Regulation (EU) 2022/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2022 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure

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 Regulation (EU) 2022/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2022 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2009, (EU) 2019/942 and (EU) 2019/943 and Directives 2009/73/EC and (EU) 2019/944, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 Regulation (EU) 2022/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2022 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2009, (EU) 2019/942 and (EU) 2019/943 and Directives 2009/73/EC and (EU) 2019/944, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 Regulation (EU) 2022/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2022 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2009, (EU) 2019/942 and (EU) 2019/943 and Directives 2009/73/EC and (EU) 2019/944, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 PE/2/2022/REV/1 
OJ L 152, 3.6.2022, p. 45–102
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	  3.6.2022    EN Official Journal of the European Union L 152/45 
            REGULATION (EU) 2022/869 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
          of 30 May 2022
          on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2009, (EU) 2019/942 and (EU) 2019/943 and Directives 2009/73/EC and (EU) 2019/944, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 172 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (2), Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (3), Whereas: (1) The Commission, in its communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘The European Green Deal’ (the ‘European Green Deal’), set out a new growth strategy that aims to transform the Union into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, where the climate neutrality objective is met by 2050 at the latest and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use. In its communication of 17 September 2020 entitled ‘Stepping up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition – Investing in a climate-neutral future for the benefit of our people’, the Commission proposed to increase the greenhouse gas emissions reduction target to at least 55 % by 2030. That ambition was endorsed by the European Council on 11 December 2020 and the impact assessment accompanying that communication confirms that the energy mix of the future will be very different from the one of today and underpins the necessity to review and if necessary to revise the energy legislation. The current energy infrastructure investments are clearly insufficient to transform and build the energy infrastructure of the future. That also means infrastructure needs to be in place to support the European energy transition, including rapid electrification, scaling up of renewable and fossil fuel free electricity generation, the increased use of renewable and low-carbon gases, energy system integration and a higher uptake of innovative solutions. (2) The current binding Union level target for renewable energy for 2030 of at least 32 % of final energy consumption and a headline Union level target for energy efficiency of at least 32,5 % will be revised as part of the Union’s enhanced ambition enshrined in the Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and the Council (4) and the European Green Deal. (3) The Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (5) (the ‘Paris Agreement’) sets out a long-term goal to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1,5 °C above pre-industrial levels, and stresses the importance of adapting to the adverse impacts of climate change and making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development. On 12 December 2019, the European Council endorsed the objective of achieving a climate-neutral European Union by 2050, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. (4) Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6) lays down guidelines for the timely development and interoperability of priority corridors and areas of trans-European energy infrastructure in order to achieve the energy policy objectives of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) to ensure the functioning of the internal energy market, security of supply and competitive energy markets in the Union, to promote energy efficiency and energy saving and the development of new and renewable forms of energy, and to promote the interconnection of energy networks. Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 puts in place a framework for Member States and relevant stakeholders to work together in a regional setting to develop better-connected energy networks with the aim to connect regions currently isolated from European energy markets, strengthen existing and promote new cross-border interconnections, and help integrate renewable energy. By pursuing those objectives, Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 contributes to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and brings benefits to the entire Union in terms of competitiveness and economic, social and territorial cohesion. (5) The evaluation of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 has clearly shown that the framework has effectively improved the integration of Member States’ networks, stimulated energy trade and hence contributed to the competitiveness of the Union. Projects of common interest in electricity and gas have strongly contributed to security of supply. For gas, the infrastructure is now better connected and supply resilience has improved substantially since 2013. Regional cooperation in regional groups and through cross-border cost allocation is an important enabler for project implementation. However, in many cases the cross-border cost allocation did not result in reducing the financing gap of the projects, as intended. While the majority of permitting procedures have been shortened, in some