TEN-E: Integrating EU's energy infrastructure by 2020 A provisional agreement was reached this week by the Parliament and the Council on the strategic EU energy priorities, the so-called 'corridors', and the criteria that energy projects would need to fulfil in order to be given the highest priority in the EU.

The main objective of the new legislation is to create an integrated EU energy infrastructure by identifying a number of key projects, such as pipelines and power grids, so-called "projects of common interest", that need to move forward faster in order to accomplish EU's energy goals. Their implementation would be speeded up by benefitting from streamlined and accelerated permit granting procedures as well as special regulatory treatment. "This Regulation sets forth a radically new approach to trans-European energy infrastructure projects. It is a crucial element for the attainment of a Single Market for energy in Europe and for the achievement of the "20-20-20 by 2020" goals, which will foster environmental sustainability, benefit European consumers, and create jobs and growth for companies and citizens", underlined the rapporteur António Correia de Campos (S&D, PT). Projects of common interest and selection criteria The new draft legislation defines twelve EU priority corridors and areas in urgent need of development. Based on these pre-defined corridors, projects of common interest (PCIs) would be selected and they would subsequently benefit from a special regulatory framework, such as faster permit granting procedures. All the selected projects would be necessary for at least one of the priority corridors and areas set out in the Regulation and would have to fulfil specific criteria related to market integration, sustainability and security of supply. Selection procedure Project operators would formally apply for their project to be included in the list of projects of common interest. Regional expert groups would assess submitted projects and agree on which projects are eligible to be classified as a "Project of Common Interest" (PCI). Decision-making is limited to the Member States and the Commission. A regional list of PCIs will be drawn up by each regional group. The final step of the procedure would be the publication of the 'Union list' by the Commission which would include all the selected projects. Time limits All PCIs on the final Union-wide list would be eligible for streamlined permitting procedures in the respective MS where they are located. An overall binding time limit of 3 years and 6 months would be established for the permit granting process, which could be extended by a further 9 months (the current average is 10 years). Spatial planning and operational coordination MEPs insisted on including the project-specific spatial planning to the overall authorisation procedure in order to avoid further delays. In addition, MEPs insisted on adding a new article to ask the European transmission system operators for electricity (ENTSO-E) to develop, following the entry into force, codes and guidelines to enhance their operational coordination, as only enhanced operational coordination would allow optimising the use of the trans-European electricity infrastructure. Next steps The final committee vote will take place on 18 December. The vote in plenary is scheduled for the beginning of next year. LINKS Website of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees/homeCom.do?language=EN&body=ITRE Profile of rapporteur António Correia de Campos (S&D, PT) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/96975/ANTONIO%20FERNANDO_CORREIA%20DE%20CAMPOS.html Avice from EPSU