Energy Weekly Publications #40 Projects supporting development of energy infrastructure in the EU – PCI and PMI projects

PCI AND PMI PROJECTS
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20 November 2023
In order to achieve the EU’s economic and climate goals, in particular to support the drive for climate neutrality, improvement of energy security and integration of the European energy market, the European Commission has been preparing a list of projects of common interest (PCI) and mutual interest (PMI) every two years since 2013.

Based on the revised TEN-E Regulation, limiting support for fossil fuel infrastructure and focusing on cross-border energy infrastructure of the future, a biannual list of projects that are essential for achieving the EU’s 2030 goals is adopted. It includes PCI projects, which are developed within the EU, as well as PMI projects, which are developed by EU member states in cooperation with third countries.

Infrastructure projects considered to be crucial and included in the PCI or PMI list can, among other things, benefit from simplified permitting and administrative decisions proceedings (maximum period of 3.5 years), as well as access to financial support under the Connecting Europe Facility. The list published by the European Commission is based on regional lists of PCI/PMI project candidates, prepared by regional project groups established under the TEN-E Regulation.

The act identifies strategic areas for project support, including electricity (transmission networks, storage, offshore energy), hydrogen projects, electrolyzers, as well as smart electricity grids, smart natural gas grids and cross-border CCS networks (storage and transport).

In the past, the European Commission has included in the aforementioned lists, among others, the LNG terminal project in Świnoujscie, the Baltic Pipe project, the Pomeranian Pipeline, the oil terminal in Gdansk, as well as numerous interconnectors. The previous 2021 PCI list included also projects from the natural gas sector that are no longer covered by possible support in the current version of the TEN-E Regulation.
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Marek Grzywacz, Ph.D., Counsel
marek.grzywacz@ngllegal.com

Małgorzata Biszczanik, Intern
malgorzata.biszczanik@ngllegal.com