cases the process is still long. The financial assistance from the Connecting Europe Facility, established by Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7), has been an important factor as grants for studies have helped projects to reduce risks in the early stages of development, while grants for works have supported projects addressing key bottlenecks that market finance could not sufficiently address. (6) In its resolution of 10 July 2020 on the revision of the guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure (8), the European Parliament called for a revision of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013, taking into account, in particular, the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate and its 2050 climate neutrality objectives and the energy efficiency first principle. (7) The trans-European energy networks policy is a central instrument in the development of an internal energy market and necessary to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal. To achieve higher levels of greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, Europe will need a more integrated energy system, relying on higher levels of electrification based on additional renewable and low-carbon sources and the decarbonisation of the gas sector. The trans-European energy networks policy can ensure that the Union energy infrastructure development supports the required energy transition to climate neutrality in line with the energy efficiency first principle and technological neutrality while considering the potential for emission reduction in the end use. It can also ensure interconnections, energy security, market and system integration, and competition that benefits all Member States, as well as energy at an affordable price for households and undertakings. (8) While the objectives of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 remain largely valid, the current trans-European energy networks framework does not yet fully reflect the expected changes to the energy system that will result from the new political context and in particular the upgraded Union 2030 targets for energy and climate and the 2050 climate neutrality objective under the European Green Deal. Therefore, among other aspects, both climate mitigation and climate adaptation objectives need to be adequately reflected in the revised trans-European energy networks framework. Besides the new political context and objectives, technological development has been rapid in the past decade. That development should be taken into account in the energy infrastructure categories covered by this Regulation, the selection criteria for projects of common interest as well as the priority corridors and areas. At the same time, the provisions of this Regulation should not affect a Member State’s right to determine the conditions for exploiting its energy resources, its choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply, in accordance with Article 194 TFEU. (9) Directives 2009/73/EC (9) and (EU) 2019/944 (10) of the European Parliament and of the Council provide for an internal market for energy. While there has been very significant progress in the completion of that market, there is still room for improvement by better utilising existing energy infrastructure, integrating the increasing amounts of renewable energy, and system integration. (10) The Union’s energy infrastructure should be upgraded in order to prevent technical failure and to increase its resilience against such failure, natural or man-made disasters, adverse effects of climate change and threats to its security, in particular as regards European critical infrastructures pursuant to Council Directive 2008/114/EC (11). (11) The Union’s energy infrastructure should be resilient to the unavoidable impacts that climate change is expected to create in Europe in spite of the mitigation efforts. Hence, strengthening the efforts on climate adaptation and mitigation, resilience building, disaster prevention and preparedness is crucial. (12) The development of trans-European energy infrastructure should take into account, where technically possible and most efficient, the possibility of repurposing existing infrastructure and equipment. (13) Security of supply, as a main driver behind the adoption of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013, has been significantly improved through projects of common interest. Moreover, the Commission’s impact assessment accompanying the Commission communication of 17 September 2020 entitled ‘Stepping up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition –Investing in a climate-neutral future for the benefit of our people’ expects the consumption of natural gas to be reduced significantly because its non-abated use is not compatible with carbon neutrality. On the other hand, the consumption of biogas, renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and synthetic gaseous fuels is expected to increase significantly towards 2050. For gas, the infrastructure is now better connected and supply resilience has improved substantially since 2013. The planning of energy infrastructure should reflect this changing gas landscape. However, not all Member States are yet connected sufficiently to the European gas network and island Member States in particular continue to face significant challenges in terms of security of supply and energy isolation. Although 78 % of gas projects that are projects of common interest are expected to be commissioned by the end of 2025, a number of them are experiencing significant delays, including due to permitting problems. This Regulation should therefore not negatively affect projects of common interest that have not yet been completed on the date of its entry into force. Therefore, projects of common interest included in the fifth Union list of projects of common interest established pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 347/2013, for which an application file