EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 10.12.2025

COM(2025) 1007 final

2025/0400(COD)

Proposal for a

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

amending Directives (EU) 2018/2001, (EU) 2019/944, (EU) 2024/1788 as regards acceleration of permit-granting procedures

(Text with EEA relevance)

{SEC(2025) 2000 final} - {SWD(2025) 2000 final} - {SWD(2025) 2001 final}

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

Regarding energy infrastructure, currently there is no overarching permitting regime at Union level. The TEN-E Regulation introduces rules for the permitting of infrastructure projects in the union list of projects of common interest and projects of mutual interest, but it does not cover other infrastructure assets. The Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Package 10 introduced general requirements for the authorisation of hydrogen and gases assets, including permitting procedures, in the Gas Market Directive 11 . However, for electricity grids no European framework is available. The need to increase the deployment rate of energy infrastructure to accelerate the deployment of renewables and increase the security of resiliency of the Union grid and reduce energy costs was recognised in the Affordable Energy Action Plan and the Draghi Repot. The lack of a unified European framework represents a missing step towards addressing this need. As such this proposal updates the permitting regime of the Electricity Market Directive to establish requirements for transmission and distribution infrastructure which are currently not addressed. The changes to the Electricity Market Directive introduced additional requirements that need to be reflected in the Gas Market Directive, namely in terms of capacity of permitting authorities, cut off dates for requests for additional information, tacit approval in administrative decisions and digitalisation requirements.

1.Reducing deadlines and avoiding unnecessary delays in the permitting process;

2.Including provisions from the Council Regulation (EU) 2022/2577 with targeted modifications;

3.Introducing additional targeted flexibility in the application of environmental rules 

4.Introducing a permitting regime for electricity grids at Union level that builds upon the approach to the permitting of gas and hydrogen assets in the Gas Market Directive and aligns with the framework of the Renewable energy directive and the TEN-E Regulation.

5.Ensuring consistency of the overall permitting regime at the EU level by amending the permitting regime applicable to hydrogen assets to align with the permitting regime applicable to electricity infrastructure.

This proposal includes limited and targeted amendments to Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources which are strictly necessary to achieve the proposal’s objectives. Further possible modifications of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 are entirely outside of the scope and aims of the present proposal. The need for such modifications may be assessed, as appropriate, in the context of the preparation of the initiative on the renewable energy framework, part of the Energy Union package for the decade ahead, as referred to in Annex I of the Commission work programme 2026. The Commission will constructively engage with the co-legislators, in order to ensure that the legislative process on the present proposal fully preserves its essential object and does not distort it.

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

•Consistency with other Union policies

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

•Legal basis

•Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

•Proportionality

•Choice of the instrument

–Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, strengthening the permitting-related provisions of that Directive (Articles 2, 15c and 15d and 16-17).

–Directive 2019/944/EU on common rules for the internal market for electricity, strengthening the provision on authorisation procedures (Article 8) with dedicated permitting acceleration measures and introducing measures on the identification of alternative solutions and the deployment of compensatory measures when applying derogation foreseen in Directive 92/43/EEC, Directive 2000/60/EC and Directive 2009/147/EC (Article 8a).

–Directive 2024/1788/EU on common rules for the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen, ensuring consistency between its provision on authorisation procedures (Article 8) and that of Directive 2019/944/EU. 

3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

•Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation

•Stakeholder consultations

In line with the Better Regulation guidelines, the Commission carried out a comprehensive online open public consultation (OPC) between 13 May to 5 August 2025 on the ‘Have Your Say’ website. The consultation covered the following topics: i) the general functioning of the TEN-E Regulation, ii) EU infrastructure planning, iii) electricity network planning at national level, iv) electricity grid hosting capacity, v) permitting, vi) investments in grid infrastructure, vii) supply chains, viii) digitalisation and resilience, and ix) simplification.

The consultation received a total of 197 responses. In addition, 2 emails were received via a functional mailbox for the consultation. There were 197 responses to every multiple-choice question in the OPC, meaning that every respondent answered each question. For some questions, respondents were asked on a five-point scale the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with statements. The scale was i) Strongly disagree ii) Slightly disagree, iii) Neutral, iv) Slightly agree, v) Strongly agree. A “don’t know” option was also given.

About a third of respondents (34%; companies 36%, business associations 37%, NGOs 14%, public authorities 10%) reported that the permitting provisions of the TEN-E regulation are not clear and easy to implement, with 16% remaining neutral and 34% unsure. A vast majority of 83% (companies 92%, business associations 83%, NGOs 29%, public authorities 70%) supported simplifying and streamlining environmental assessments (only 5% neutral and 5% uncertain). Similarly, 82% of respondents (companies 83%, business associations 81%, NGOs 79%, public authorities 80%) agreed that permitting procedures should be fully digitalised (only 7% neutral and 9% uncertain). Additionally, 77% of respondents (companies 78%, business associations 85%, NGOs 50%, public authorities 70%) agreed that deadlines for the permitting of networks should be shortened or established where missing, with only 7% neutral and 9% uncertain.

Moreover, 64% of respondents agreed that permitting procedures for storage assets should be simplified (companies 59%, business associations 81%, NGOs 50%, public authorities 70%), with 13% remaining neutral and 18% uncertain. Slightly more (69%) supported simplifying permitting procedures for distribution network projects, small-scale renewable projects, and activities such as repurposing, refurbishment, and repowering (companies 67%, business associations 80%, NGOs 50%, public authorities 60%), while 8% were neutral and 19% uncertain. Furthermore, 71% agreed that permitting procedures for hybrid projects (those combining different technologies, including storage) and other innovative solutions should be simplified (companies 72%, business associations 85%, NGOs 43%, public authorities 60%), with 11% neutral and 14% uncertain.

At the same time, two public Implementation Dialogues were held, one on environmental assessments and permitting by Commissioner Jessika Roswall 19 and one on permitting for renewable energy projects and related infrastructure by Commissioner Jørgensen 20 . In both dialogues, the need to simplify permitting and specifically in connection to environmental assessments was brought up by stakeholders, as well as the need to intensify efforts to implement current EU legislation and the dissemination of good practices. In the implementation dialogue held by Commissioner Jørgensen the need for further simplifying procedures (in particular for small-scale projects, storage and repowering), extending the overriding public interest principle, targeted exemptions from specific EU legislation, accelerating the digitalisation of permitting processes and improving data availability was also highlighted.

Moreover, in a recent report on the state of regions and cities 21 one of the demands of regions and cities to Europe was the acceleration of permitting for renewables and they indicated administrative delays as one of the main obstacles to timely deployment that remains. At the same time, they asked the development of a harmonised EU-wide digital permitting system, which they believe reduce bureaucracy and support faster local approvals, echoing our proposal for further digitalisation and centralisation of the permitting procedures.

These replies confirmed the need to take action to simplify and speed up permitting procedures. The feedback received is well reflected in the proposal which addresses the issues mentioned above for which a high share of respondents indicated a need for simplification, acceleration and digitalisation of the permitting process.

•Collection and use of expertise

The Commission carried out this analysis using different information channels. A desk-based legal and policy analysis was conducted in preparation of the Implementation Report that is annexed to the Impact Assessment. Firstly, the Commission also took note of Member States’ experiences in implementing the permitting related provisions under RED, collected through the means of a dedicated study on “Technical support for RES policy development and implementation – Simplification of permission and administrative procedures for RES installations (RES Simplify)” 22 published in April 2023. In addition to the relevant legislative documents, the primary source was Commission’s own work on the implementation of the permitting part of the revised RED, including by means of the transposition checks. The progress of the transposition checks was summarised in June 2025 by means of the First Progress Report submitted to the Commission within the remit of the specific ongoing contract “Legal assistance to check Member States' transposition of the amending Directive (EU) 2023/2413 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023”. Furthermore, the analysis took stock of findings of the ongoing study “Monitoring progress of measures to streamline permit-granting procedures under revised RED and Emergency Regulation and development of permitting-related KPIs”, and its First Interim Report received by the Commission in July 2025, as well as the study on monitoring the implementation of the Commission Recommendation on speeding up permit-granting procedures 23 . Further to that, outcome of discussions held from April 2023 in 6 meetings of the renewable energy permitting expert group and one stakeholder event, outcome of discussions on the implementation of the permitting provisions in the Concerted Action on RED (CA-RES 24 ), as well as the Conclusions of the Implementation dialogue with Commissioner Jørgensen on permitting for renewable energy projects and related infrastructures from June 2025 25  supplemented this Report. Further, in what concerns the permitting procedures applicable to energy infrastructures these were assessed as part of the “Study on national permit granting process applicable to energy transmission infrastructure projects with a focus on projects of common interest and projects of mutual interest under Chapter III of Regulation (EU) 2022/869” contracted by the Commission and published in early 2025. 26 This study identified gaps to be addressed in order to facilitate a unified and efficient permitting framework that supports the timely deployment of essential infrastructure projects, amongst other shortcomings related to environmental assessments, clarity of procedures and public acceptance.

•Impact assessment

•Regulatory fitness and simplification

•Fundamental rights

4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

5.OTHER ELEMENTS

•Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements

–Availability for bilateral meetings and calls with Member States in case of specific question on the transposition of the Directive.

–Provide explanations and technical support to Member States via the online tool available to Member States representatives for queries.

