Statement

Twenty five years after the Single European Act, Europe urgently needs greater freedom of movement in electricity: a single internal power market and a network infrastructure to facilitate it. A single electricity market will increase competition, improve security of supply, help deliver climate goals and integrate modern energy technologies including renewables. Whilst development of a single power market is progressing, development of the infrastructure urgently needs a very major boost. To bring freedom of movement to and enhance cross-border trade in Europe’s electricity, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers must:

Speed up, simplify and better coordinate permitting and planning procedures for electricity infrastructure projects
Agree new financing mechanisms to support the necessary electricity infrastructure projects
Address environmental concerns and social acceptance issues related to the necessary grid extensions at an early stage.