On 26 June 2026, the Council of the European Union reached a general approach on a revised TEN-E Regulation, which will govern cross-border energy infrastructure planning, permitting, and cost-sharing. The proposal, part of the European Grids Package from 10 December 2025, aims to improve cross-border planning, speed up permitting, share costs and benefits, and boost resilience.
The general approach introduces several key changes. Permit-granting provisions make tacit approval and digital portals voluntary rather than mandatory, extend deadlines, and clarify the role of the single competent authority. The central scenario for infrastructure planning will be based on Member State-verified data, adopted via implementing act, updated at least every 24 months, and must consider national specificities and the latest National Energy and Climate Plans. On congestion income, the approach allows transmission system operators to allocate (not physically set aside) revenues, with a phase-in from 10% to 25% of annual income (5 percentage points per year). It excludes internal bidding zone borders and pre-regulation income, and funds can be released after 8 years. If no mature Union-list projects exist, alternative TYNDP projects may be financed. A new security and resilience category for existing electricity infrastructure covers protection, resilience, and emergency repairs for critical network elements, with safeguards. Derogations for Cyprus and Malta allow one interconnection each to maintain PCI status until 31 December 2033. The electrolyser capacity threshold is reduced to 150 MW.
The European Parliament is expected to adopt its position by October 2026. The general approach balances Member State concerns with faster, more resilient cross-border energy infrastructure, but makes key permitting tools voluntary and phases in congestion income allocation.
EU project promoters face extended permitting timelines but gain clarity on single authority; Member States retain flexibility on permitting tools and congestion income use; TSOs get phased allocation rules for congestion income; electrolyser developers benefit from lower capacity threshold for PCI status.