–Update recommendation and guidance on permitting, if necessary

•Explanatory documents (for directives)

•Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal

Amendments to Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (Article 1 of this proposal)

–Article 2 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is amended to introduce some definitions.

–Article 15c of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is amended to introduce an obligation on Member States not to identify large territories where the installation of renewable energy projects is a priori not possible due to environmental reasons, including protection of landscape.

–Article 15d of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is amended to introduce measures for Member States to ensure that a share of the benefits of renewable energy projects is passed on to local citizens and communities and an obligation to designate and finance an independent facilitator to promote dialogue between the project developer and the general public.

–Article 16 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is amended to introduce an obligation for Member States to set up a single digital portal at national level for all the steps of the permit-granting procedures for renewable energy, storage and grid projects. This portal will also have access to all data on species observations and other environmental and geological data made available by the relevant environmental authorities, pursuant to Article 10(3) of Regulation [xxxxx] of the European Parliament and of the Council. 

–Article 16b of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is amended to delete the reference to deliberate killing or disturbance of the species when necessary mitigation measures have been adopted to introduce tacit approval for permit-granting procedure outside renewables acceleration areas.

–Article 16c of the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is amended to include specific rules to facilitate repowering despite changes in land use, and to streamline environmental requirements for repowering of wind renewable energy projects if no additional land surface is used.

–Article 16d of the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is amended to streamline permitting rules with regards the permitting-granting process for small-scale solar installations and solar installations on artificial structures.

–Article 16f of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is amended to remove the possibility for Member States to restrict the application of overriding public interest and to extend the application of the overriding public interest presumption to conflicts where the conflicting interests are beyond environmental ones.

–Article 16g is introduced in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 to specify the scope of the assessment of satisfactory alternative solutions and of the requirement to apply compensatory measures for the purposes of relevant Union environmental law. 

–Article 16h is introduced in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 to regulate the permit-granting procedure for stand-alone energy storage other than hydrogen storage.

–Article 16i is introduced in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 to regulate the permit-granting process for recharging stations.

–Article 16j is introduced in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 to regulate the permit-granting process for the hybridisation of renewable energy plants.

–Articles 17 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is amended to consolidate all provision on grid connection, expand their scope and introduce clear rules regarding the procedures for grid connection permits, including targeted deadlines for the connection of certain projects.  

Amendments to Directive (EU) 2019/944 (Article 2 of this proposal)

–Article 8 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 is amended to regulate the permitting procedure for transmission and distribution system infrastructure, introducing the requirement for adequate resources for national authorities, time limits for authorisation procedures, tacit approval for administrative decisions, a time limit for requests for data from authorities to promoters, a temporary presumption of overriding public interest for electricity grids, a temporary exemption for refurbishment, modernisation or repowering of existing transmission grids and distribution grids from Environmental Impact Assessments and Appropriate assessments, aspects related to the assessment of projects under Directive 2000/60/EC and assessment of nitrogen emissions that may be carried out to comply with Directive 92/43/EEC and limit environmental assessments to new assets. Lastly, the article is amended to put the obligation on Member States to establish digital platforms to handle permit applications. These platforms will also have access to all data on species observations and other environmental and geological data made available by the relevant environmental authorities, as per Article 10(3) of Regulation [xxxxx] of the European Parliament and of the Council. 

–Article 8a is introduced in Directive (EU) 2019/944 to to specify the scope of the assessment of satisfactory alternative solutions and of the requirement to apply compensatory measures for the purposes of relevant Union environmental law.

–Article 40a is introduced in Directive (EU) 2019/944 to regulate network developments and powers to make investment decisions on a national level. Article replaces existing Article 51, for the sake of clarification of legal application of relevant provisions and aims at ensuring full consistency with recent changes in Directive (EU) 2024/1788 and the TEN-E Regulation.

–Article 51 of Directive (EU) 2019/944, on network development and powers to make investment decisions, is deleted as this will be regulated by new Article 40a.

Amendments to Directive (EU) 2024/1788 (Article 3 of this proposal)

–Article 8 of Directive (EU) 2024/1788 is amended to introduce the requirement for adequate resources for national authorities, tacit approval for administrative decisions, a time limit for requests for data from authorities to promoters, and a requirement for digital platform to handle authorisation procedures.

2025/0400 (COD)

Proposal for a

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

amending Directives (EU) 2018/2001, (EU) 2019/944, (EU) 2024/1788 as regards acceleration of permit-granting procedures

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1) and Article 194(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee 27

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions 28 ,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,

Whereas:

(1)Slow and complicated permit-granting procedures, including for grid connections, is one of the main factors causing delays in the development of energy projects. Electricity transmission grids take around 10 years for completion, of which permitting accounts for more than half of the time needed. Similarly, permitting of renewable energy projects can still take up to nine years depending on the Member State and the technology involved. Storage installations can take from one to seven years depending on the technology. The permit-granting procedures for construction or transformation of recharging stations along highways and in depots can take up to two years in some Member States. Slow permitting is due, among other things, to incoherent administrative systems among multiple authorities, inadequate staffing in authorities, the duration of environmental assessments, lack of public acceptance, limited digitalisation and data availability as well as administrative and judicial challenges.

(2)In recent years, new measures have been introduced at Union level to accelerate the permit-granting procedures for renewable energy projects and, to some extent, infrastructure projects. In 2022, Council Regulation (EU) 2022/2577 29  was adopted to accelerate permit-granting procedures for renewable energy and related infrastructure projects. Its partial application was prolonged by Council Regulation (EU) 2024/223 30 until 30 June 2025. Furthermore, Directive (EU) 2023/2413 of the European Parliament and of the Council 31 amended Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and the Council 32  to streamline administrative procedures for authorising renewable energy plants by introducing a comprehensive permitting framework, with shorter deadlines and simpler rules. The amended Directive included mapping obligations, the obligation to designate renewables acceleration areas where the environmental impacts stemming from projects are expected to be low and therefore faster and simpler rules can apply, and optional measures to introduce acceleration areas for infrastructure projects where infrastructure projects are exempted from an environmental impact assessment under certain conditions such as carrying out a strategic environmental assessment of the area.

(3)A further simplification and shortening of the administrative permit-granting procedures in a coordinated and harmonised manner is necessary in order to ensure that the Union reaches its ambitious climate and energy targets for 2030 and the objective of climate neutrality by 2050. Directive (EU) 2018/2001 did not address important issues which significantly delay permit-granting procedures and the integration of renewables into the system, such as slow permit-granting procedures for grids, stand-alone energy storage or recharging stations, lack of public acceptance or insufficient digitalisation of procedures. Moreover, that Directive includes only certain of the measures of Regulation (EU) 2022/2577 but lacks several important measures included therein which have ceased to apply, such as expanding the priority of renewable energy projects beyond environmental aspects and streamlining compliance with certain environmental rules. Finally, some targeted amendments to existing measures of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 are necessary to ensure their full effectiveness.

(4)Article 15c of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 introduces an obligation for Member States to designate renewables acceleration areas for at least one renewable energy technology. For the purposes of such designation, Member States may exclude certain areas from becoming renewables acceleration areas due to their high environmental value and sensitivities. However, in order not to undermine the objectives of the designation of renewables acceleration areas, Member States should not identify large territories where the installation of renewable energy projects is a priori not possible due to environmental reasons including protection of landscape, since those projects will be subject to the relevant dedicated environmental assessments which will allow to identify potential environmental impacts and to address them.

(5)Unsound public participation processes leading to opposition in the form of administrative and judicial challenges continue to contribute to lengthy implementation of relevant energy projects. Challenges give rise to additional steps outside of the foreseen administrative permit-granting procedures timelines, leading to unforeseen delays that vary in duration according to the judicial speed of the Member State in question. Lack of public acceptance is one of the primary barriers to renewable energy permit-granting procedures and thus market uptake. Ensuring public participation by local communities in renewable energy projects, in particular the larger ones, can increase public acceptance. Therefore, Member States should adopt measures so that large renewable energy projects share their benefits with local citizens and communities by means of direct or indirect participation, without prejudice to the free choice of supplier in accordance with Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 of the European Parliament and of the Council 33 . Such measures may include direct financial participation measures, in various forms such as shared ownership schemes, including via cooperation with energy communities; crowdfunding schemes, or renewable self-consumption or energy sharing schemes, or indirect financial participation measures, such as the promotion of contracts and job creation for the local communities, including training programmes; community benefit funds; financial compensations to local communities in proximity of the project; construction and maintenance of public infrastructure in proximity of the project; discounts in the price of electricity, or support for vulnerable customers and people affected by energy poverty.

(6)Local resistance, often rooted in lack of transparency, and insufficient community involvement can result in delays in permit-granting procedures and subsequent litigation. Early-stage and appropriate involvement of the public is a clear success factor in renewable energy projects, as indicated in Commission Recommendation (EU) 2024/1343. 34 A professional independent facilitator can accelerate the deployment of large renewable energy installations above 10 MW by promoting consultations between the project developers and the local communities, where appropriate, prior and during the permit-granting procedures with the aim to promote dialogue and build consensus among the relevant parties during the entire process and avoid legal disputes. The facilitator should be a third party, independent from the relevant parties, and should not have any financial stake connected to the developer or to the community where the project is located.