has been accepted for examination by the competent authority should be able to maintain their rights and obligations as regards permitting for a period of four years after the date of entry into force of this Regulation. (14) The importance of smart electricity grids, which do not always include the crossing of a physical border, in achieving the Union’s energy and climate policy objectives was acknowledged in the Commission communication of 8 July 2020 entitled ‘Powering a climate-neutral economy: An EU Strategy for Energy System Integration’ (the ‘EU Strategy for Energy System Integration’). The criteria for that category should be simplified, should include technological developments regarding innovation and digital aspects and should enable energy system integration. Furthermore, the role of projects promoters should be clarified. Given the expected significant increase in power demand from the transport sector, in particular for electric vehicles along highways and in urban areas, smart grid technologies should also help to improve energy network related support for cross-border, high-capacity recharging to support the decarbonisation of the transport sector. (15) The EU Strategy for Energy System Integration also underlined the need for integrated energy infrastructure planning across energy carriers, infrastructures, and consumption sectors. Such system integration starts from the point of departure of applying the energy efficiency first principle and taking a holistic approach in policy and beyond individual sectors. It also addresses the decarbonisation needs of the hard to abate sectors, such as parts of industry or certain modes of transport, where direct electrification is, currently, technically or economically challenging. Such investments include hydrogen and electrolysers, which are progressing towards commercial large-scale deployment. The Commission communication of 8 July 2020 entitled ‘A hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe’ (the ‘Hydrogen Strategy’) gives priority to hydrogen production from renewable electricity, which is the cleanest solution and is most compatible with the Union’s climate neutrality objective. In a transitional phase however, other forms of low-carbon hydrogen are needed to more rapidly decarbonise existing hydrogen production, focusing on a diverse range of clean technologies, and to kick-start an economy of scale. (16) Moreover, in its Hydrogen Strategy the Commission concluded that, for the required deployment of hydrogen, a large-scale infrastructure network is an important element that only the Union and the internal market can offer. There is currently very limited dedicated infrastructure in place to transport and trade hydrogen across borders or to create hydrogen valleys. Such infrastructure should consist of a significant extent of assets converted from natural gas assets, complemented by new assets dedicated to hydrogen. Furthermore, the Hydrogen Strategy set a strategic goal to increase installed electrolyser capacity to 40 Gigawatts (GW) by 2030 in order to scale up the production of renewable hydrogen and facilitate the decarbonisation of fossil-fuel dependent sectors, such as industry or transport. Therefore, the trans-European energy networks policy should include new and repurposed hydrogen transmission infrastructure and storage as well as electrolyser facilities. Hydrogen transmission and storage infrastructure should also be included in the Union-wide ten-year network development plan so as to allow a comprehensive and consistent assessment of their costs and benefits for the energy system, including their contribution to sector integration and decarbonisation, with the aim of creating a hydrogen backbone for the Union. (17) Moreover, a new infrastructure category should be created for smart gas grids to support investments which integrate a plurality of low-carbon and particularly renewable gases such as biogas, biomethane, and hydrogen, in the gas network and help manage a resulting more complex system, building on innovative digital technologies. (18) Achieving climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest assumes that there will still be industrial processes that emit carbon dioxide. Such carbon dioxide is considered to be unavoidable when its production cannot be avoided despite optimisation, for example through energy efficiency or electrification integrating renewables. The development of carbon dioxide infrastructure should lead to a significant net reduction of otherwise unavoidable emissions in the absence of reasonable alternatives. Carbon dioxide capture is covered by Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (12) for the purpose of carbon dioxide streams originating from the installations covered by that Directive, and for the purpose of geological storage pursuant to Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (13). (19) Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 required a candidate project of common interest to prove a significant contribution to at least one criterion from a set of criteria in the process for the elaboration of the Union list of projects of common interest, which could have, but did not need to, include sustainability. That requirement, in line with the specific needs of the internal energy market at the time, enabled development of projects of common interest which addressed only security of supply risks even if they did not demonstrate benefits in terms of sustainability. However, given the evolution of the Union’s infrastructure needs, the decarbonisation goals and the European Council conclusions adopted on 21 July 2020, according to which Union expenditure should be consistent with Paris Agreement objectives and the ‘do no harm’ principle of the European Green Deal, sustainability in terms of the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid or the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as relevant, should be assessed in order