Priority project selection

Secretariat’s actions
- Supporting
  Q3-Q4/2022: Analysis of the new Regulation, internal discussions;
  
  Q1//2023: European Commission and Energy Community discussion on implementation and timing;
  
  Q2-Q3/2023: Coordination with the European Commission, organisation of workshops, discussions with the Contracting Parties if requested;
  
  Q4/2023: After Ministerial Council decision on the adoption of the TEN-Regulation 2022/869, preparation of the PECI selection process in 2024, including procurement of a consultant;
  
  Q1-Q2/2024: New PECI selection process, coordination of the groups' work, resulting in a proposal of the list of projects of Energy Community interest;
  
  Q4/2024: Support for the Ministerial Council to adopt the list;
  
  Q1/2025 and afterwards: Monitoring of the implementation, support to the Contracting Parties, organisation of the process, coordination of the groups, and, preparation of proposals for the new Energy Community PECI list (every two years).
- Monitoring

Timeline

Every 2 years

Starting 2024 submit nominations for Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECIs) aligned with the biennial PECI selection cycle.

Dec 2024

Transpose the revised TEN-E Regulation into national legislation, following its adoption by the Ministerial Council in December 2023.

Jun 2025

Establish or designate competent authorities to facilitate permitting procedures for PECI projects.

Biannually

Submit progress reports on PECI projects to the Energy Community Secretariat, detailing implementation status, challenges, and milestones.

Ongoing

Facilitate cross-border cooperation and cost allocation mechanisms during project development.

Continuous

Participate in monitoring, evaluation, and future PECI selection cycles in cooperation with the Energy Community Secretariat and other stakeholders.

Tasks

Legal basis and purpose
Legal basis and purpose

Priority projects of Energy Community refers to infrastructure projects that comply with the general and specific criteria, as defined in the new TEN-E Regulation (EU) 2022/869 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure. The Energy Community Ministerial Council adopted the regulation, with certain adaptations on 14 December 2023.

The revised regulation lays down guidelines for the timely development and interoperability of energy infrastructure priority corridors and areas that contribute to achieving climate change mitigation objectives. The purpose of regulation is to streamline the permitting procedure and facilitate investments in energy infrastructure, in order to achieve the Energy Community’s energy and environment policy objectives.

The regulation, as adapted for the Energy Community, establishes rules for identifying projects of Energy Community significance, called Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECIs). These projects will benefit from:
- streamlined permitting procedures within Contracting Parties – in case the Competent Authorities are put in place,
- where applicable, from cross-border cost allocation.
The selection process for the Energy Community list or PECI list (further “the List”) of energy infrastructure projects is based on the revised TEN-E Regulation 2022/869/EU, adopted in the EU in 2022, and the Energy Community in December 2023 by the Ministerial Council Decision 2023/02/MC-EnC. One of the most important provisions of the revised regulation is that Ministerial Council shall adopt the list of strategically important energy infrastructure projects in the Energy Community until the end of 2024, and every two years after that.

Task	Responsible Authority	Description
Transposition of TEN-E Regulation	Ministry of Energy / Ministry of Environment	Incorporate the TEN-E provisions into national legislation and ensure alignment with EU rules.
Project Identification & Nomination	Ministry / Project Promoters	Identify and nominate potential PECI projects for evaluation in the selection process.
Permitting and Administrative Procedures	Competent National Authorities	Apply streamlined, coordinated, and accelerated permitting for PECI projects.
Regulatory Oversight & Monitoring	National Regulatory Authority	Monitor project implementation compliance, oversee cost allocation processes, and report progress.
Project Implementation	Project Promoters	Develop, finance, and execute PECI projects according to timelines and regulatory requirements.
Reporting to Energy Community Secretariat	Ministry and National Regulatory Authority	Provide regular progress updates and data on PECI projects, challenges, and milestones.
Cross-border Cooperation & Cost Allocation	Ministry and National Regulatory Authority	Coordinate with neighboring countries on cross-border cost-sharing and regulatory alignment.
Stakeholder Engagement & Consultation	Ministry and Project Promoters	Conduct consultations with stakeholders and ensure transparency during project development.

KEY OUTPUT

2024 PECI List

Following the adoption of the revised TEN-E Regulation in the Energy Community in December 2023, a new selection process for Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECIs) was launched in early 2024. After a call for project nominations closed in March 2024, nominated projects underwent a detailed pre-selection and evaluation based on the criteria outlined in Article 4 and Annexes II and IV of the Regulation. By autumn 2024, a preliminary list was prepared by the PECI CG electricity subgroup, which recommended six electricity and energy storage projects for inclusion. The Energy Community Ministerial Council formally adopted the final 2024 PECI List in December 2024, identifying these projects as strategically important for the region’s energy infrastructure development.

PLIMA Platform

PLIMA, the Project Library & Interactive Map Application, is an initiative by the Energy Community Secretariat designed to enhance transparency and monitoring of energy infrastructure projects across the Energy Community region. The platform presents the six key electricity projects from the 2024 list of Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECI). PLIMA maintains a database detailing their status, progress, and relevant documentation, and provides interactive maps that visualize the geographical locations and routes of these projects, facilitating a better understanding of their scope and impact.

PLIMA supports the implementation of the TEN-E Regulation by promoting cross-border infrastructure to unify the energy market. By offering detailed project information, PLIMA enables stakeholders—including policymakers, industry professionals, and the public—to monitor and engage with energy infrastructure developments effectively.

Infrastructure

Priority project selection

Timeline

Legal basis and purpose

USEFUL LINKS

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

KEY OUTPUT

2024 PECI List

PLIMA Platform