EU Parliament pushes stricter energy permitting deadlines, sparking clash with member states
The European Parliament is demanding faster, EU-wide approval times and broader tacit approval for energy projects, while the Council seeks more national flexibility.
An internal document shows the European Parliament is pressing for a more rigid EU rulebook on energy permitting, aiming to cut delays that have stalled renewables, grids and storage. It proposes a one-year deadline for distribution networks and a two-year deadline for transmission, tighter than the Commission’s two-year maximum for both. The Parliament also wants broader use of tacit approval, treating non-responses as consent, whereas the Council wants this limited to intermediate steps and excludes key environmental decisions.
The Council maintains a two-year ceiling with possible extensions and allows more national exceptions, such as for cultural heritage or significant environmental impacts. Both institutions support digitalisation and a single point of contact for developers, but the Parliament seeks a standardized system while the Council leaves the design to member states. Negotiations are set to continue in early October, with the core dispute centred on who controls the permitting timetable.
Why it matters
Faster energy permits could accelerate the EU's climate transition, but the balance of power between Brussels and national governments is at stake.
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