to ensure that trans-European energy networks policy is coherent with the Union’s targets for energy and climate and 2050 climate neutrality objectives, taking into account the specificities of each Member State in reaching the climate neutrality objective. The sustainability of carbon dioxide transport networks is addressed by total expected project life-cycle greenhouse gas reductions and the absence of alternative technological solutions to achieve the same level of carbon dioxide reduction. (20) The Union should facilitate infrastructure projects linking the Union’s networks with third-country networks that are mutually beneficial and necessary for the energy transition and the achievement of the climate targets, and which also meet the specific criteria of the relevant infrastructure categories pursuant to this Regulation, in particular with neighbouring countries and with countries with which the Union has established specific energy cooperation. Therefore, this Regulation should include in its scope projects of mutual interest where they are sustainable and able to demonstrate significant net socioeconomic benefits at Union level and at least one third country. Such projects should be eligible for inclusion in the Union list of projects of common interest and projects of mutual interest (the ‘Union list’) provided that the policy framework has a high level of convergence and is supported by enforcement mechanisms, and should demonstrate a contribution to the Union’s and the third countries’ overall energy and climate policy objectives in terms of security of supply and decarbonisation. A high level of convergence of the policy framework should be presumed for the European Economic Area or Energy Community Contracting Parties or can be demonstrated in the case of other third countries through bilateral agreements that include relevant provisions on climate and energy policy objectives on decarbonisation and further assessed by the appropriate regional group with the support of the Commission. In addition, the third country with which the Union cooperates in the development of projects of mutual interest should facilitate a similar timeline for accelerated implementation and other policy support measures, as provided for in this Regulation. Therefore, projects of mutual interest should be treated in the same manner as projects of common interest, with all provisions relative to projects of common interest applying also to projects of mutual interest, unless otherwise specified. Significant net socioeconomic benefits at Union level should be understood as improving interoperability and the functioning of the internal market, going beyond one Member State. As regards projects for storage of carbon dioxide, only projects necessary to allow the cross-border transport and storage of carbon dioxide should be eligible, provided that standards and safeguards preventing any leaks and concerning climate, human health and ecosystems as regards the safety and effectiveness of the permanent storage of carbon dioxide are at least at the same level as in the Union. It should be presumed that the European Economic Area meets those standards and safeguards. (21) Projects of mutual interest should be considered to be an additional tool to expand the scope of this Regulation to third countries beyond those projects of common interest that contribute to implementing an energy infrastructure priority corridor or area as set out in Annex I. Therefore, where a project with a third country contributes to implementing an energy infrastructure priority corridor or area, it should be eligible to apply for the status of a project of common interest under this Regulation. By the same principle, electricity interconnection projects with third countries that had attained the status of project of common interest under Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 may be selected as projects of common interest, provided that they undergo the selection process and that they fulfil the criteria for projects of common interest. (22) Furthermore, to achieve the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate and its 2050 climate neutrality objective, the Union needs to significantly scale up renewable electricity generation. The existing energy infrastructure categories for electricity transmission and storage are crucial for the integration of the significant increase in renewable electricity generation in the power grid. In addition, that requires stepping up investment in offshore renewable energy with the aim of reaching at least 300 GW of offshore wind generation installed in line with the Commission’s offshore renewable energy strategy set out in the Commission communication of 19 November 2020 entitled ‘An EU Strategy to harness the potential of offshore renewable energy for a climate neutral future’. That strategy includes radial links connecting new offshore wind capacities, as well as hybrid integrated projects. Coordinating long-term planning and development of offshore and onshore electricity grids should also be addressed. In particular, offshore infrastructure planning should move away from the project-by-project approach towards a coordinated comprehensive approach ensuring the sustainable development of integrated offshore grids in line with the offshore renewable potential of each sea basin, environmental protection and other uses of the sea. There should be an approach based on voluntary cooperation between Member States. Member States should remain responsible for approving the projects of common interest which are related to their territory and the related costs. (23) Relevant Member States should be able to assess the benefits and costs of the priority offshore grid corridors for renewable energy and carry out a preliminary cost-sharing analysis at priority offshore grid corridor level to underpin joint political commitments for offshore renewable energy development. The Commission, together with the Member