High level groups on Energy Infrastructure
1. The North Seas Energy Cooperation
The offshore grid linking the North Seas region will promote renewable energy and boost economic growth.
The North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) supports and facilitates the development of the offshore grid development and the large renewable energy potential in the region. This is a long-standing energy priority for the EU and the concerned countries.
The NSEC was established in 2016 by a joint political declaration.
More recently, the European Green Deal emphasises the importance of offshore renewable energy in meeting the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate and energy objectives and stresses the importance of regional cooperation.
NSEC members
Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the European Commission are currently members of the NSEC, since the withdrawal of the UK from the EU on 31 January 2020.
Energy is one of the issues covered by the political declaration accompanying the Withdrawal Agreement with the UK. Future EU-UK cooperation on energy matters, including on offshore wind in the North Seas, will be addressed as part of the negotiations on the future relationship. In this context, the Commission will apply article 128(5) of the Withdrawal Agreement to the North Sea energy cooperation. This means that, as a rule, the UK cannot be part to this group, though in exceptional circumstances the UK can be invited to participate when it is necessary in the interest of the EU.
Work programme
The work programme for 2020-2023: developing concrete cross-border offshore wind and grid projects (hybrid projects), with the potential to reduce costs and space of offshore developments.
The NSEC issued in July 2020 a joint statement calling for a European enabling framework for offshore wind energy. The framework should consider how to tackle existing barriers for an accelerated development of cross-border hybrid offshore wind energy projects in the North Seas, but also include guidance to EU countries on how to implement projects, adequate electricity market arrangements and efficient EU financing. This joint statement and further work of the NSEC in 2020 provided valuable input to the EU strategy on offshore renewable energy, published on 19 November 2020.
NSEC countries and the Commission took stock of the work and achievements in 2020 under the NSEC German Presidency, at a ministerial meeting on 14 December 2020. Belgium will take over chairing NSEC in 2021.
Political declaration
Governance and support structure (2020-2023)The governance structure consists of a high-level group, ministerial meetings and the coordinators committee. The former support groups have been transformed into four new support groups
- Hybrid and joint projects
- Maritime spatial planning
- Support framework and finance
- Delivering 2050
Documents
- NSEC Governance and support structure
- Work programme 2020-2023
- Conclusions of the NSEC Ministerial Meeting (4 December 2019)
- Support schemes for offshore wind- emerging best practices(December 2017)
- Coordination of tenders for offshore wind in the North Seas(December 2017)
- North Seas energy clusters (September 2017)
- Political declaration on energy cooperation between the North Seas countries (2016)
2. Interconnections for South-West Europe
In order to enhance the integration of the Iberian Peninsula energy markets with the rest of Europe, the regional high level group for South-West Europe on interconnections was set up in 2015.
The establishment of the high level group follows the signing of the Madrid Declaration in 2015, by the President of France, the Prime Minister of Spain, the Prime Minister of Portugal and the President of the European Commission. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in June, 2015, in Paris.
An implementation plan of the Madrid Declaration was adopted to ensure that key projects will be swiftly carried out. The plan is a long-term strategy, which will be updated in accordance with the group’s work and progress.
The group includes representatives from the European Commission, ministries, transmission system operators and national regulatory authorities in France, Spain, and Portugal.
Objective
The overall objective of the group is to ensure regular monitoring of the progress of the key infrastructure projects identified in the Madrid Declaration.
It also aims to provide adequate support to avoid potential delays in the implementation of the projects.
To integrate the Iberian Peninsula the group aims to
Documents
In order to enhance the integration of the Iberian Peninsula energy markets with the rest of Europe, the regional high level group for South-West Europe on interconnections was set up in 2015.
The establishment of the high level group follows the signing of the Madrid Declaration in 2015, by the President of France, the Prime Minister of Spain, the Prime Minister of Portugal and the President of the European Commission. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in June, 2015, in Paris.
An implementation plan of the Madrid Declaration was adopted to ensure that key projects will be swiftly carried out. The plan is a long-term strategy, which will be updated in accordance with the group’s work and progress.
The group includes representatives from the European Commission, ministries, transmission system operators and national regulatory authorities in France, Spain, and Portugal.
Objective
The overall objective of the group is to ensure regular monitoring of the progress of the key infrastructure projects identified in the Madrid Declaration.
It also aims to provide adequate support to avoid potential delays in the implementation of the projects.
