On 17 November the European Commission presented its energy infrastructure priorities for the next two decades, aimed at making networks fit for the 21st century. In the Communication, the Commission defines EU priority corridors for the transport of electricity, gas and oil. This map of priorities will serve as a basis for future permit granting and financing decisions on concrete EU projects.

Günther Oettinger, Commissioner for Energy, said: "Energyinfrastructure is key to all our energy goals: from security of supply,the integration of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency tothe proper functioning of the internal market. It is thereforeessential that we pull together our resources and accelerate therealisation of EU priority projects."

The Communication defines a limited number of EU priority corridorsfor which urgent development is needed in order to deliver on theEuropean Union policy goals of competitiveness, sustainability andsecurity of supply. The corridors would connect those MemberStates which are almost isolated from other European energy markets,thereby massively strengthening existing cross-border interconnectionsand integrating renewable energy into the network. Based on thesepre-defined corridors, concrete projects of "European interest" will beidentified in 2012, which should benefit from EU financing and buildingpermits, including a time limit for a final decision while ensuring thefull respect of EU law, particularly on environmental legislationand public participation. In planning and implementing these projects,the Commission favours regional cooperation between countries. Itfurther defines longer-term goals, such as "European electricityhighways".

In the electricity sector, four EU priority corridors areidentified:

• An offshore grid in the Northern Seas and connection to Northernand Central Europe to transport power produced by offshore wind parksto consumers in big cities and to store power in the hydro-electricpower plants in the Alps and the Nordic countries
• Interconnections in South Western Europe to transport powergenerated from wind, solar and hydro to the rest of the continent
• Connections in Central Eastern und South Eastern Europe,strengthening the regional network
• Integration of the Baltic Energy Market into the Europeanmarket

 In the gas sector, three EU priority corridors areidentified:

• Southern Corridor to deliver gas directly from the Caspian Sea toEurope to diversify gas sources
• Baltic Energy Market integration and connection to Central andSouth East Europe
• North-South corridor in Western Europe to remove internalbottlenecks and enable best use of possible external supplies

For further information on the Communication:

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/infrastructure/strategy/2020_en.htm