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Questions and answers on the second list of EU energy Projects of Common and Mutual Interest
What are Projects of Common Interest and Projects of Mutual Interest?
Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) are key infrastructure projects aimed at completing the European internal energy market and help the EU to achieve its energy and climate objectives: delivering affordable, secure and sustainable energy for all Europeans while achieving a climate-neutral economy by 2050.
Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs) are cross-border energy infrastructure projects between the EU and non-EU countries, which highly contribute to the energy and climate policy objectives of the Union and the third country in question.
Since 2023, the European Commission adopts a list of PCIs and PMIs as a way to acknowledge the strategic role of these projects in increasing EU's competitiveness, decarbonisation, and enhancing our energy security and independence.
Which projects are on the list?
Today's PCI/PMI list includes 235 projects in total. Together, they will help to further develop an infrastructure network across Europe that ensures decarbonisation, security of supply and brings about more competitiveness. These projects will ultimately contribute to completing the Energy Union.
In terms of PCIs, the list features 113 electricity projects (including 24 storage projects, 6 smart grids projects, and 19 offshore infrastructure projects) and 100 hydrogen and electrolyser projects (of which 51 for pipelines, 9 terminals, 18 storages, and 22 electrolysers). The list also includes 17 carbon transport infrastructure projects and 3 smart gas grids projects (digitalised gas networks integrating innovative technologies to improve the efficiency of the grid), besides the continued inclusion of 2 long-standing projects linking Malta and Cyprus to Europe's mainland gas network.
The PMI list covers 25 projects with Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Western Balkans, North African countries, Norway and Georgia.
This is the second list of PCIs and PMIs since its launch in 2023, based on the revised TEN-E Regulation. The full list of selected projects can be found online.
How will this list help the EU achieving energy independence, lowering energy prices and decarbonising?
The projects selected in this list represent strategic energy infrastructure projects that will improve interconnectivity within Europe and with neighbouring countries. This is not only crucial to support the integration of cleaner energy in our system. It is also vital for achieving the Clean Industrial Deal's objective of creating competitiveness conditions for energy-intensive industries and the clean tech sector to strive in Europe.
Additionally, by promoting the cross-border expansion of renewables and strengthening market integration, these projects will also support our REPowerEU goals of phasing out Russian fossil fuels and enhancing energy independence. Efficient energy networks are also pivotal for ensuring that energy is affordable for both industries and households across the EU, as highlighted in the Affordable Energy Action Plan.
How will the selected projects help to achieve EU hydrogen and offshore energy goals?
The new list of PCIs and PMIs includes new offshore infrastructure projects, both radial connections and hybrid interconnectors, aiding in achieving the EU and national offshore renewable energy targets.
Similarly, the development of the 100 PCI/PMI hydrogen and electrolyser projects will enable the production, import, storage, and transport of the hydrogen needed to decarbonise Member States' hard-to-abate sectors – thereby supporting the implementation of the EU industry and transport targets.
What are the next steps for these projects?
The PCI and PMI list is adopted as a delegated act by the Commission, and is transmitted to the European Parliament and Council, which have two months to decide whether to accept or reject the list in full.
The Parliament and the Council cannot introduce amendments to the list. The scrutiny period of two months may be extended by an additional two months upon their request. If, within this timeframe, neither the Parliament nor the Council rejects the proposal, the list will enter into force, replacing the 1st PCI/PMI list.
What are the benefits of being on the PCI/PMI list?
Projects recognised by the EU as PCIs and PMIs benefit from several advantages:
- priority status and streamlined permit granting procedures (a binding three-and-a-half year time limit);
- improved, faster and streamlined environmental assessment;
- a single national competent authority (‘one-stop-shop') coordinating all permit granting procedures and specific points of contact for offshore grid projects;
- a procedure enabling allocation of investment (construction) costs among Member States benefiting from a project on the PCI list;
- eligibility to apply for financial assistance under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in the form of grants for studies and works.
Will these projects be able to get EU funding?
Obtaining the PCI/PMI status is required for eligibility but does not guarantee EU funding under the CEF.
PCIs and PMIs can apply for CEF funding by participating in annual calls for proposals. Project promoters can apply for grants for studies and for construction works. PCIs/PMIs that apply for the CEF call are assessed according to a set of selection criteria, such as their contribution to sectoral EU objectives and priorities, their maturity and their need for funding.
For newly adopted PCIs and PMIs list, the earliest CEF call will open in spring 2026, with results to follow in early 2027.
Ukraine and Moldova have signed association agreements with the EU, which gives them access to the advantages of CEF Transport, CEF Energy and CEF Digital under the conditions of the respective sub-programme.
Overall, most PCIs have progressed without CEF financial support in recent years. The PCI status alone already brings a wide range of advantages in terms of political support and regulatory treatment.
While CEF is the main funding instrument for cross-border energy infrastructure projects on the PCI and PMI list, projects may also receive funding under other EU programmes, such as EU cohesion funding, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and InvestEU.
How is the list established?
In a first stage, project promoters can submit an application to the corresponding regional groups through open calls for applications that are launched by the Commission.
The selection process of PCIs and PMIs is based on cooperation within regional groups, established under the TEN-E Regulation, including representatives of EU Member States, national regulatory authorities (NRAs), transmission system operators (TSOs), European Networks of Transmission System Operators for gas and electricity (ENTSOG and ENTSO-E), the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), the EU DSO entity (the Distribution System Operators (DSOs) in Europe), as well as the European Commission.
These groups are convened to discuss projects related to electricity, offshore grids, hydrogen and electrolysers. As regards thematic groups for smart gas grids, smart electricity grids and carbon dioxide networks, membership includes representatives of the Commission, EU Member States and project promoters.
These groups assess the projects' compliance with the selection criteria and their European added value. The list is formed based on infrastructure need assessments at regional and EU levels, with each project undergoing a cost-benefit evaluation. Stakeholders active in the field of energy, including consumer and environmental protection organisations, are also fully involved in the selection process.
Which criteria do projects have to fulfil to be included on the PCI/PMI list?
Article 4 of the revised TEN-E Regulation defines the selection criteria: for a project to qualify as PCI, it has to be deemed necessary for at least one of the energy infrastructure priority corridors and areas, and involve at least two Member States either by crossing the borders or by having a significant cross-border impact, even if located on the territory of one Member State only. For a project to qualify as PMI, it needs to contribute significantly to the decarbonisation objectives of the Union and those of the third country involved, including through the integration of renewable energy into the energy grid and the transmission of renewable generation to major consumption centres and storages sites.
In both cases, the potential overall benefits of the project must outweigh its costs.
All candidate projects are assessed against the sustainability criterion, which is mandatory for all project categories. Only those projects that demonstrate significant contributions to sustainability are further considered in the PCI/PMI process and assessed against the specific criteria set out in Article 4(3) which relate to benefits in terms of market integration, security of supply and competition. Additionally, projects are assessed on an ongoing basis, based on their implementation progress, together with proof of transparency.
The sustainability criterion is related to a project's contribution in terms of integration of renewable energy sources into the grid or the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The benefits are covered by the cost-benefit analysis conducted by ENTSOG and ENTSO-E, based on common methodologies, and used as input to assess the projects. In particular, financial benefits covered by the analysis include increases in socio-economic welfare – thanks to the higher integration of renewable energy sources in the EU energy system, which in turn reduces societal costs thanks to lower CO2 emissions and, thus, less pollution. The assessment also takes into account the expected reductions in non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information
PCI interactive map (to be updated once the new list formally enters into force)
Dashboard with CEF-funded PCIs
Trans-European Networks for Energy