On 10 December 2025, the European Commission presented the European Grids Package, a legislative initiative aimed at accelerating the development of electricity infrastructure across Europe. The package includes guidance on managing connection queues, a directive designed to speed up permitting for grid and renewable energy projects, and a comprehensive revision of the Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E) Regulation.
The development of electricity networks is increasingly recognised as a key enabler of electrification, renewable integration and the modernisation of Europe’s energy system. In this context, Eurelectric has published a position paper outlining its assessment of the Commission’s proposals and presenting recommendations for strengthening the legislative package.
According to Eurelectric’s position, the package represents an important step forward as it places electricity networks at the centre of Europe’s energy and industrial strategy. The organisation emphasises that accelerating electrification will require a substantial increase in grid investment. In particular, annual investments in Europe’s distribution networks will need to double, reaching up to €67 billion in order to meet future demand.
One of the positive elements of the proposal is the Permitting Directive, which recognises grids, renewable energy projects, storage and charging infrastructure as being of overriding public interest. This status can help reduce administrative barriers and shorten development timelines. The proposal also includes measures to accelerate hybrid and co-located energy projects, enable the use of suitable sites more efficiently and simplify certain environmental assessment procedures for projects with limited impact.
However, in its position paper Eurelectric also highlights several aspects of the proposal that could create practical challenges. One such element is the introduction of tacit approval for grid connection requests. While intended to speed up procedures, this approach could pose risks to system security and may encourage speculative connection requests. Eurelectric therefore recommends revisiting this provision so that system operators retain sufficient time to properly assess applications.
The position paper also stresses the need to clearly distinguish between permitting procedures and grid connection procedures. Treating them as the same administrative process could lead to legal and regulatory ambiguity and complicate implementation.
Regarding the TEN-E revision, Eurelectric welcomes the introduction of new funding categories linked to resilience and digitalisation of energy infrastructure. At the same time, the organisation notes that the proposal remains largely focused on transmission networks and does not sufficiently address medium- and low-voltage grids. This is particularly significant because much of the future electricity demand related to building electrification, electric mobility and distributed energy resources will materialise at distribution level.
Eurelectric therefore recommends extending the new categories on protection, resilience and digitalisation so that they also include equipment across all voltage levels, including distribution networks.
Another key recommendation in the position paper is to strengthen the link between grid planning and electrification targets. Eurelectric suggests introducing an electrification indicator and ensuring that national energy and climate plans better reflect the grid investments required to support electrification. Such measures would help provide clearer investment signals and support anticipatory grid development.
Additional proposals outlined in the position paper include clearer regulatory treatment for energy storage facilities and more consistent application of repowering provisions for renewable energy projects and their associated grid infrastructure.
Meanwhile, legislative negotiations on the package are gaining momentum. The Council of the EU launched discussions shortly after the proposals were published, and the Cypriot Presidency aims to reach a General Approach by June 2026. A first compromise proposal has already been circulated, underlining the political importance of the file.
In the European Parliament, discussions are also intensifying. While the TEN-E revision is likely to become the focal point of political debate, there is broader agreement that permitting procedures for energy and grid projects need to be significantly accelerated.
In the months ahead, the key question will no longer be whether Europe needs to accelerate the development of electricity networks, but how this should be done. Eurelectric’s position paper aims to contribute to this debate by promoting a regulatory framework that can unlock investment, support electrification and enable the development of a more resilient and interconnected European electricity system.
