Background information

On 28 November 2023, the European Commission presented a Communication setting out solutions for the implementation of the European Green Deal. The proposal includes an Action Plan to ensure that Member States' electricity grids operate more efficiently and are further upgraded/developed towards full integration. This will ensure that EU citizens and businesses can benefit from cheaper and cleaner energy. The Commission stressed that Interconnected and stable energy networks are the backbone of the EU's internal energy market and key to enabling the green transition.

Content of measure

The Action Plan aims to address the main challenges of extending, digitalising and making better use of the EU's electricity transmission and distribution networks and accelerating in general. It identifies concrete and tailored actions that will help unlock the necessary investments to accelerate Europe's electricity networks. These are focused in 7 segments.

• Accelerating the implementation of joint projects and the development of new ones.
• Improving long-term network planning to accommodate greater demand for renewables and electrified energy, including hydrogen, in the energy system.
• Introduce regulatory incentives through guidelines for anticipatory and forward-looking investments and cross-border cost sharing for offshore projects.
• Encouraging better use of the grid through greater transparency and improved grid tariffs for smarter grids, efficiency and innovative technologies and solutions.
• Improve access to funding for network projects by increasing the visibility of EU funding programme opportunities, especially smart grids and distribution network upgrades.
• Stimulate faster permitting for network deployment by providing technical support and guidance to authorities on how to better engage stakeholders and communities.
• Improve and secure grid supply chains, including by harmonising industry production requirements for the connection of generation and offtake.

Use of measure

No available information.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Applies to all businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government EU (Council, EC, EP)	European Funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement by social partners.

Views and reactions

There has been no reaction from the social partners to date

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 28 November 2023: Commission sets out actions to accelerate the roll-out of electricity grids (ec.europa.eu)
• 28 November 2023: Communication - Grids, the missing link - An EU Action Plan for Grids (eur-lex.europa.eu)