The European Commission adopted on Thursday 31 October the European Union's fourth list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI), which allows key cross-border energy infrastructure projects to benefit from a number of advantages, such as the possibility of applying for EU funding.
According to the Commission, this new list of 151 PCIs represents a balance between the EU's three main energy objectives: sustainability, affordability and security of supply.
"Through our Projects of Common Interest, we are building strong and well-connected networks across Europe in order to enhance security of supply", said Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the Energy Union.
A controversial list. While the Commission is satisfied with the composition of this list, this is not the case for many NGOs.
In response to the announcement of the list's publication, Friends of the Earth Europe and Food & Water Europe castigated the number of fossil fuel-related PCIs, including the presence on the list of a liquefied natural gas terminal in Ireland, reiterating a criticism made just 2 weeks ago by some members of the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) (see EUROPE 12351/11).
In the eyes of these organisations, by adopting this list, the Commission is supporting 55 new fossil fuel projects, which goes against the climate emergency.
"This new PCI list makes a mockery of the EU’s commitments to deliver a ‘carbon neutral’ Europe", said Colin Roche, a member of Friends of the Earth Europe.
And Frida Kieninger, member of Food & Water Europe reinforced: "The climate crisis has no space for the EU Commission’s blatant promotion of dirty fossil fuels".
Asked about the criticisms of these NGOs during the lunchtime meeting with journalists, the spokesperson for the Energy Committee pointed out that the number of gas projects had fallen from 53 to 32, a 40% decrease compared to the previous list, which she said represented "a clear tendency to go down from gas projects".
As the list of PCIs is contained in a delegated act, the Commission must now submit it to the Parliament and the Council of the European Union, which will then have 2 months to decide whether to accept it or not. Friends of the Earth Europe and Food & Water Europe have already called on MEPs to reject it.
See the 4th list of PCIs: https://bit.ly/2PA3JWl (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)