States and the relevant transmission system operators (TSOs) and national regulatory authorities, should develop guidance for a specific cost-benefit and cost-sharing for the deployment of the integrated offshore network development plans which should enable Member States to carry out an adequate assessment. (24) The Union-wide ten-year network development plan process as basis for the identification of projects of common interest in the categories of electricity and gas has proven to be effective. However, while the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (the ‘ENTSO for Electricity’), the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (the ‘ENTSO for Gas’) and TSOs have an important role to play in the process, more scrutiny is required, in particular as regards defining the scenarios for the future, identifying long-term infrastructure gaps and bottlenecks and assessing individual projects, to enhance trust in the process. Therefore, due to the need for independent validation, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (the ‘Agency’) and the Commission should have an increased role in the process, including in the process for drawing up the Union-wide ten-year network development plans pursuant to Regulations (EC) No 715/2009 (14) and (EU) 2019/943 (15) of the European Parliament and of the Council. The Union-wide ten-year network development plan process should benefit from the objective, science-based input from an independent scientific body such as the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change and should be organised in the most effective manner. (25) In carrying out their tasks preceding the adoption of the Union-wide ten-year network development plans, the ENTSO for Electricity and ENTSO for Gas should conduct an extensive consultation process involving all relevant stakeholders. The consultation should be open and transparent and should be organised in a timely manner to allow for stakeholders’ feedback in the preparation of key phases of the Union-wide ten-year network development plans, such as the scenario development, infrastructure gaps identification and the cost-benefit analysis methodology for project assessment. The ENTSO for Electricity and the ENTSO for Gas should give due consideration to the input received from stakeholders during consultations and should explain how they took that input into account. (26) In line with the conclusions of the 2020 Energy Infrastructure Forum, it is necessary to ensure that all relevant sectors, such as gas, electricity, and transport, are considered in an integrated perspective in the planning processes of all onshore and offshore, transmission and distribution infrastructure. In order to comply with the Paris Agreement and to achieve the Union’s 2030 climate objectives, the 2040 offshore energy development objectives, and in line with the Union’s objective to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, trans-European energy networks framework should rely on a smarter, more integrated, long-term and optimised ‘one energy system’ view through deployment of a framework that enables greater coordination of infrastructure planning across various sectors and creates an opportunity to optimally integrate various coupling solutions involving various network elements between various infrastructures. This should be secured by developing a progressively integrated model that enables consistency between single-sector methodologies based on common assumptions and reflects interdependencies. (27) It is important to ensure that only infrastructure projects for which no reasonable alternative solutions exist may receive the status of project of common interest. To that end, the energy efficiency first principle should be taken into account in the infrastructure gaps identification report developed in line with this Regulation and the work of the regional groups in establishing the regional lists of proposed projects. In line with the energy efficiency first principle, all relevant alternatives to new infrastructure for ensuring future infrastructure needs, that could contribute to addressing the infrastructure gap identification, should be considered. The regional groups, assisted by the national regulatory authorities, should consider the assumptions and outcomes of the infrastructure gaps assessment developed in line with this Regulation and ensure that the energy efficiency first principle is fully reflected in the selection process for projects of common interest. In addition, during project implementation, project promoters should report on the compliance with environmental legislation and demonstrate that projects do ‘no significant harm’ to the environment within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council (16). For existing projects of common interest having reached sufficient maturity, this will be taken into account during project selection for subsequent Union list by the regional groups. (28) To ensure voltage and frequency stability, particular attention should be given to the stability of the European electricity network under the changing conditions, especially in view of the growing share of flexibility options, such as sustainable energy storage, and renewable electricity. Efforts to maintain and ensure a satisfactory level of planned low-carbon energy production, in order to ensure security of supply for citizens and businesses, should be given particular priority. (29) Following close consultations with all Member States and stakeholders, the Commission has identified 14 trans-European energy infrastructure priorities, the implementation of which is essential for the achievement of the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate and its 2050 climate neutrality objective. Those priorities cover various geographic regions or thematic areas in the field of electricity transmission and storage, offshore grids for renewable energy, hydrogen transmission and storage, electrolysers, smart