The first Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECIs) have been adopted at the Energy Community Ministerial Council in Vienna. With the participation of Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen – his first official meeting outside Brussels – the meeting also approved a recommendation aiming to enhance the deployment of renewable energy projects in Energy Community countries.
Comprising 5 electricity and 1 storage project involving 7 Energy Community members (Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo*), this first PECI list follows the application of the Trans-European Network for Energy (TEN-E) Regulation in the Energy Community (with certain adaptations) since the end of last year and comes at the end of a rigorous selection process. The benefits of the PECI status are manyfold – similar to the status of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs), for projects between EU countries, and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs), for projects between an EU country and a neighbour. Above all, the status itself is perceived as a label of enhanced credibility, projects benefit from accelerated permitting and are eligible for EU financial support (inter alia under EU financial programs listed in the adapted TEN-E Regulation).
The meeting also discussed the Electricity Integration Package (EIP), stressing the importance of its transposition as a key step towards integrating Energy Community electricity markets with the EU. Ministers urged the finalisation of the overdue EIP transposition and implementation, supported by the Secretariat, in the first quarter of 2025. The Council welcomed the progress made by the different parties in decarbonising their energy sectors and finalising National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) to guide 2030 targets and attract key investments. The meeting reaffirmed the intention to propose an update to the Decarbonisation Roadmap (including the commitment to climate neutrality by 2050), with a view to possible adoption next year.
Source: European Commission
