On Tuesday 18 February, the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) approved a motion by a large majority (55 votes in favour and 15 against) for a resolution calling on the European Commission to propose, by the end of 2020, “transitional guidance” on the formulation of the 5th list of projects of common interest (PCIs), as well as on expenditure under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). These guidelines would aim to ensure that the selection of PCIs and expenditure comply with the commitments made under the Paris Agreement.
“The old criteria are outdated. In the future, we need to ensure that the spending and selection of EU energy infrastructure projects are in line with the commitments made under the Paris Agreement and the Green Deal”, said Christian Ehler (Germany), EPP coordinator for the ITRE committee, after the vote.
According to the European Commission, the 5th list of PCIs should be published in autumn 2021. Like the four previous lists, it is drawn up following the guidelines of the Trans-European Energy Network (TEN-E) Regulation.
The current TEN-E Regulation (347/2013), which dates from 2013, i.e. before the signature of the Paris Agreement, is largely outdated, but, while the Commission intends to update it, its revision is only expected in December 2020.
As a result, the revised regulation may not come into force in time for the adoption of the 5th list, Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson recently admitted.
Given the numerous criticisms that accompanied the adoption of the fourth list (see EUROPE 12424/6, EUROPE 12417/7), the members of the ITRE Committee therefore hope, through this resolution, to obtain a guarantee that the fifth generation of PCIs and the related expenditure will comply with the climate commitments made in Paris, including in the event that the TEN-E Regulation is not revised in time.
This motion for a resolution will be put to a vote in Parliament's March plenary session.
As a reminder, the list of PCIs allows the European energy infrastructure projects listed therein to become eligible for EU funding under the CEF.
Read the motion for a resolution: http://bit.ly/2u9ZB7p (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)