(7)The lack of resources of permitting authorities and the lack of digitalisation of permit-granting procedures and data availability are bottlenecks slowing down permit-granting procedures. Digitalisation and an appropriate use of artificial intelligence features are key tools to speed up procedures and to increase efficiency for all parties involved. It allows a faster handling of applications by the relevant authorities, and it allows project promoters to have quick access to clear information on process steps and requirements from the outset, therefore ensuring transparency and monitoring. However, digitalisation of permit-granting procedures is lagging behind, as it is often scattered among permit-granting procedures and steps across different competent authorities and in most Member States there is no unified digital process. 35 Moreover, often more than one digital portal is used to treat the same project application and interoperability is not always ensured. This leads to a high administrative burden for project promoters, limited internal coordination among authorities dealing with permit-granting procedures at different levels, lack of visibility of the status of the application and unclarity on the bottlenecks slowing down permit-granting procedures. Member States should set up a single digital portal at national level for all the steps of the permit-granting procedures for renewable energy, storage and grid projects so that it contributes to more uniform digitalisation, interoperability and transparency across different permitting authorities in Member States and ultimately speed up permit-granting procedures. It should also simplify the process by allowing applicants to file their application in a single portal that can automatically attribute the applications to the competent authority, which will treat them directly in the portal avoiding intermediate paper-based steps. The portal should present features, including by means of artificial intelligence, allowing the single contact point, other authorities and applicants to check the status of the application and where delays are, as well as check compliance with the permitting deadlines. In addition, it should allow for the extraction of statistics to check the overall progress of permit-granting procedures in Member States. The format chosen for storing and communicating the relevant data collected through the portal should be interoperable. The portal should facilitate the duties of the single contact point who should have access to all relevant data and information.

(8)Faster and shorter permitting deadlines for permit-granting procedures need to be accompanied by additional measures which ensure their effectiveness in practice. Administrative tacit approval measures ensure that an application is automatically approved if the public administration fails to act within a legally defined deadline and are therefore a useful tool to address administrative inaction by providing legal effect to the administration’s silence. Directive (EU) 2018/2001 introduces tacit approval for certain decisions, namely for intermediate steps of the permit-granting procedure in renewable acceleration areas, and for the final permits for all small-scale solar installations with a capacity below 100 kW. Given the need to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources and the fact that the implementation of renewable acceleration areas is a time-consuming process, it is appropriate to also apply this measure in the permit-granting procedures applicable to projects located outside acceleration areas. In these procedures, Member States should ensure that the principle of administrative tacit approval is applied, including for final decisions with the exception of environmental decisions. In order to ensure an effective application of this measure and to guarantee the rights of third parties to judicial protection, the relevant authorities should make public that a decision has been tacitly adopted.

(9)Repowering of existing renewable energy power plants has significant potential to contribute to the achievement of renewable energy targets. Since existing renewable energy power plants have, for the most part, been installed in sites with significant renewable energy source potential, repowering can ensure the continued use of those sites, thus ensuring efficient land use and exploitation of the best renewable energy resources. This is particularly the case for onshore wind, especially taking into account that in Europe many onshore wind farms are approaching the end of contracts supporting their electricity generation and that 26 GW of existing wind plants have been in operation for more than 20 years 36 . Repowering includes further benefits such as an existing grid connection, a likely higher degree of public acceptance and knowledge of the likely environmental impacts. Considering that the repowering of wind plants often leads to a lower number of turbines being installed in the same site, the environmental impact of repowered wind plants is limited. Therefore, requirements on environmental screening or environmental impact assessment should be reduced or even waived where the repowering of an existing wind plant does not entail use of additional land surface, increases the total capacity of the installation and complies with the applicable environmental mitigation measures established for the original wind energy installation.

(10)Self-consumption installations, including those for jointly-acting self-consumers and as local energy communities, contribute to reducing overall demand for natural gas, increasing resilience of the system and achieving the Union’s renewable energy targets. The installation of solar energy equipment and co-located energy storage with a capacity below 100 kW is not likely to have significant adverse effects on the environment or the grid and does not raise safety concerns. In addition, small installations do not generally require capacity expansion at the grid-connection point. In order to further accelerate the deployment of small-scale solar equipment and co-located energy storage, Member States should not require any administrative permits for these installations, with the exception of the grid connection permits, as is already the case in several Member States. Aligning Union legislation with existing best practices should allow further acceleration of the deployment of these installations in a harmonised manner. The installation of solar energy equipment and co-located energy storage above 100 kW in existing or future artificial structures does not typically raise concerns related to competing uses of space or environmental impact. Those installations should therefore benefit from shorter permit-granting procedures and be exempt, with appropriate safeguards, from the obligation to carry out an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council. 37  

(11)Renewable energy plays a key role in the decarbonisation of the Union’s energy system by offering immediate solutions to replace fossil-fuel based energy and contributes to reduce energy prices and increase energy security. Therefore, the authorisation of renewable energy projects should not be too easily blocked due to the mere existence of any type of conflicting interests. Member States should promote renewable energy plants and infrastructure assets such as co-located and stand-alone storage assets and the related grid and recharging stations by expanding the existing presumption applicable for conflicts with environmental interests to any other conflicting interests, except in relation to cultural heritage and where it is evident that those conflicting interests have to take priority despite the important benefits of renewable energy. Renewable energy projects, when presumed of being of overriding public interest over non-environmental interests, should be given priority and authorised. In order to ensure a harmonised application of this rebuttable presumption, Member States should not be allowed to introduce exceptions when dealing with all types of conflicts, including environmental ones.

(12)In order to speed up the deployment of renewables, their related assets and their connection to the grid, it is appropriate to also specify how the remaining conditions for applying specific derogations as provided for in Union environmental legislation can be met. In particular, for the purposes of relevant Union environmental law, when assessing whether there are satisfactory alternative solutions to the specific renewable energy project, the scope of such assessment should be limited to alternative solutions that ensure the achievement of the same objectives as the project in question within the same or similar timeframe and without resulting in significantly higher costs. When comparing the timeframe and the cost of satisfactory alternative solutions, the relevant authorities should take into account the need to deploy renewable energy in an accelerated and cost-effective manner in accordance with the priorities set out in their integrated national energy and climate plans and updates thereof submitted pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and the Council 38  and the expected speed to achieve those priorities. Similarly, when applying the relevant derogation provided for in Council Directive 92/43/EEC, 39  it is appropriate that the relevant authorities may, in some justified cases where it can be reasonably demonstrated that the relevant plan or project would not affect irreversibly the ecological processes essential for maintaining the structure and functions of the site, that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is not compromised, the environmental integrity of the site is preserved and that a high level of protection of the Natura 2000 sites is ensured, allow the compensatory measures to be carried out in parallel with the implementation of such plan or project.

(13)Accelerating the deployment of stand-alone energy storage is crucial to increase the flexibility of the energy system and to ensure system integration of renewable energy production. Stand-alone storage should therefore benefit from accelerated permit-granting procedures. Small-scale energy storage with a capacity below 100 kW is not likely to have significant adverse effects on the environment or the grid and is not expected to raise concerns related to competing uses of space. In view of this, it is appropriate to streamline the permit-granting procedures applicable to this type of storage by eliminating all administrative permits, with the exception of the grid connection permit, and exempting, with appropriate safeguards, these installations from the obligation to carry out an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU. The deployment of energy storage with a capacity above 100 kW also needs to be accelerated. Therefore, it is appropriate to streamline their permit-granting procedure by establishing a maximum overall deadline of six months, except for pumped hydropower storage, which must comply with stricter environmental requirements and therefore requires a longer maximum overall deadline. To ensure system integration of renewable energy production, it is necessary to increase flexibility sources, notably batteries of electric vehicles, as they can contribute to shifting peak electricity demand and reducing grid congestion. In order to achieve this, a swifter and easier deployment of recharging road infrastructure should be further promoted, notably covering cars, vans, trucks, busses or motorcycles, and plug-in hybrid or pure electric vehicles. Both alternating current and direct current recharging stations should benefit from accelerated permit-granting procedures, including for grid connection permits. Small recharging stations with a capacity below 100 kW are not likely to have significant adverse effects on the environment or the grid and are not expected to raise concerns related to competing uses of space. In view of this, it is appropriate to streamline the permit-granting procedures applicable to these recharging stations by eliminating all administrative permits, with the exception of the grid connection permit, and exempting, with appropriate safeguards, these installations from the obligation to carry out an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU. The installation of recharging stations with a capacity above 100 kW also needs to be accelerated. Therefore, it is appropriate to streamline their permit-granting procedure by establishing a maximum overall deadline of six months.

(14)Obtaining grid connection permits is a crucial and often time-consuming part of the procedures to build and operate a renewable energy installation. It is therefore appropriate to further streamline the deadlines applicable for the grid connection procedures applicable to certain small-scale renewable energy projects, storage assets and recharging stations, and the repowering and hybridisation of renewable energy projects, and to introduce clear rules regarding the obligations of the system operators during the permit procedures.