To integrate the Iberian Peninsula the group aims to
- raise the capacity of electricity exchanges between Spain and France to 8000 MW in 2020
- carry out assessments in order to complete the Eastern gas axis between Portugal, Spain and France
- ensure that the projects identified in the Madrid Declaration are implemented in a timely manner
Documents
- Factsheet: Juncker Commission strengthens integration of Iberian Peninsula in the energy union (28 July 2018)
- Lisbon Declaration ( July 2018)
- Study: Cost benefit analysis of STEP, as first phase of MIDCAT (April 2018)
- Madrid Declaration (4 March 2015)
- Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a high level group on Interconnections for South-West Europe (15 June 2015) EN, FR, ES, PT
- First progress report (March - December 2015)
3. Central and South Eastern Europe energy connectivity
Central and South Eastern Europe energy connectivity (CESEC) works to accelerate the integration of central eastern and south eastern European gas and electricity markets.
The CESEC high-level working group was set up by Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia and the EU in February 2015.
They were joined later by eight Energy Community (organisation bringing EU and its neighbours together to create an integrated pan-European energy market) contracting parties: Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo (in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence) and Montenegro.
CESEC objective
The initial aim of the group was to
CESEC meetings
The first CESEC high-level meeting took place in February 2015.
All meeting agendas, conclusions and other accompanying documents are published and available in chronological order.
Documents
Central and South Eastern Europe energy connectivity (CESEC) works to accelerate the integration of central eastern and south eastern European gas and electricity markets.
The CESEC high-level working group was set up by Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia and the EU in February 2015.
They were joined later by eight Energy Community (organisation bringing EU and its neighbours together to create an integrated pan-European energy market) contracting parties: Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo (in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence) and Montenegro.
CESEC objective
The initial aim of the group was to
- coordinate efforts to facilitate the swift completion of cross-border and trans-European projects that diversify gas supplies to the region
- develop regional gas markets and implement harmonised EU rules to ensure the optimal functioning of the energy infrastructure.
- a joint approach on electricity markets, energy efficiency and renewable development
- a list of priority projects to build an interconnected regional electricity market
- specific actions to boost renewables and investment in energy efficiency in a region with vast growth potential in these areas
CESEC meetings
The first CESEC high-level meeting took place in February 2015.
All meeting agendas, conclusions and other accompanying documents are published and available in chronological order.
Documents
4. Baltic energy market interconnection plan
The primary objective of the Baltic energy market interconnection plan (BEMIP) initiative is to achieve an open and integrated regional electricity and gas market between EU countries in the Baltic Sea region. The initiative's members are Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden. Norway participates as an observer.
Working groups and projects
Dedicated working groups on infrastructure, markets, gas and electricity, security of supply, synchronisation, renewables and energy efficiency, prepare specific measures, projects and studies necessary for achieving the initiative's objectives and targets.
As part of the BEMIP implementation, a number of cross-border and domestic infrastructure projects (projects of common interest) have been completed across the Baltics to improve their integration with the Nordic electricity market. The key electricity infrastructure projects, such as Estlink, Nordbalt and the LitPol Link, connecting the three Baltic States with Finland, Sweden and Poland respectively, significantly improved the Baltic countries' integration in the EU energy market, and their security of supply.
Further efforts are needed in the region to complete synchronisation of the three Baltic States with European networks, increase transmission capacity in the remote Nordic area, develop a regional gas market, and make the most of the region's energy efficiency and renewable energy potential, both onshore and offshore.
Synchronisation of the Baltic States’ electricity grid with European networks
The three Baltic States' electricity grid still operates synchronously with the Russian and Belarusian systems. A dedicated BEMIP working group steers the work to achieve, by 2025, the synchronisation of the Baltics' grid with the continental European network.
On 28 June 2018, the Heads of State or Government of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland together with EC President Juncker, endorsed the political roadmap for synchronising the Baltic States' electricity grid with the continental European network by the target date 2025. They met again, accompanied also by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, in Brussels on 20 June 2019 for the signature of the political roadmap.
Several meetings have been organised in the context of the Baltic energy market interconnection plan (BEMIP) high-level group on the synchronisation of the Baltic States network with the continental European network, for which conclusions are available:
Gas projects
Other major projects of common interest (PCIs) on gas in the Baltic region include
BEMIP Memorandum of Understanding
The first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the BEMIP initiative was signed on 17 June 2009 and focused on electricity and gas markets, infrastructure and power generation.
