The regulatory regime of electricity interconnectors with third countries

This FSR Debate aims at assessing the regulatory regime currently applicable to interconnectors with third countries and in which way this framework could be enhanced to enable their development.

Electricity interconnectors with third countries, aimed at importing renewable-based electricity into Europe, are likely to become an increasingly important instrument in pursuing the decarbonisation of the EU energy sector. This FSR Debate will explore the regulatory framework applicable to these interconnectors and how it could be enhanced to support their development.

The ambitious decarbonisation targets to which the EU has committed suggest that all available options are considered — including expanding the geographical scope for siting renewable-based electricity generation to non-European regions. This generation is typically characterised by a better endowment of wind and solar resources and is therefore capable of providing energy production at competitive prices in the future.

In this context, some electricity interconnection projects are being considered – under both the regulated and unregulated regimes – between countries in the Mediterranean basin, aiming at a deeper energy sector integration.

The European regulatory framework, extremely mature and detailed when it comes to interconnections between Member States, is still incomplete and not always clear with regard to the integration with third countries, especially when these are implemented as merchant initiatives.

Agenda will follow soon.