(15)The Draghi report on EU competitiveness and the Action Plan for Affordable Energy 40 recognise the positive impact of recent reforms to accelerate permit-granting procedures. However, they also highlight lengthy and uncertain permit-granting procedures for grids as a major obstacle to faster installation of necessary new capacity to accommodate clean energy investments and reduce energy costs in the EU. While there are specific rules on permit-granting procedures under Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Directive (EU) 2024/1788 of the European Parliament and of the Council 41 and Regulation (EU) 2022/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council 42 these regimes do not cover general electricity grid infrastructure assets. As such, general requirements on authorisation procedures for electricity transmission and distribution system infrastructure must be provided in Directive (EU) 2019/944, specifically in the form of requirements for Member States to ensure a maximum duration of such procedures and establishing requirements that support in meeting those deadlines. Regulation (EU) 2022/869 and Directive (EU) 2018/2001 contain rules for the authorisation of certain energy projects. In case of contradiction between those rules and the rules established in this Directive for the authorisation of certain electricity projects, the former should take precedence.

(16)Lack of resources in national authorities and the reduced digitalisation of permit-granting procedures results in delays in the permitting of electricity system infrastructure and generation assets. Member States should ensure that such authorities have adequate human financial and technical resources, including skills, and digital management tools and systems that enable them to render decisions within the deadlines provided in the Directive.

(17)The authorisation procedures under Directive (EU) 2019/944 should be clear, efficient and transparent and consistent with the fulfilment of existing distribution network development plan and the transmission ten-year network development plan. Thus, Member States are expected to lay down and publish objective and non-discriminatory criteria and procedures for authorisation that take into account amongst other things the safety and security of the electricity system, land use, energy efficiency, characteristics particular to the permit applicant, emission reductions, the importance to accelerate the deployment of energy infrastructure to reach climate neutrality, and alternatives to the project.

(18)Given the urgency of developing electricity infrastructures, Member States are expected to ensure that authorisation procedures consider the characteristics of a project when assessing the need, or lack thereof, to conduct assessments, including environmental assessments, or produce studies, authorisations or reports. The competent national authorities should limit assessments and requests for information from promoters to the strictly necessary and avoid duplication in every instance possible.

(19)To increase predictability and certainty over the duration and costs of authorisation procedures under Directive (EU) 2019/944, requests for information and documentation from applicants should be concrete, specific and contained in time. As such Member States should ensure that national authorities request the relevant information to issue the permit from applicants within a pre-specified period counted from when the application is received and concretely determine the content and detail of any information or data requested. After such period, requests for information should be limited to missing information that had been previously identified or requested by the authority, or information that could not be requested before due to the fact that it relates to a material change in circumstances taking place after the project applied for an authorisation.

(20)While respecting the principle of subsidiarity, national competences and procedures, Directive (EU) 2019/944 should set a clear time limit for the decision of the relevant authorities which stimulates an efficient definition and handling of procedures leading to the deployment of electricity grids. Nevertheless, Member States can strive to achieve shorter permit-granting procedures where feasible, specially as regards projects for refurbishment, modernisation or repowering of existing transmission system infrastructure and the construction of new distribution system infrastructure, which may not require as complex a permit-granting procedure as new transmission infrastructure. 

(21)In line with the urgency to deploy electricity grids to achieve the Union’s energy and climate goals and accompany deadlines for permit-granting procedures with measures that ensure their effectiveness in practice, Member States should ensure that, in jurisdictions where the concept of tacit approval exists under national law, it is applied to administrative decisions concerning electricity grid projects, with the exception of environmental decisions. To guarantee the rights of third parties to judicial protection, the relevant authorities should make public all decisions adopted, including those that were tacitly adopted.

(22)In order to reduce complexity, increase efficiency and transparency, and help enhance cooperation among Member States, there should be contact points for electricity transmission or distribution system operators promoting grids project or other network assets until a decision is rendered. These contact points will be responsible for facilitating and guiding applicants through the authorisation procedures associated with this type of infrastructure. In the spirit of simplification, if the Member State deems appropriate and more efficient it may concentrate this responsibility in the national competent authorities referred to in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2022/869, as these authorities already perform such role in what concerns the permitting of infrastructure projects of common interest and projects of mutual interest. In merging such roles, Member States should pay particular attention to ensure that the contact points are adequately staffed and enjoy the resources and capacity necessary to perform the tasks under their responsibility.

(23)Due to their role integrating renewable energy assets, flexibility solutions, energy storage and enabling electrification in general, electricity transmission or distribution system infrastructure are essential to reach climate neutrality. Considering the key role of electricity system infrastructure to reach climate neutrality, in the necessary case-by-case assessments, Member States should presume electricity transmission or distribution system infrastructure, including on-shore power supply in ports to be of overriding public interest and serving public health and safety, except for in relation to cultural heritage and where there is clear evidence that those projects have significant adverse effects on the environment which cannot be mitigated or compensated for. Electricity transmission or distribution system infrastructure presumed to be of overriding public interest over non-environmental interests should be given priority over non-environmental interests and authorised as fast as possible.

(24)In order to speed up the deployment of electricity grids, it is appropriate to specify how the conditions for applying specific derogations as provided for in Union environmental legislation can be met. In particular, when assessing whether there are satisfactory alternative solutions to the electricity grid project, the scope of such assessment should be limited to alternative solutions that ensure the achievement of the same objective within the same or similar timeframe and without resulting in significantly higher costs. When comparing the timeframe and the cost of satisfactory alternative solutions, the relevant authorities should take into account the need to deploy grids in an accelerated and cost-effective manner in accordance with the priorities set out in their integrated national energy and climate plans and updates thereof submitted pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. Similarly, when applying the relevant derogation provided for in Directive 92/43/EEC, it is appropriate that the relevant authorities may, in some justified cases where it can be reasonably demonstrated that the relevant plan or project would not affect irreversibly the ecological processes essential for maintaining the structure and functions of the site, that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is not compromised, the environmental integrity of the site is preserved and that a high level of protection of the Natura 2000 sites is ensured,  allow the compensatory measures to be carried out in parallel with the implementation of the plan and project .

(25)Due the urgency in deploying energy infrastructure, the importance of streamlining authorisation procedures and the fact that environmental assessments represent the step with the longest duration in authorisation procedures, it matters to minimise such assessments without jeopardising the protection of the environment. The refurbishment, modernisation or repowering of existing transmission and distribution system infrastructure, and the construction of new distribution system infrastructure, are projects which generally entail minimal environmental impacts. Refurbishment, modernisation or repowering projects are routinely of limited size and affect only part of existing assets for which environmental impacts have been previously assessed. As a result, the impacts of such projects are often limited to those of construction works, with the operation of the asset having the same, or even a lesser, impact than the operation of the project it targeted. Distribution systems on the other hand, due to the smaller size of their projects, lower voltage of their assets and tendency to be developed in built areas closer to consumers tend not to have significant environmental impacts. As such, to accelerate the deployment of the electricity system infrastructure and achieve climate neutrality and renewable energy targets, Member States should be allowed to justifiably exempt, under certain conditions, the projects mentioned in this recital from environmental impact assessments and appropriate assessments and the assessment of their implications on species protection pursuant to Article 12(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC 43   and to Article 5 of Directive 2009/147/EC 44 .

(26)The benefits of the deployment of electricity infrastructure in terms of nitrogen emission reductions largely exceed the cost of the minimal emissions that result from their construction. As such, Member States should ensure that the quick deployment of electricity infrastructure is in no way limited by the temporary emissions that result from their construction.

(27)National transmission network planning reflecting developments in climate and energy policy and related changes in consumption and generation is critical for success of electrification and energy transition as a whole. However, existing requirements under Article 51 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 only applied to certain transmission system operators and did not provide for sufficiently long period of planning to account for anticipatory investment. It is important that transmission system expansion consider at least fifteen years' time horizon, and considers with priority use of non-fossil flexibility, non-wire solutions and other alternatives to system expansion, is based on a joint scenario developed with other system operators across sectors and is aligned with the central scenario under the Union-wide ten-years network development plan. To ensure transparency and incorporate grid users, including generation, industry, data and transport sectors better in the network planning, link to Article 55 of Directive (EU) 2024/1788 also requires their early consultation during the joint scenario development process to allow anticipatory investment.

(28)In view of the amendments to Directives (EU) 2018/2001 and (EU) 2019/944, as well as the parallel amendments to Regulation (EU) 2022/869, the Commission should introduce a unified approach to the permit-granting procedures of energy projects. While Directive (EU) 2024/1788 introduces measures to simplify and streamline administrative permit-granting procedures a targeted amendment is required to ensure a harmonised approach and that a consistent framework is deployed at the Union level.

(29)Lack of resources in national authorities and the limited digitalisation of permitting procedures results in delays in the permitting of natural gas facilities, hydrogen production facilities, and hydrogen system infrastructure. Member States should ensure that such authorities have adequate human, financial and technical resources, including skills and digital management tools and systems that enable them to render decisions within the deadlines provided in the Directive.

(30)To increase predictability and certainty over the duration and costs of authorisation procedures under Directive (EU) 2024/1788, requests for information and documentation from applicants should be concrete, specific and contained in time. As such Member States should ensure that national authorities request the relevant information to issue the permit from applicants within a pre-specified period counted from when the application is received and concretely determine the content and detail of any information or data requested. After such period, requests for information should be limited to missing information that had been previously identified or requested by the authority, or information that could not be requested before due to the fact that it relates to a material change in circumstances taking place after the project applied for an authorisation.

(31)Regarding approval procedures under Directive (EU) 2024/1788, in line with the importance of ensuring the quick deployment of hydrogen facilities and hydrogen system infrastructure and the fulfilment of the deadlines established in that Directive Member States should ensure that, in jurisdictions where the concept of tacit approval exists under national law, it is applied to administrative decisions concerning such projects, except for environmental decisions. To guarantee the rights of third parties to judicial protection, the relevant authorities should make public all decisions adopted, including those that were tacitly adopted.