gas grids, smart electricity grids, and the transport and storage of carbon dioxide. (30) Projects of common interest should comply with common, transparent and objective criteria in view of their contribution to the energy policy objectives. In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Union lists, electricity, and hydrogen projects should be part of the latest available Union-wide ten-year network development plan. As hydrogen infrastructure is not currently included in the Union-wide ten-year network development plan, that requirement for hydrogen projects should apply only from 1 January 2024 for the purposes of the second Union list that will be established pursuant to this Regulation. (31) Regional groups should be established for the purpose of proposing and reviewing projects of common interest, leading to the establishment of regional lists of projects of common interest. In order to ensure broad consensus, those regional groups should ensure close cooperation between Member States, national regulatory authorities, project promoters and relevant stakeholders. In the context of that cooperation, national regulatory authorities should, where necessary, advise the regional groups, inter alia, on the feasibility of the regulatory aspects of proposed projects and on the feasibility of the proposed timetable for regulatory approval. (32) In order to increase the efficiency of the process, cooperation between the regional groups should be strengthened and further encouraged. It is necessary that the Commission play an important role in facilitating that cooperation with a view to addressing the possible impact of projects on other regional groups. (33) A new Union list should be established every two years. Projects of common interest that have been completed or that no longer fulfil the relevant criteria and requirements as set out in this Regulation should not appear on the following Union list. For that reason, existing projects of common interest that are to be included in the following Union list should be subject to the same selection process for the establishment of regional lists and for the establishment of the Union list applied to proposed projects. However, the administrative burden should be reduced to the extent possible, for example by using information submitted previously and by taking account of the annual reports of the project promoters. To that end, existing projects of common interest that have made significant progress should benefit from a streamlined inclusion process in the Union-wide ten-year network development plan. (34) Projects of common interest should be implemented as quickly as possible and should be closely monitored and evaluated, while duly observing the requirements for stakeholder participation and environmental legislation and keeping the administrative burden for project promoters to a minimum. The Commission should nominate European coordinators for projects facing particular difficulties or delays. The progress in the implementation of the specific projects as well as the fulfilment of the obligations pertaining to this Regulation should be taken into account in the selection process for subsequent Union lists for those projects. (35) The permit granting process should neither lead to administrative burdens which are disproportionate to the size or complexity of a project, nor create barriers to the development of the trans-European networks and market access. (36) The planning and implementation of Union projects of common interest in the areas of energy, transport and telecommunication infrastructure should be coordinated to generate synergies where it is feasible from an overall economic, technical, environmental, climate or spatial planning point of view and with due regard to the relevant safety aspects. Thus, during the planning of the various European networks, it should be possible to give preference to integrating transport, communication and energy networks in order to ensure that as little land as possible is taken up. A common vision of the networks is necessary for energy system integration in the various sectors, whilst ensuring, where possible, that existing or disused routes are reused, in order to reduce to a minimum any negative social, economic, environmental, climate and financial impact. (37) Projects of common interest should be given priority status at national level to ensure rapid administrative treatment and urgent treatment in all judicial and dispute resolution procedures relating to them. They should be considered by competent authorities as being in the public interest. For reasons of overriding public interest, projects which have an adverse impact on the environment should be authorised where all the conditions set out in Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (17) and Council Directive 92/43/EEC (18) are met. (38) It is essential that stakeholders, including civil society, be provided with information and be consulted, in order to ensure the success of projects and to limit objections to them. (39) In order to reduce complexity, increase efficiency and transparency, and help enhance cooperation among Member States, there should be a competent authority or authorities integrating or coordinating all permit granting processes. (40) In order to simplify and expedite the permit granting process for offshore grids for renewable energy, unique points of contact should be designated for cross-border offshore projects on the Union list reducing administrative burden for project developers. The unique points of contact should reduce complexity, increase efficiency and speed up the permit granting process for offshore transmission assets often crossing many jurisdictions. (41) Despite the existence of established standards ensuring the participation of the public in environmental decision-making procedures, which apply fully to projects of common interest, additional measures are still required under this