MEPs push for more coordination and resilience in European electricity grids
Parliament adopts proposals to modernise the EU’s electricity grid, enhance resilience, integrate renewables, and simplify permits to meet the EU’s energy goals.
The text adopted on Thursday 19 June calls for the implementation of the EU grid action plan and highlights the need for significant investment and infrastructure upgrades to modernise and increase cross-border transmission capacity.
Better integration of national energy infrastructures
MEPs say significant investment and upgrades are required to increase cross-border and national-level grid 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, 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.
MEPs stress the importance of a more European planning to connect borders, sectors, and regions. They say that renewable energy sources need to be better integrated into electricity grids and that there should be more cross-border interconnections. Ensuring public acceptance and effective communication with citizens are, MEPs argue, crucial for the successful implementation of new grid projects.
Quote
“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,” lead MEP Anna Sturgkh (Renew, Austria) said.
“We are sending a clear and strong signal to the Commission to maintain a well-financed Connecting Europe Facility for Energy in its upcoming multi-annual budget proposal. EU funds managed by member states must also be more accessible for grid updates,” she added.
Next Steps
The report was adopted with 418 votes to 112, with 45 abstentions. On June 2, the European Commission has issued a guidance document and is to propose a European Grids Package by the end of 2025.
Background
The electricity system blackout that occurred in the Iberian Peninsula and parts of France on 28 April 2025 underscored the critical importance of enhancing EU grid resilience. The modernisation of Europe’s electricity grids is essential for achieving the EU’s clean energy transition and delivering renewable energy while supporting economic growth and prosperity. According to the European Commission, €584 billion need to be invested in electricity by the end of 2030. This includes cross-border interconnectors and the adaptation of distribution grids to the energy transition.
