As the European Parliament prepares for its crucial Plenary vote today, Eurelectric is calling on MEPs to back the draft report “Electricity Grids: the backbone of the EU energy system” as adopted by the ITRE Committee and without further amendments.
Why this vote matters
Without modern, resilient, and scalable grid infrastructure, the EU risks falling short on both climate targets and energy security. The blackout in Spain serves as a stark reminder that without urgent investment and regulatory action, Europe’s energy transition and energy security are at risk.
The draft report, led by rapporteur Anna Stürgkh of Renew Europe and supported by shadow rapporteurs, sets out a strong compromise text that balances ambition with realism. It recognises the urgency of action and the need for coordination across all levels of the power system.
“MEPs now have a golden opportunity to back a balanced, forward-looking report that gives grids the power to keep up with the energy transition. Undermining this compromise would send the wrong signal to Europe’s grid operators, investors, and citizens who rely on a resilient, future-proof power system”
In short: this report offers a clear path forward to modernise Europe’s electricity grids and secure the energy transition.
A vision for a future-proof grid
The compromise text recognises the pressing need for investments and regulatory support across both transmission and distribution networks, and acknowledges the pivotal role of DSOs in delivering Europe’s climate, energy, and competitiveness goals. In particular, it addresses key critical priorities:
- Anticipatory investments – enabling DSOs to build ahead of demand to support electrification and avoid delays in customer connections.
- Dedicated grid financing – recognising the need for targeted EU funding for DSO projects that support the energy transition.
- Regulatory stability – ensuring clear, predictable, and non-retroactive frameworks to unlock long-term investment.
- Accelerated permitting – streamlining approvals to shorten deployment timelines and expand access to the grid.
- Cost-reflective tariffs – striking the right balance between affordability for consumers and fair returns for system operators.
Pushback from conservative groups raises concerns
There are rising concerns about last-minute attempts by the Patriots for Europe (PfE) and some MEPs from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) to undermine a good compromise text reached by rapporteur Anna Stürgkh and shadow rapporteurs.
As it stands, the report sets out a robust and forward-looking vision to ensure Europe’s electricity grids are fit for the energy transition. For this reason, Eurelectric renews its support for the draft report and urges MEPs to adopt it without further amendments that would undermine its
A crucial signal to the Commission
Beyond the immediate vote, the report is expected to shape the European Commission’s forthcoming Grids Package, with clear instructions on what the priority areas should be. The momentum must be maintained: MEPs must seize this opportunity to support a future-proof, investment-ready grid framework.