Brussels, 29/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - The EU has finally agreed to a simplified approval status to accelerate the construction of strategic network infrastructures.
On Wednesday 28 November, Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger welcomed the political agreement reached the previous day between the European Council and the European Parliament on the regulation concerning the guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure - a regulation that was tabled by the Commission in October 2011. “This is really a breakthrough and will give a big push to much needed infrastructure. Rather than waiting up to 12 years or longer for a permit, developers of crucial cross-border infrastructure - such as pipelines or power grids - will have a decision in about 4 years”, Oettinger said.
Under the terms of Tuesday's compromise, the permit granting procedure for trans-European energy infrastructures - so-called projects of common interest because they will benefit more than one member state - should not exceed three years and six months. The Commission had proposed a period of three years.
The EU will decide next year on the projects of common interest - which could benefit from funding of €9.1 billion under the Connecting Europe Facility.
The draft regulation on the guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure still has to obtain the formal approval of the Council and Parliament at the beginning of 2013, in order to enter into force in March or April. (EH/transl.fl)