COUNCIL ADOPTS NEGOTIATING POSITION ON GRIDS PACKAGE
On Friday, 26 June 2026, Member States agreed on a General Approach to the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive to accelerate permit-granting procedures for energy infrastructure. The Council broadly supports the Commission’s objective of speeding up permitting for renewable energy, electricity grids, electricity storage capacities, and vehicle charging infrastructure.
Whereas the Commission’s proposal had foreseen mandatory digital permitting portals, tacit administrative approval, and the appointment of independent facilitators for public consultations, the Member States would like to leave it to themselves whether to introduce these measures. The Council also extended several permitting deadlines, e.g. on vehicle charging infrastructure and grid connexions.
The General Approach overall aligns with CLECAT’s support for faster permitting procedures and the accelerated deployment of energy infrastructure. However, several priorities raised by CLECAT remain unaddressed. In particular, the Council does not tackle the need for more transparent grid-capacity allocation or planning that better reflects the electrification needs of freight transport. Likewise, CLECAT’s call to replace the proposed fixed 100 kW permitting threshold for charging infrastructure with a more operational, criteria-based approach is not reflected in the Council’s position.
Alongside the Permitting Directive, the Council also agreed on General Approach to the Commission’s proposal for a revision of the TEN-E Regulation, the second legislative pillar of the Grids Package. The revised Regulation aims to strengthen EU-wide energy infrastructure planning, improve cross-border coordination, and enhance the resilience of Europe’s electricity networks.
In the European Parliament, the Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy (ITRE) is leading work on both files. Parliament is expected to adopt its negotiating position on the Grids Package in July, allowing trilogue negotiations with the Council to begin after the summer recess.
Source: Council of the European Union