-- The European Commission on Thursday published a list of 235 energy projects aimed at strengthening cross-border links and accelerating the region's energy transition.
The updated list of Projects of Common Interest and Projects of Mutual Interest will replace the earlier version after 20 days, marking a step toward completing the European Union's Energy Union.
Projects included will benefit from simplified permitting procedures and regulatory assistance, and will also become eligible for funding under the Connecting Europe Facility program, the Commission said.
The Commission plans to open the next funding round under the program at the end of April 2026, with applications due by the end of September 2026, it said.
Of the total projects, 113 focus on electricity networks, including offshore and smart grids, supporting the integration of renewable energy across the bloc, the Commission said.
The list also includes 100 hydrogen and electrolyzer initiatives, alongside three smart gas grid projects, aimed at reducing reliance on natural gas and cutting fossil fuel imports.
Additionally, 17 carbon dioxide transport networks are planned to help establish carbon capture and storage infrastructure aligned with the EU's climate goals, the European Commission added.
The Commission said it will advance these projects through closer coordination with member states, leveraging regional high-level groups and the Energy Union Task Force to support infrastructure development.
The Commission added that a more integrated European grid is vital for a cost-efficient clean energy transition, with the PCI and PMI list, alongside the European Grids Package and Energy Highways Initiative, helping ease bottlenecks and boost system resilience.