The European Commission launched two 12-week consultations seeking views from the public, from stakeholders and from public authorities on the merits of candidate projects for the fifth list of EU Projects of Common Interest (PCI). The consultation asks respondents to give their views on the way the candidate projects in the fields of smart grids and cross-border carbon dioxide (CO2) transport networks contribute to market integration, sustainability, security of supply and competition from an EU energy policy perspective. Similar consultation for electricity and gas infrastructure projects is open until 8 April.

To receive PCI status, a project must be considered essential for completing of the European internal energy market and for reaching the EU's energy policy objectives of affordable, secure and sustainable energy for all citizens. Projects selected as PCIs can automatically benefit from several advantages, including an accelerated permit granting and improved regulatory treatment. Projects retained as PCIs are also eligible for financing under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

The Regulation on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure (TEN-E Regulation) foresees that the PCIs list is updated every two years. The first Union-wide list was adopted in October 2013 and the current fourth list - in October 2019. The European Commission will adopt the new list by the end of 2021 and consultation with stakeholders is an important part of the selection process.

Submitting a response for each infrastructure category simply requires filling in the online questionnaire on the links given below:

• EU survey for candidate projects in cross-border carbon dioxide transport networks (deadline 18 June 2021)
• EU survey for candidate projects in smart grids (deadline 16 June 2021)

More information

Energy infrastructure