The European Commission (EC) has designated 235 cross-border energy projects as projects of common interest and projects of mutual interest, in its second list since 2023. These selected projects will be eligible to seek European Union (EU) support through the Connecting Europe Facility and will receive accelerated permitting and regulatory clearances to enable quicker development. A recent EC assessment indicated that European electricity, hydrogen and carbon transport networks will require close to €1.5 trillion in investment between 2024 and 2040. The selected project pipeline is also expected to contribute to these needs
The list of selected projects includes 113 electricity offshore and smart grid project to support renewable energy integration, and 100 hydrogen and electrolyser proposals for decarbonisation of EU’s energy system. Additionally, it includes 17 carbon transport infrastructure projects to advance the market for carbon capture and storage, 3 smart gas grid upgrades for natural gas network modernisation and digitalisation, and the continued inclusion of 2 long-running gas network projects connecting Malta and Cyprus to the mainland Europe gas network.
Furthermore, the EC plans to facilitate implementation through coordinated engagement with member states, using the Energy Union task force and regional high-level groups to support infrastructure development. These selected projects are intended to reinforce energy connectivity across Europe. Moreover, they are also aimed at strengthening competitiveness, advancing decarbonisation efforts, and improving energy security across the EU.