(32)In the spirit of simplification, Member States may deem appropriate and more efficient to centralise the role of a single contact point under the obligation of Directive (EU) 2024/1788 in the national competent authorities referred to in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2022/869, as these authorities already perform such role in what concerns the permit-granting procedures of infrastructure projects of common interest and projects of mutual interest. When opting to merge such roles, Member States should pay particular attention to ensure the contact points are adequately staffed and enjoy of the resources and capacity necessary to perform the tasks under their responsibility.

(33)To improve efficiency, Member States should ensure the availability of digital platforms that facilitate the management of authorisations.

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

Amendments to Directive (EU) 2018/2001

Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is amended as follows:

(1) in Article 2, second paragraph, the following points (10a) to (10f) are inserted:

(10b) ‘stand-alone energy storage’ means energy storage that is not combined with an energy-producing facility;

(10c) ‘recharging station’ means a recharging station as defined in Article 2, point (52), of Regulation (EU) 2023/1804;

(10d) ‘hybridisation’ means the conversion of a renewable energy plant that is not a hybrid plant into a hybrid plant behind the same connection point;

(10e) ‘hybrid plant’ means a renewable energy plant that combines multiple renewable energy technologies, or that combines one or more renewable energy technologies with energy storage;

(10f) ‘procedure for a grid connection permit’ means the procedure from the project developer’s complete request for a connection to the grid up to the system operator’s decision on whether the project can be connected to the grid;

(2)in Article 15c, the following paragraph 6 is added:

‘6. Member States shall endeavour not to designate large areas where the installation of renewable energy plants and their related infrastructure is legally or de facto restricted due to environmental reasons, including protection of landscape, unless they can demonstrate that those types of plants and their related infrastructure would result in irreversible damage in the area which cannot be mitigated or compensated for during the environmental assessment pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU and, where relevant, the appropriate assessment pursuant to Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC’;

(3)in Article 15d, the following paragraphs 3 and 4 are added:

‘3. Member States shall adopt measures to ensure that a share of the benefits of renewable energy projects with an installed capacity above 10 MW is passed on, directly or indirectly, to local citizens and communities in proximity to those projects.

4. Member States shall designate and finance an independent facilitator to promote dialogue between the project developer and the general public for renewable energy projects with an installed capacity above 10MW. The facilitator shall only intervene upon request by any of the relevant parties and shall:

(a)facilitate public consultations, as necessary, including early consultations during the phase prior to the permit application;

(b)engage to find solutions to address potential concerns raised by local communities.

(c)ensure support and transparency in the choice of the type of benefit sharing measure, where relevant.

Member States may set up a fee, paid by project developers, to finance the services of the facilitator.’;

(4)Article 16 is amended as follows:

(a)in paragraph 3, the following sentence is deleted:

‘Applicants shall be allowed to submit relevant documents in digital form.’

(b)the following paragraph 3a is inserted:

‘3a. Member States shall set up a single digital portal at national level for all the steps of the permit-granting procedures for renewable energy, storage and grid projects.

Applicants shall submit permit applications and all relevant documents required for the permit-granting procedure only through the single digital portal. The single digital portal shall automatize the attribution of permit applications to the competent authorities, which shall process the relevant applications and documents in electronic form and interact with the applicants directly in the single digital portal.

The single digital portal shall include features allowing the applicant to be informed about all steps of the permit-granting procedure, the status of the procedure and of the decisions of the relevant authorities, and to check compliance with the permit-granting deadlines set in this Directive. The single digital portal shall ensure access to the relevant environmental and geological data and decisions available in the single digital geographic information system-based portal referred to in Article 10(3) of Regulation [xxxxx] of the European Parliament and of the Council.

The single digital portal shall publish annual statistical data regarding the duration of permit-granting procedures, clearly identifying the different steps of the permit-granting procedure and their duration. This data shall be publicly available.

The single contact point or points referred to in paragraph 3 shall have access to all relevant data and information available in the portal, in order to perform its duties.

(5) Article 16b is amended as follows:

(a)in paragraph 2, the following sentence is deleted:

‘Where a renewable energy project has adopted necessary mitigation measures, any killing or disturbance of the species protected under Article 12(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC and Article 5 of Directive 2009/147/EC shall not be considered to be deliberate’

(b)the following paragraph 3 is added:

‘3. In the permit-granting procedure referred to in paragraph 1 and in paragraph 2, second subparagraph, Member States shall ensure that the lack of reply by the relevant competent authorities or entities within the established deadline results in the specific steps to be considered as approved, except for environmental decisions and grid connection permits, or where the principle of administrative tacit approval does not exist in the national legal system of the Member State concerned. All decisions shall be made publicly available, including final decisions granted tacitly.’;

(6)Article 16c is amended as follows:

(a)paragraph 1 is deleted;

(b)the following paragraph 2b is inserted:

‘2b. Member States shall ensure that a change in the status of the land where a renewable energy installation is placed does not prevent that installation from being repowered.’;

(c)the following paragraph 4 is added:

‘4. Where the repowering of wind energy installations increases the total capacity of the installation without using additional land surface and complies with the applicable environmental mitigation measures established for the original wind energy installation, the project shall be exempt from any applicable requirements to carry out a screening process pursuant to Article 16a(4), to determine whether the project requires an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 4(2) of Directive 2011/92/EU or Article 5 of Regulation [xxxxx] of the European Parliament and of the Council, or to carry out an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 4(1) of Directive 2011/92/EU.’;

(7)Article 16d is amended as follows:

(a)paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1. Member States shall ensure that the permit-granting procedure referred to in Article 16(1) for the installation of solar energy equipment and co-located energy storage with a total installed capacity above 100 kW in existing or future artificial structures, with the exclusion of artificial water surfaces, shall not exceed three months, provided that the primary aim of such artificial structures is not solar energy production or energy storage. By way of derogation from Article 4(2) of Directive 2011/92/EU and Annex II, points 3(a) and (b), alone or in conjunction with point 13(a), to that Directive, the installation of solar energy equipment and co-located energy storage referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall be exempt from the requirement, where applicable, to carry out a dedicated environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 2(1) of Directive 2011/92/EU .’

(b)paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

‘Member States shall not require any administrative permits, including on environmental aspects, with the exception of grid connection permits, for the installation of solar energy equipment and co-located energy storage with a total installed capacity of 100 kW or less. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, Member States shall restrict the application of this paragraph in Natura 2000 areas and other areas under national protection schemes and cultural or historical heritage protected areas’;

(c)the following paragraphs 3 and 4 are added:

‘3. Member States may exclude certain areas from the application of paragraphs 1 and 2 for the purpose of protecting cultural, historical heritage, national defense interests, or for safety or for grid security reasons.

4. Member States shall remove regulatory and non-regulatory barriers that affect the installation of plug-in mini-solar systems of up to 800 W capacity in and on buildings.’;

(8)Article 16f is amended as follows:

(a)the last two sentences are deleted;

(b)the following paragraph is added:

‘Until climate neutrality is achieved, Member States shall ensure that, in the permit-granting procedure, the planning, construction and operation of plants and installations for the production of energy from renewable sources, and their connection to the grid, the related grid itself, storage assets and recharging stations are presumed as being in the overriding public interest and, in such case, are given priority when balancing legal interests other than those referred to in the first paragraph. Member States may exclude the application of this presumption for the purpose of protecting culture heritage on the basis of legal criteria to ensure harmonized implementation.’;

(9)the following Articles 16g to 16k are inserted:

‘Article 16g

Absence of alternative or satisfactory solutions and implementation of compensatory measures for the purpose of Article 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC

1.When assessing whether satisfactory alternative solutions to projects of renewable energy plants, the connection of such plants to the grid, the related grid itself and storage assets exist for the purposes of Articles 6(4) and 16(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC, Article 4(7), point (d), of Directive 2000/60/EC and Article 9(1) of Directive 2009/147/EC, the condition of having no satisfactory alternatives shall be fulfilled if there are no satisfactory alternative solutions capable of achieving the same objective of the project in question in terms of the development of the same renewable energy capacity through the same energy technology within the same or similar timeframe and without resulting in significantly higher costs.

2.When implementing compensatory measures for projects of renewable energy plants, the connection of such plants to the grid, the related grid itself and storage assets, for the purpose of Article 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC, Member States may, in justified cases and where it can be reasonably demonstrated that the plan or project would not irreversibly affect the ecological processes essential for maintaining the structure and functions of the site and compromise the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network before compensatory measures are put into place, allow for such compensatory measures to be carried out in parallel with the implementation of the project . Member States shall allow for those compensatory measures to be adapted over time in accordance with the precautionary principle, depending on whether the significant negative effects are expected to arise in the short, medium or long term.

Article 16h

Permit-granting procedure for stand-alone energy storage other than hydrogen storage

1.The permit-granting procedure for stand-alone energy storage, other than hydrogen storage, shall cover all relevant administrative permits to build, repower and operate stand-alone storage, including grid connection permits and, where required, environmental assessments and permits. The permit-granting procedure shall comprise all administrative stages from the acknowledgment of the completeness of the permit application to the notification of the final decision on the outcome of the permit-granting procedure by the relevant competent authority or authorities. Within 30 days of receipt of an application for a permit, the competent authority shall acknowledge the completeness of the application or, if the applicant has not sent all the information required to process the application, request that the applicant submit a complete application without undue delay. The date of acknowledgement of the completeness of the application by the competent authority shall serve as the start of the permit-granting procedure.

