The dispute is taking place within the framework of negotiations on new rules designed to speed up the construction of solar and wind power stations, electricity grids, energy storage systems and other infrastructure. Currently, obtaining the necessary permits can take up to ten years in some cases, notes Euronews.
The European Parliament is proposing to set different time limits for grid projects: no more than one year for distribution networks and no more than two years for transmission networks.
The European Commission is proposing a two-year deadline for both types of grid. The Council of the EU also supports a general two-year deadline, but allows for extensions in exceptional cases.
The main point of contention concerns what should happen if public authorities fail to reach a decision in time.
The European Parliament intends to make wider use of what is known as ‘tacit approval’. This means that a particular stage of the procedure may be deemed to have been approved if the authorities have not responded within the set deadline.
The Council of the EU proposes using this mechanism much less frequently. In its view, it should apply only to certain intermediate stages and should not extend to environmental decisions or authorisations for connection to the electricity grid.
“Power grids in the EU must be built more quickly if the Union is serious about delivering the climate and energy transition and reducing electricity and fuel bills,” MEP Niels Fuglsang told Euronews.
He also said that he does not believe it is right to relax the rules on implied consent.
There is also disagreement over how readily member states should approve energy projects when these conflict with other interests.
Another point of contention concerns the organisation of the process for dealing with applicants. The European Parliament is pushing for a single point of contact in each country and for the system to be more uniform across the EU. The Council believes that governments should have greater freedom in how they organise such bodies.
At the same time, on some issues, the Council is proposing faster rules than the European Commission. For example, it wants to raise the power threshold from 100 to 200 kW for certain small installations that can be authorised under a simplified procedure.
The negotiations highlight the main difference between the parties: the European Parliament wants missing a set deadline to have real consequences for the authorities, whilst EU governments are keen to retain greater control over national procedures.
The next round of negotiations on the new rules is scheduled for early October.
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