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Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 16 March 2026
Main results
European grids package
EU energy ministers held a policy debate on the European grids package: the Commission proposals for the revision of the existing regulation on the trans-European energy infrastructure (TEN-E) and for the permitting directive, which were presented on 10 December 2025.
The aim of the grids package is to improve cross-border interconnectivity, boost electrification and speed up permitting for grids, while making cross-border infrastructure more resilient and secure.
A more connected Europe is an autonomous and more resilient Europe – one where energy security does not stop at national borders. The recent surge in energy prices and the global instability have made it clear that improving and advancing cross-border interconnectivity in the EU has become a strategic imperative. Today’s constructive discussion is an important step towards swiftly delivering on the grids package, to ensure affordable and homegrown energy for our industries to thrive and for lower consumer bills across the EU.
Michael Damianos, Minister for Energy, Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus
Ministers focused on three issues: integrated energy infrastructure planning based on a common scenario, grids’ financing and cost-sharing and exploring ways to accelerate permit-granting, while protecting the environment and respecting the competences of EU countries.
The Council took stock of the progress made on the action plan for affordable energy, which was presented by the Commission a year ago and aims to lower energy costs.
During the exchange of views, energy ministers presented measures taken at national level to tackle high energy prices effectively and examined possible ways forward to address this issue in the short term, in particular in light of the surge of gas and oil prices following the situation in the Gulf region.
Ministers underlined the need for targeted short-term interventions to provide relief for regions and sectors affected by price volatility, while preserving long-term investment signals for the necessary renewable and low-carbon technologies for the energy transition. Regulatory predictability for investments was also a key element of the discussion, with many member states advocating for building on the already existing EU systems and mechanisms, such as the emissions trading system and the current electricity market design.
Energy security: lessons learned from Ukraine and Moldova
Ministers shared their views on bolstering EU preparedness through shared technical and operational lessons with Ukraine and Moldova. They also explored ways to promote mutual energy security and cooperation between the EU and its partners, by facilitating bidirectional flows of energy.
They were joined by Moldovan Minister of Energy, Dorin Junghietu and the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Energy of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal.
Over lunch, ministers were joined by the Director ad interim of ACER, Volker Zuleger, and the Director-General of the EIB’s Projects Directorate, Laura Piovesan, to discuss ways to accelerate clean energy investments for European competitiveness.
Other discussions
During the meeting, ministers were also briefed on the following issues:
Austria raised the Council’s attention on improving the merit order, transparency and measures to address ETS pass-through in EU Day-ahead electricity prices.
Hungary and Slovakia informed on the security of oil supply implications of the disruption on the Druzhba oil pipeline.