2.Member States shall not require any administrative permit, including environmental ones, with the exception of grid connection permits, for the installation of stand-alone storage, other than hydrogen storage, with a total installed capacity of 100 kW or less. By way of derogation from Article 2(1) of Directive 2011/92/EU, the installation of that storage shall be exempt from the requirement applicable pursuant to Article 2(1) of that Directive, to carry out a dedicated environmental impact assessment. Member States shall restrict the application of this subparagraph in Natura 2000 areas and other areas under national protection schemes and cultural or historical heritage protected areas.

3.Member States shall ensure that the permit-granting procedures, including grid connection permits and, where required, environmental assessments, shall not exceed six months for stand-alone energy storage, other than hydrogen storage, with a total installed capacity above 100 kW. However, in the case of pumped hydropower storage, the permit-granting procedure shall not exceed two years.

Article 16i

Permit-granting procedure for recharging stations

1.The permit-granting procedure for recharging stations shall cover all relevant administrative permits to build, repower and operate recharging stations including grid connection permits and, where required, environmental assessments and permits. The permit-granting procedure shall comprise all administrative stages from the acknowledgment of the completeness of the permit application to the notification of the final decision on the outcome of the permit-granting procedure by the relevant competent authority or authorities. Within 30 days of receipt of an application for a permit, the competent authority shall acknowledge the completeness of the application or, if the applicant has not sent all the information required to process the application, request that the applicant submit a complete application without undue delay. The date of acknowledgement of the completeness of the application by the competent authority shall serve as the start of the permit-granting procedure.

2.Member States shall not require any administrative permit, including on environmental aspects, with the exception of grid connection permits, for the installation of recharging stations with a total installed capacity of 100 kW or less. By way of derogation from Article 2(1) of Directive 2011/92/EU, the installation of those stations shall be exempt from the requirement, where applicable pursuant to Article 2(1) of that Directive, to carry out a dedicated environmental impact assessment. Member States shall restrict the application of this subparagraph in Natura 2000 areas and other areas under national protection schemes and cultural or historical heritage protected areas.

3.Member States shall ensure that the permit-granting procedures, including grid connection permits and, where required, environmental assessments, shall not exceed six months for recharging stations with a total installed capacity above 100 kW.

Article 16j

Permit-granting procedure for the hybridisation of renewable energy plants

1.Where the hybridisation of a renewable energy power plant is subject to a screening process pursuant to Article 16a(4), to a determination whether the project requires an environmental impact assessment or to an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 4 of Directive 2011/92/EU, such a screening process, determination or environmental impact assessment shall be limited to the potential impact arising from the addition compared to the original project.

2.In cases of change of the use status of land on which renewable energy projects are installed, Member States shall ensure that the operation and hybridisation of those renewable energy projects can still occur.’; 

(10)Article 17 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 17

Procedures for grid connection permits

1.Member States shall ensure that the procedures for the grid connection permit do not exceed:

(a)one month for the solar energy equipment and co-located energy storage referred to in Articles 16d(2), the stand-alone energy storage referred to in Article 16h(2), and the recharging stations referred to in Article 16i(2); 

(b)three months for the installation of the solar energy equipment and co-located energy storage referred to in Article 16d(1), and the repowering or hybridisation of existing renewable energy plants referred to in Articles 16c and 16j, unless there are justified safety concerns or there is technical incompatibility of the system components or, if due to the size of the capacity increase, more time is required to carry out the assessment.

2.Within the deadlines set out in Article 16a(1), Article 16b(1), and paragraph 1 of this Article, the system operator shall choose one of the following actions:

(a)where there is sufficient capacity and the requested connection does not affect grid stability, reliability and safety, accept the requested grid connection and grant the connection,

(b)where there is insufficient grid capacity, propose, where technically possible, a flexible connection agreement in accordance with Article 6a of Directive (EU) 2019/944. 

3.Where a proposal for an agreement referred to in paragraph 2, point (b), is rejected by the project developer, the system operator shall, on justified grounds of safety concerns or technical incompatibility of the system components, propose an alternative grid connection point, an alternative provisional date for the grid connection, or, if not possible, reject the connection request.

4.The lack of reply by the distribution system operator within the deadline established in paragraph 1, point (a), shall result in the connection permit being considered as granted, provided that the capacity of the solar energy equipment, the energy storage or the recharging stations does not exceed the available existing capacity of the connection to the distribution grid.’.  

Article 2

Amendments to Directive (EU) 2019/944

Directive (EU) 2019/944 is amended as follows:

(1) Article 8 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 8

Authorisation procedure

1.In circumstances where an authorisation, such as a licence, permission, concession, consent or approval, is required for the construction or operation of transmission or distribution system infrastructure for electricity, or associated equipment, or for the construction of new generating capacity, Member State, or any competent authority they designate, shall grant such authorisation in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 14. Member States or any competent authority they designate may also grant authorisations on the same basis for the supply of electricity and for wholesale customers.

2.Member States that implement a system of authorisation shall:

(a)establish objective and non-discriminatory criteria, along with transparent procedures, which must be satisfied by any undertaking seeking authorisation to construct and/or operate new generating capacity, as well as transmission or distribution system infrastructure. 

(b)make public the criteria and procedures for granting authorisations;

(c)ensure that authorisation procedures for such generation capacity, and infrastructure, or associated equipment, take into account the importance of the project for the internal markets for electricity and renewable energy sources, where appropriate;

(d)ensure that authorisation procedures take into account the necessity, or lack thereof, for conducting assessments in accordance with Council Directive 92/43/EEC 45 and Directives 2000/60/EC 46 , 2001/42/EC 47 , 2009/147/EC 48 , Directive 2011/92/EU 49 ;

(e)ensure the existence of specific, simplified and streamlined authorisation procedures for small decentralised and/or distributed generation and distribution system infrastructure, taking into account their limited size and potential impact; 

(f)ensure that guidelines for those specific authorisation procedures are established and revised by regulatory authorities or other competent national authorities, including planning authorities, which may recommend amendments;

(g)ensure that all decisions are made publicly available;

(h)ensure applicants are informed of the reasons for any refusal to grant an authorisation. That these reasons are objective, non-discriminatory, well-founded and duly substantiated, and that appeal procedures are made available to applicants;

(i)ensure that competent national authorities have adequate technical, financial and human resources to render a decision, on the authorisation within the applicable timeframes;

3.Where Member States implement a system of authorisation for transmission or distribution system infrastructure for electricity, Member States shall also:

(a)ensure consistency of the system of authorisation for transmission and distribution system infrastructure with the distribution network development plan and the transmission ten-year network development plan adopted pursuant to Articles 32 and 51;

(b)ensure that authorisation procedures, including all relevant procedures of the competent authorities, do not exceed two years except when duly justified on the grounds of extraordinary circumstances, where they may be extended by up to one year;

(c)ensure that the lack of reply by the competent national authorities or entities within the deadline established in point b results in the specific steps to be considered as approved, except for the environmental decisions and where the principle of administrative tacit approval does not exist in the national legal system of the Member State concerned;

(d)ensure that the publication of final decisions includes decision granted tacitly following the lack of reply by the relevant competent authorities or entities;

(e)ensure that the authorisation of transmission or distribution system infrastructure is regarded as essential for the integration of renewable energy resources, as well as for achieving climate and energy targets and the objective of climate neutrality.

4.Member States shall establish or designate one or more contact points for transmission or distribution system operators. Those contact points shall, upon the applicant’s request and free of charge, provide guidance to the applicant and facilitate the entire authorisation procedure for the activities referred to in paragraph 1, up to the final decision by the responsible authorities.  The applicant shall not be required to contact more than one contact point for the entire process.

The contact points may be the same as the national competent authorities referred to in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2022/869 or the contact points referred to in Article 16 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.

5.Where Member States implement a system of authorisation for transmission or distribution system infrastructure for electricity, Member States shall ensure that, where any studies, reports and documentation required for the procedure are missing from the applications, the competent national authorities, in cooperation with other relevant authorities, request the necessary materials from the developer, specifying their scope and level of detail, within three months from the application. Within the same three-month period, the national competent authority shall inform the developer whether the presumptions under paragraph 10 do not apply to the project. After that period, neither the competent authority nor any other relevant authority shall request additional information, studies, reports or assessments, except in cases where a material change has occurred to the project or its surrounding environment, rendering the initial criteria upon which determinations were based no longer appropriate. Where such material change has occurred the national competent authority shall provide the project promoter with a well-reasoned justification for the request for additional information.

6.The time limit established in paragraph 3 of this Article shall apply without prejudice to obligations under applicable Union environmental and energy law, including Directive (EU) 2018/2001, to judicial appeals, remedies and other proceedings before a court or tribunal, and to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including complaints procedures, non-judicial appeals and remedies, and may be extended for the duration of such procedures.

7.This Article shall apply without affecting Articles 7 to 10 of Regulation (EU) 2022/869 and Article 15 and Articles 15b to 17 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.

