European Commission Funds Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure
The European Commission has announced a significant investment of nearly 104 million euro in a cross-border smart energy networks project connecting Romania and Bulgaria. This funding, drawn from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), is part of a larger package totaling approximately 650 million euro allocated to 14 critical cross-border energy infrastructure projects across the European Union.
'CARMEN' Project to Modernize Grids
The project, formally titled 'CARMEN: Smart Grids Increasing Renewable Energy and Interconnectivity in the South-Eastern Europe Region', is designed to modernize and digitalize the electricity transmission and distribution networks in both Romania and Bulgaria. The primary objectives include improving overall efficiency and ensuring the secure flow of electricity generated from renewable sources. This initiative is expected to strengthen cross-border cooperation and increase regional interconnectivity, extending its benefits to neighboring countries such as Hungary, Moldova, and Ukraine.
Boosting Energy Security and Renewables Integration
The investment underscores the EU's commitment to enhancing its energy security and accelerating the integration of renewable energy into its power grids. By upgrading key energy infrastructure, the project aims to reduce energy prices for consumers and industries, while also contributing to Europe's broader goal of energy independence. European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, emphasized that these efforts will 'deliver clean and cheap energy to consumers' and 'enhance Europe's competitiveness and energy security'.
Part of a Strategic EU Initiative
This funding decision stems from the 2025 call for CEF funding, with the selected projects having achieved the status of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs) in 2024. These designations are crucial for projects that aim to complete the EU energy market and contribute to climate-neutrality objectives, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and renewable energy for all Europeans. The overall CEF funding package supports six electricity infrastructure projects, including smart grids, and eight hydrogen infrastructure projects.
5 Comments
Katchuka
More clean energy and lower prices? Sign me up! Excellent use of funds.
Muchacha
Fantastic news! This is crucial for a greener, more secure energy future for Europe.
Africa
Finally, concrete action on energy independence and climate goals. Well done, EU!
Coccinella
While the goal of integrating more renewables is commendable, I hope there's strong oversight to ensure these funds are used efficiently and don't just line pockets.
Comandante
It's good to see investment in regional energy security, but the timeline for significant impact on consumer prices often takes much longer than promised.