Fast‑Tracking Europe’s Energy Superhighways

What the problem is being addressed
The EU’s electricity, gas, hydrogen and carbon‑dioxide networks are not growing fast enough to meet climate and energy‑security targets.

• In 2030 only 41 GW of the 88 GW of cross‑border electricity capacity needed will be built, and the gap is expected to widen.
• By 2040 the EU will need 108 GW of cross‑border capacity.
• The current TEN‑E Regulation (2019/942, 2019/943, 2024/1789) is too slow, too complex and does not fully account for new technologies such as non‑wire solutions, digitalisation, hydrogen and CO₂ transport.
• Permitting takes up to 10 years for transmission projects and often exceeds the time needed for the electricity market to absorb new capacity.
• Security of supply is threatened by physical and cyber risks, and by the growing interest of third‑country investors in EU infrastructure.

How the problem is being solved
The Commission proposes a new Regulation (COM(2025) 1006) that revises the TEN‑E framework:

1. Central scenario and needs identification – The Commission will produce a cross‑sectoral scenario for electricity, hydrogen and gas every four years and a methodology for identifying infrastructure gaps.
2. Expanded project categories – New categories for offshore grids, smart grids, non‑wire solutions, hydrogen pipelines and CO₂ transport are added.
3. Simplified permitting – The permitting process for projects on the Union list is cut to a maximum of 42 months (24 months pre‑application + 18 months statutory). A single national competent authority will coordinate all steps and publish decisions electronically.
4. Cost‑sharing and cross‑border allocation – A new framework for cross‑border cost allocation (CBCA) is introduced, allowing bundling of projects and use of congestion income.
5. Security and resilience – Projects must include physical and cyber‑security measures; new equipment for protecting critical network elements is funded.
6. Digitalisation – All permitting and monitoring will be done on digital platforms, with AI support for status tracking and data sharing.
7. Financial support – Projects that cannot be financed by the market can receive EU financial assistance (grants or innovative instruments) under the Connecting Europe Facility, with new eligibility criteria.
8. Repeal of the old TEN‑E Regulation – Regulation (EU) 2022/869 is repealed and replaced by the new text.

What changes result from this document

• The EU will have a single, regularly updated scenario that guides the Ten‑Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP).
• Projects that meet the new criteria will be added to the Union list every two years, with a cap of about 220 projects.
• Permitting times are cut by up to 50 % and the process becomes more transparent and digital.
• Cross‑border cost allocation becomes mandatory and can be bundled, encouraging participation of non‑hosting Member States and third countries.
• New funding streams for hydrogen, CO₂ transport and offshore grids are created, and existing funding (CEF) is better aligned.
• Security of supply is strengthened through mandatory resilience measures and a new CBCA framework.
• The Commission will monitor progress through a public transparency platform and annual reports, and will review the Regulation by 2033.

These changes aim to accelerate the deployment of resilient, low‑carbon infrastructure, reduce costs for consumers, and help the EU reach its 2030 and 2050 climate targets.