8.Until climate neutrality is achieved at Union level, Member States shall ensure that, in the necessary case-by-case assessments in the context of authorisation procedures, the planning, the construction and operation of transmission or distribution system infrastructure are presumed as being in the overriding public interest and serving public health and safety when balancing legal interests in individual cases for the purposes of Article 6(4) and Article 16(1), point (c), of Directive 92/43/EEC, Article 4(7) of Directive 2000/60/EC and Article 9(1), point (a), of Directive 2009/147/EC. Member States may, in duly justified and specific circumstances, restrict the application to certain parts of their territory, to certain types of technology or to projects with certain technical characteristics.

Member States shall ensure that those projects are also given priority when balancing legal interests other than those referred to in this paragraph with the exception of cultural heritage on the basis of legal criteria to ensure harmonized implementation.

9.Until climate neutrality is achieved at Union level, by way of derogation from Article 2(1) and Article 4(1) and 4(2) of Directive 2011/92/EU and Annex I, point 20, and Annex II, point (3)(b), of that Directive, and by way of derogation from Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC, Member States shall ensure that the competent authority may, under justified circumstances, including the need to accelerate the deployment of the electricity system infrastructure to achieve climate neutrality and renewable energy targets, exempt the refurbishment, modernisation, or repowering of existing transmission and distribution system infrastructure, provided it does not entail the use of additional space and complies with the applicable environmental mitigation measures established for the original installation, from:

(a)the environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 2(1) of Directive 2011/92/EU;

(b)an assessment of their implications for Natura 2000 sites pursuant to Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC;

(c)the assessment of their implications on species protection pursuant to Article 12(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC and to Article 5 of Directive 2009/147/EC;

(d)the screening pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation [xxxxx] of the European Parliament and of the Council,

Those exemptions shall not apply to the refurbishment, modernisation or repowering of existing transmission and distribution system infrastructure, and the construction of new distribution system infrastructure, or associated equipment, which are likely to have significant effects on the environment in another Member State, in accordance with Article 7 of Directive 2011/92/EU. 

Member States shall restrict the application of this paragraph in Natura 2000 areas and other areas under national protection schemes and cultural or historical heritage protected areas.

10.Under justified circumstances, Member States may also apply the exemptions referred to in paragraph 9 to the construction of new distribution infrastructure or associated equipment, provided that the relevant project has undergone a screening in accordance with Directive with Article 4(2) of Directive 2011/92/EC whereby the competent national authority has ascertained that the project is not likely to have a significant environmental impact, notably in view of the particularities of the area in which the project is deployed, such as urban and densely built areas.

Those exemptions shall not apply to the construction of new distribution infrastructure or associated equipment, which are likely to have significant effects on the environment in another Member State, in accordance with Article 7 of Directive 2011/92/EU.

Where the screening referred to in the first subparagraph identifies a likely significant environmental impact, the competent authority shall inform the project developer within 45 days from the application that an assessment referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 9 is required.

Member States shall restrict the application of this paragraph in Natura 2000 areas and other areas under national protection schemes and cultural or historical heritage protected areas.

11.The planning, construction and operation of transmission and distribution system infrastructure shall be presumed to contribute to a long-term reduction of nitrogen emissions and shall not require an assessment of nitrogen emissions in an assessment that may be carried out to comply with Article 6 of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC.

12.An environmental impact assessment in accordance with Directive 2011/92/EU, and, where applicable, an appropriate assessment under Directive 92/43/EEC, for a project for the extension, refurbishment, modernisation or repowering of existing transmission or distribution system infrastructure, shall be limited to evaluating the potential impact arising from the changes or extensions compared to the original transmission or distribution system infrastructure.

13.To manage authorisations within the meaning of paragraph 1, Member States shall ensure that digital platforms are in place to manage applications, the associated process, and ongoing decisions. 

Those platforms shall provide access to the relevant environmental and geological data and decisions available in the central online portal referred to in Article 10(3) of Regulation [xxxxx] of the European Parliament and of the Council.’;

(2)the following Article 8a is inserted:

‘Article 8a

Absence of alternative or satisfactory solutions and implementation of compensatory measures for the purpose of Article 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC

14.When assessing whether satisfactory alternative solutions to transmission or distribution system infrastructure projects, and associated equipment, exist for the purposes of Articles 6(4) and Article 16(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC, Article 4(7), point (d), of Directive 2000/60/EC and Article 9(1) of Directive 2009/147/EC, the condition of having no satisfactory alternatives shall be fulfilled where there are no satisfactory alternative solutions capable of achieving the same objective of the project in question, in terms of the development of the same capacity through the same technology within the same or similar timeframe and without resulting in significantly higher costs.

15.When implementing compensatory measures for transmission or distribution system infrastructure projects, and associated equipment, for the purpose of Article 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC, Member States may, in justified cases and where it can be reasonably demonstrated that the plan or project would not irreversibly affect the ecological processes essential for maintaining the structure and functions of the site and would compromise the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network before compensatory measures are put into place,  allow for such compensatory measures to be carried out in parallel with the implementation of the project. Member States may allow for those compensatory measures to be adapted over time in accordance with the precautionary principle, depending on whether the significant negative effects are expected to arise in the short, medium or long term.’;

(3)the following Article 40a is inserted:

‘Article 40a

Network development and powers to make investment decisions

1.At least every two years, all transmission system operators shall submit to the regulatory authority a ten-year network development plan based on existing and forecast supply and demand after having consulted all the relevant stakeholders, in accordance with paragraph 2, point (c). That network development plan shall contain efficient measures in order to guarantee the adequacy of the system and the security of supply. The transmission system operator shall publish the ten-year network development plan on its website.

Member States shall endeavour to ensure coordinated planning steps of the respective ten-year network development plans for natural gas, hydrogen and electricity.

2.The ten-year network development plan shall in particular:

(a)indicate to market participants the main transmission infrastructure that needs to be built or upgraded over the next ten years and next fifteen years, considering the potential of anticipatory investments to accommodate future system needs;

(b)consider with priority use of non-fossil flexibility resources pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/943, non-wire solutions pursuant to Regulation (EU) [TEN-E Regulation as proposed by COM(2025)xxxx], and other alternatives to system expansion;

(c)be based on a joint scenario developed every two years pursuant to Article 55 of Directive (EU) 2024/1788 of the European Parliament and the Council 50 , which shall be consistent with the central scenario and the sensitivities developed in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EU) [TEN-E Regulation as proposed by COM(2025)xxxx];

(d)be in line with the integrated national energy and climate plan and its updates, take into account the state of play in the integrated national energy and climate plans submitted in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, be consistent with targets set by Directive (EU) 2018/2001, follow the application of the energy efficiency first principle in accordance with Article 27 of Directive (EU) 2023/1791 and support the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1) and Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council 51 ;

(e)contain all the investments already decided and identify new investments which have to be executed in the next three years;

(f)provide for a time frame for all investment projects.

3.New infrastructure projects shall be accompanied by an explanation how non-wired solutions, non-fossil flexibility resources or other alternatives to system expansion were taken into account.

4.When elaborating the ten-year network development plan, the transmission system operator shall fully take into account the potential for the use of demand response, energy storage facilities or other resources as alternatives to system expansion, as well as expected consumption, trade with other countries and investment plans for Union-wide and regional networks.

5.The regulatory authority shall consult all actual or potential system users on the ten-year network development plan in an open and transparent manner. Persons or undertakings claiming to be potential system users may be required to substantiate such claims. The regulatory authority shall publish the result of the consultation process, in particular possible needs for investments.

6.The regulatory authority shall approve or request the amendment of the ten-year network development plan and examine whether the ten-year network development plan covers all investment needs identified during the consultation process, and whether it is consistent with the non-binding Union-wide ten-year network development plan (‘Union-wide network development plan’) referred to in of Article 30(1), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2019/943. Where any doubt arises as to the consistency with the Union-wide network development plan, the regulatory authority shall consult ACER. The regulatory authority may require the transmission system operator to amend its ten-year network development plan.

The competent national authorities shall examine the consistency of the ten-year network development plan with the national energy and climate plan submitted in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.

7.The regulatory authority shall monitor and evaluate the implementation of the ten-year network development plan.

8.In circumstances where the independent system operator, or independent transmission operator, other than for overriding reasons beyond its control, does not execute an investment, which, under the ten-year network development plan, was to be executed in the following three years, Member States shall ensure that the regulatory authority is required to take at least one of the following measures to ensure that the investment in question is made where such investment is still relevant on the basis of the most recent ten-year network development plan:

(a)to require the transmission system operator to execute the investments in question;

(b)to organise a tender procedure open to any investors for the investment in question; or

(c)to oblige the transmission system operator to accept a capital increase to finance the necessary investments and allow independent investors to participate in the capital.

9.Where the regulatory authority has made use of its powers under paragraph 8, point (b), it may oblige the transmission system operator to agree to one or more of the following:

(a)financing by any third party;

(b)construction by any third party;

(c)building the new assets concerned itself;

(d)operating the new asset concerned itself. 

The transmission system operator shall provide the investors with all information needed to realise the investment, shall connect new assets to the transmission network and shall generally make its best efforts to facilitate the implementation of the investment project.

The relevant financial arrangements shall be subject to approval by the regulatory authority.

10.Where the regulatory authority has made use of its powers under paragraph 8, the relevant tariff regulations shall cover the costs of the investments in question.’;

(4)Article 51 is deleted.

