, to Tarvisio, on the Austrian border. The list is publicly available on the dedicated European Union website. 

Infrastructure benefits 

In any case, being on this list does not guarantee finalisation. The main advantage is the possibility to apply for EU funding, as well as the benefit of accelerated authorisation and regulatory procedures for a quick start. Today’s announcement anticipates meetings tomorrow and the day after tomorrow during the sixth PCI Energy Days meeting: an opportunity for representatives of the EU countries’ administrations, including Commissioner Jørgensen, to meet with energy stakeholders: financiers, civil society, grid operators, and regulators.

The precedents

To make predictions about the effectiveness of this initiative, we can look back. Since 2014, the  Connecting Europe Facility(CEF-Energy) has allocated €8 billion to flagship projects. A striking example is the cross-border ones with the Baltic States, which have regained independence from the Russian electricity grid by integrating with the EU one. As part of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034, the Commission has proposed a fivefold increase in the CEF allocation for energy, from €5.84 billion to €29.91 billion.