On 8 June 2015, a new MoU was signed extending the initiative's scope to security of supply, energy efficiency, renewable energy and the integration of the Baltic States' electricity network into the continental European network, including their synchronous operation.
On 30 September 2020, the Energy Ministers for the eight EU countries in the Baltic Sea region and Commissioner Kadri Simson signed a declaration committing themselves to closer cooperation on offshore wind in the Baltic Sea.
Documents
The primary objective of the Baltic energy market interconnection plan (BEMIP) initiative is to achieve an open and integrated regional electricity and gas market between EU countries in the Baltic Sea region. The initiative's members are Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden. Norway participates as an observer.
Working groups and projects
Dedicated working groups on infrastructure, markets, gas and electricity, security of supply, synchronisation, renewables and energy efficiency, prepare specific measures, projects and studies necessary for achieving the initiative's objectives and targets.
As part of the BEMIP implementation, a number of cross-border and domestic infrastructure projects (projects of common interest) have been completed across the Baltics to improve their integration with the Nordic electricity market. The key electricity infrastructure projects, such as Estlink, Nordbalt and the LitPol Link, connecting the three Baltic States with Finland, Sweden and Poland respectively, significantly improved the Baltic countries' integration in the EU energy market, and their security of supply.
Further efforts are needed in the region to complete synchronisation of the three Baltic States with European networks, increase transmission capacity in the remote Nordic area, develop a regional gas market, and make the most of the region's energy efficiency and renewable energy potential, both onshore and offshore.
Synchronisation of the Baltic States’ electricity grid with European networks
The three Baltic States' electricity grid still operates synchronously with the Russian and Belarusian systems. A dedicated BEMIP working group steers the work to achieve, by 2025, the synchronisation of the Baltics' grid with the continental European network.
On 28 June 2018, the Heads of State or Government of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland together with EC President Juncker, endorsed the political roadmap for synchronising the Baltic States' electricity grid with the continental European network by the target date 2025. They met again, accompanied also by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, in Brussels on 20 June 2019 for the signature of the political roadmap.
Several meetings have been organised in the context of the Baltic energy market interconnection plan (BEMIP) high-level group on the synchronisation of the Baltic States network with the continental European network, for which conclusions are available:
Gas projects
Other major projects of common interest (PCIs) on gas in the Baltic region include
- the Gas Interconnector Poland – Lithuania (GIPL), which aims to connect the Baltic and Finnish gas networks with the continental European gas network by the end of 2021
- the Balticconnector, which will provide an important gas link between Finland and Estonia and will connect the Finnish gas network with the continental European Network, ending Finland's gas isolation from the rest of mainland Europe. Balticconnector will allow Finland and the Baltic States to diversify their gas sources, providing alternative routes and increasing the security of gas supply and energy market integration in the region. This will foster competition on the market and ultimately provide consumers with a cheaper and more stable gas supply.
- the development of infrastructure between the Baltic States Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania agreed on 20 April 2020 to establish a process for the future regional gas market integration of their respective countries. It will be the first four-country wide cross-border gas market merger in the EU, which will help to upscale the production of renewable and decarbonised gases in the region.
BEMIP Memorandum of Understanding
The first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the BEMIP initiative was signed on 17 June 2009 and focused on electricity and gas markets, infrastructure and power generation.
On 8 June 2015, a new MoU was signed extending the initiative's scope to security of supply, energy efficiency, renewable energy and the integration of the Baltic States' electricity network into the continental European network, including their synchronous operation.
On 30 September 2020, the Energy Ministers for the eight EU countries in the Baltic Sea region and Commissioner Kadri Simson signed a declaration committing themselves to closer cooperation on offshore wind in the Baltic Sea.
Documents
- Baltic Sea offshore wind joint declaration of intent (30 September 2020)
- Roadmap on regional gas market integration between EE/FI/LT/LV (20 April 2020)
- Political roadmap on the synchronisation of the Baltic States' electricity networks with the continental European network via Poland (June 2019)
- Studies: Baltic offshore wind energy cooperation under BEMIP (2019), Integration of the Baltic States into the EU electricity system (2017), LNG infrastructure in the East-Baltic area (2012)
- BEMIP Action Plan:2009, 2015,
- BEMIP maps: electricity projects map, gas projects map
- BEMIP progress reports (2009-2014)
- Factsheet: Ending the energy isolation of the Baltic Sea region (June 2018)