(5)in Article 59(1), the following point is inserted:

‘(bb)    approving and requesting the amendment of the ten-year network development plans referred to in Article 40a.’;

Article 3

Amendments to Directive (EU) 2024/1788

Directive (EU) 2024/1788 is amended as follows:

(1)Article 8 is amended as follows:

(a)paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.     In circumstances where an authorisation, such as a licence, permission, concession, consent or approval, is required for the construction or operation of natural gas facilities, hydrogen production facilities, and hydrogen system infrastructure, Member States or any competent authority they designate, shall grant authorisations to build or operate such facilities, infrastructure, pipelines or associated equipment within their territory, in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 11 and paragraph 16. Member States or any competent authority they designate, may also grant authorisations on the same basis for the supply of natural gas and hydrogen and for wholesale customers.’;

(b)the following paragraphs 5a to 5d are inserted:

‘5a. Member States shall ensure that, where any studies, reports, or documentation required for the procedure are missing from the applications, the competent national authorities, in cooperation with other relevant authorities concerned, request the necessary materials from the developer, specifying their scope and level of detail, within three months of the application.

After that period, neither the competent authority nor any other relevant authority concerned shall request additional information, studies, reports, or assessments, except in cases where a material change has occurred to the project or its surrounding environment, rendering the initial criteria on which determinations were based no longer appropriate. In such instances, the national competent authority shall provide the project promoter with a well-reasoned justification for the request for additional information.

5b. Member States shall ensure that competent national authorities are equipped with adequate technical, financial and human resources to render a decision on the authorisation within the timeframe specified in paragraph 5.

5c. In the authorisation procedure referred to in paragraph 1 concerning hydrogen production facilities and hydrogen system infrastructure, Member States shall ensure that the lack of reply by the relevant competent national authorities within the deadline referred to in paragraph 5 results in the specific steps to be considered as approved, except for the environmental decisions and where the principle of administrative tacit approval is not recognised in the national legal system of the Member State concerned.

5d. All decisions shall be made publicly available, including final decisions granted tacitly following the lack of reply by the relevant competent authorities.’;

(c)in paragraph 8, the following subparagraph is added:

‘The contact points may be the same as the national competent authorities referred to in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2022/869, or the contact points defined under Article 16 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.’;

(d)the following paragraph 16 is added:

‘16.    To manage authorisations within the meaning of paragraph 1 of this Article, Member States shall ensure the digital platforms are in place to handle applications, the associated process, and ongoing decision.  Those platforms shall provide access to the relevant environmental and geological data and decisions available in the central online portal referred to in Article 10(3) of .’

Article 4

Transposition

1.Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by [two years after its adoption] at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.

When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

2.Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 5

Entry into force

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 6

Addressees

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels,

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL AND DIGITAL STATEMENT

1.FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE3

1.1.Title of the proposal/initiative3

1.2.Policy area(s) concerned3

1.3.Objective(s)3

1.3.1.General objective(s)3

1.3.2.Specific objective(s)3

1.3.3.Expected result(s) and impact3

1.3.4.Indicators of performance3

1.4.The proposal/initiative relates to:4

1.5.Grounds for the proposal/initiative4

1.5.1.Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for roll-out of the implementation of the initiative4

1.5.2.Added value of EU involvement (it may result from different factors, e.g. coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For the purposes of this section 'added value of EU involvement' is the value resulting from EU action, that is additional to the value that would have been otherwise created by Member States alone.4

1.5.3.Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past4

1.5.4.Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with other appropriate instruments5

1.5.5.Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for redeployment5

1.6.Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact6

1.7.Method(s) of budget implementation planned6

2.MANAGEMENT MEASURES8

2.1.Monitoring and reporting rules8

2.2.Management and control system(s)8

2.2.1.Justification of the budget implementation method(s), the funding implementation mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed8

2.2.2.Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up to mitigate them8

2.2.3.Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio between the control costs and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure)8

2.3.Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities9

3.ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE10

3.1.Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected10

3.2.Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations12

3.2.1.Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations12

3.2.1.1.Appropriations from voted budget12

3.2.1.2.Appropriations from external assigned revenues17

3.2.2.Estimated output funded from operational appropriations22

3.2.3.Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations24

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget24

3.2.3.2.Appropriations from external assigned revenues24

3.2.3.3.Total appropriations24

3.2.4.Estimated requirements of human resources25

3.2.4.1.Financed from voted budget25

3.2.4.2.Financed from external assigned revenues26

3.2.4.3.Total requirements of human resources26

3.2.5.Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments28

3.2.6.Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework28

3.2.7.Third-party contributions28

3.3.Estimated impact on revenue29

4.Digital dimensions29

4.1.Requirements of digital relevance30

4.2.Data30

4.3.Digital solutions31

4.4.Interoperability assessment31

4.5.Measures to support digital implementation32

1.FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE 

1.1.Title of the proposal/initiative

1.2.Policy area(s) concerned 

1.3.Objective(s)

1.3.1.General objective(s)

1.3.2.Specific objective(s)

1.3.3.Expected result(s) and impact

Specify the effects which the proposal/initiative should have on the beneficiaries/groups targeted.

1.3.4.Indicators of performance

Specify the indicators for monitoring progress and achievements.

1.4.The proposal/initiative relates to: 

 a new action 

 a new action following a pilot project / preparatory action 52  

 the extension of an existing action 

 a merger or redirection of one or more actions towards another/a new action

1.5.Grounds for the proposal/initiative 

1.5.1.Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for roll-out of the implementation of the initiative

1.5.2.Added value of EU involvement (it may result from different factors, e.g. coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For the purposes of this section 'added value of EU involvement' is the value resulting from EU action, that is additional to the value that would have been otherwise created by Member States alone.

1.5.3.Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past

1.5.4.Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with other appropriate instruments

1.5.5.Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for redeployment

1.6.Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact

 limited duration

–    in effect from [DD/MM]YYYY to [DD/MM]YYYY

–    financial impact from YYYY to YYYY for commitment appropriations and from YYYY to YYYY for payment appropriations.

 unlimited duration

–Implementation with a start-up period from YYYY to YYYY,

–followed by full-scale operation.

1.7.Method(s) of budget implementation planned 53  

 Direct management by the Commission

– by its departments, including by its staff in the Union delegations;

–    by the executive agencies

 Shared management with the Member States

 Indirect management by entrusting budget implementation tasks to:

– third countries or the bodies they have designated

– international organisations and their agencies (to be specified)

– the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund

– bodies referred to in Articles 70 and 71 of the Financial Regulation

– public law bodies

– bodies governed by private law with a public service mission to the extent that they are provided with adequate financial guarantees

– bodies governed by the private law of a Member State that are entrusted with the implementation of a public-private partnership and that are provided with adequate financial guarantees

– bodies or persons entrusted with the implementation of specific actions in the common foreign and security policy pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on European Union, and identified in the relevant basic act

–bodies established in a Member State, governed by the private law of a Member State or Union law and eligible to be entrusted, in accordance with sector-specific rules, with the implementation of Union funds or budgetary guarantees, to the extent that such bodies are controlled by public law bodies or by bodies governed by private law with a public service mission, and are provided with adequate financial guarantees in the form of joint and several liability by the controlling bodies or equivalent financial guarantees and which may be, for each action, limited to the maximum amount of the Union support.

Comments

2.MANAGEMENT MEASURES 

2.1.Monitoring and reporting rules 

2.2.Management and control system(s) 

2.2.1.Justification of the budget implementation method(s), the funding implementation mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed

2.2.2.Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up to mitigate them

2.2.3.Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio between the control costs and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure) 

2.3.Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities 

3.ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE 

3.1.Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected 

·Existing budget lines

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

3.2.Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations 

3.2.1.Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations  57

–    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of operational appropriations

–    The proposal/initiative requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below

3.2.1.1.Appropriations from voted budget

EUR million (to three decimal places)

EUR million (to three decimal places)

3.2.2.Estimated output funded from operational appropriations (not to be completed for decentralised agencies)

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)

3.2.3.Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations 

–    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of appropriations of an administrative nature

–    The proposal/initiative requires the use of appropriations of an administrative nature, as explained below

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget

The appropriations required for human resources and other expenditure of an administrative nature will be met by appropriations from the DG that are already assigned to management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the DG, together, if necessary, with any additional allocation which may be granted to the managing DG under the annual allocation procedure and in the light of budgetary constraints.

3.2.4.Estimated requirements of human resources 

–    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of human resources

–    The proposal/initiative requires the use of human resources, as explained below

3.2.4.1.Financed from voted budget

Estimate to be expressed in full-time equivalent units (FTEs) 62

The staff required to implement the proposal (in FTEs):

Description of tasks to be carried out by:

3.2.5.Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments

Compulsory: the best estimate of the digital technology-related investments entailed by the proposal/initiative should be included in the table below.

Exceptionally, when required for the implementation of the proposal/initiative, the appropriations under Heading 4 should be presented in the designated line.

The appropriations under Headings 1-3 should be reflected as “Policy IT expenditure on operational programmes”. This expenditure refers to the operational budget to be used to re-use/ buy/ develop IT platforms/ tools directly linked to the implementation of the initiative and their associated investments (e.g. licences, studies, data storage etc). The information provided in this table should be consistent with details presented under Section 4 “Digital dimensions”.