MEPs are pushing for more co-ordination and resilience in European electricity grids following last month’s massive power outage in Spain and Portugal.
The MEPs are calling for increased investment and simplified permit procedures to modernise grid infrastructure.
In proposals adopted today, MEPs from the Industry, Research and Energy Committee put forward ways to modernise Europe’s electricity grid infrastructure to accommodate the growing demand for renewable energy, ensure a resilient decarbonised electricity system, and support the EU’s energy goals.
The adopted text calls for the implementation of an EU grid action plan and highlights the need for significant investment and infrastructure upgrades to modernise and increase cross-border transmission capacity.
MEPs highlight that significant investment and upgrades are required to increase cross-border and national-level transmission capacity and to modernise infrastructure.
This includes the need for closer supervision by authorities to ensure a decarbonised, flexible, and resilient electricity system.
The report calls for clearer and more effective rules and procedures to attract private investment in addition to public funding mechanisms, and ensure that network tariffs reflect real costs.
It emphasises the need for investment to address grid bottlenecks and prevent the curtailment – the deliberate reduction of production due to grid capacity limits – of renewable energy.
MEP Anna Sturgkh (Renew, Austria) said: “The Iberian blackout was a painful demonstration of how vulnerable our grids remain.
“It was a reminder that Europe’s energy transition will fail unless we invest just as strategically in infrastructure as in renewables.
“The blackout did not prove the failure of the Energy Union – quite the opposite. Thanks to cross-border interconnectors, France was able to step in immediately.
“Now the Commission must act decisively to prioritise planning and coordination on grids and storage – or we will keep lurching from one crisis to the next.
“We are sending a clear and strong signal to the Commission to keep a well-financed Connecting Europe Facility for Energy (CEF-E) within the upcoming multi-annual budget proposal.
“EU funds managed by member states must also be more available for grid updates,” she added.
The report was adopted with 52 votes to nine, with two abstentions. It will be put to a vote by the full House during the 16-19 June 2025 plenary session in Strasbourg.
Meanwhile, the European Commission today launched a call for evidence on the European Grid Package, which is a legislative package announced earlier this year as part of the Clean Industrial Plan.
The European Grid Package will contribute to European competitiveness by facilitating access to affordable, secure and clean energy to businesses and citizens.
The package will propose measures to accelerate the upgrade, digitalisation and expansion of the European grid infrastructure removing bottlenecks and increasing overall efficiency for a well interconnected and resilient energy system.