More than 70 MEPs call on European Commission to ensure 5^th PCI list conforms with EU’s climate objectives

A coalition of 72 MEPs from five groups in the European Parliament (Greens/EFA, The Left, S&D, Renew Europe and a member of the EPP) sent a letter to the European Commission on Wednesday 30 June asking for clarification on how it will ensure that the EU’s fifth list of projects of common interest (PCIs) matches the objectives of the ‘European Green Deal’ and the Paris Agreement.

“A climate consistency check must be carried out for the 5^th PCI list and the TEN-E regulation (Trans-European Energy Network) against the new 2030 climate target”, stated the signatories. 

Noting that there are currently “74 fossil gas projects among the candidates for the 5^th list”, the 72 MEPs are concerned about the Commission’s proposed methodology for assessing candidate projects, “in which sustainability is not a mandatory criterion”.

It pointed out that the construction of these 74 gas projects would result in the emission of 213 million tonnes of CO₂ each year, while also making reference to a recent NGO report on the financial cost of such projects to the EU (see EUROPE 12751/34).  

PCIs are energy infrastructure projects that are deemed essential according to criteria established by the EU TEN-E Regulation (347/2013), which is currently in the process of being revised (see EUROPE 12746/16). Their PCI status makes them eligible for a number of benefits, including potentially receiving European funding.

See the letter: https://bit.ly/3xfNot2 (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)