Regulation to ensure the highest possible standards of transparency and public participation in all relevant issues in the permit granting process for projects of common interest. Where already covered by national rules under the same or higher standards as in this Regulation, the pre-consultation ahead of the permitting procedure should become optional and avoid duplication of legal requirements. (42) The correct and coordinated implementation of Directives 2001/42/EC (19) and 2011/92/EU (20) of the European Parliament and of the Council and where applicable, of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters (21), signed in Aarhus on 25 June 1998 (the ‘Aarhus Convention’), and of the Convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context (22), signed in Espoo on 25 February 1991 (the ‘Espoo Convention’), should ensure the harmonisation of the main principles for the assessment of environmental and climate effects, including in a cross-border context. The Commission has issued guidance to support Member States in defining adequate legislative and non-legislative measures to streamline the environmental assessment procedures for energy infrastructure and to ensure the coherent application of environmental assessment procedures required under Union law for projects of common interest. Member States should coordinate their assessments of projects of common interest, and provide for joint assessments, where possible. Member States should be encouraged to exchange best practice and administrative capacity-building in the permit granting processes. (43) It is important to streamline and improve the permit granting process, while respecting, to the extent possible and with due regard to the principle of subsidiarity, national competences and procedures for the construction of new energy infrastructure. Given the urgency of developing energy infrastructures, the simplification of the permit granting process should set a clear time limit for the decision of the relevant authorities regarding the construction of the project. That time limit should stimulate a more efficient definition and handling of procedures, and should under no circumstances compromise the high standards for the protection of the environment in line with environmental legislation and public participation. This Regulation should establish maximum time limits. However, Member States can strive to achieve shorter time limits where feasible and, in particular, as regards projects such as smart grids, which may not require as complex a permitting process as that for transmission infrastructure. The competent authorities should be responsible for ensuring compliance with the time limits. (44) Member States should be able to include in comprehensive decisions, where appropriate, decisions taken in the context of negotiations with individual landowners to grant access to, ownership of, or a right to occupy, property in the context of spatial planning, which determines the general land use of a defined region, including other developments such as highways, railways, buildings and nature protection areas and which is not undertaken for the specific purpose of the planned project and granting of operational permits. In the context of the permit granting process, a project of common interest should be able to include related infrastructure to the extent that it is essential for the construction or functioning of the project. This Regulation, in particular the provisions on permit granting, public participation and the implementation of projects of common interest, should apply without prejudice to Union and international law, including provisions to protect the environment and human health, and provisions adopted under the Common Fisheries Policy and Integrated Maritime Policy, in particular Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (23). (45) The costs of the development, construction, operation and maintenance of projects of common interest should in general be borne fully by the users of the infrastructure. The cost allocation should ensure that end-users are not disproportionately burdened, especially if that could lead to energy poverty. Projects of common interest should be eligible for cross-border cost allocation where an assessment of market demand, or of the expected effects on tariffs, indicates that costs cannot be expected to be recovered by the tariffs paid by the infrastructure users. (46) The discussion of the appropriate allocation of costs should be based on the analysis of the costs and benefits of an infrastructure project carried out on the basis of a harmonised methodology for energy-system-wide analysis, using all relevant scenarios established in the framework of the Union-wide ten-year network development plans prepared pursuant to Regulations (EC) No 715/2009 and (EU) 2019/943, and reviewed by the Agency and additional scenarios for network development planning, allowing a robust analysis of the contribution of the project of common interest to the Union energy policy of decarbonisation, market integration, competition, sustainability and security of supply. That analysis can take into consideration indicators and corresponding reference values for the comparison of unit investment costs. Where additional scenarios are used, those should be consistent with the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate and its 2050 climate neutrality objective and should be subject to a comprehensive consultation and scrutiny process. (47) In an increasingly integrated internal energy market, clear and transparent rules for cost allocation across borders are necessary in order to accelerate investment in cross-border infrastructure and in projects with a cross-border impact. It is essential to ensure a stable financing framework for the development of projects of common interest while minimising the need for financial support, and at the same time to encourage interested investors, with appropriate incentives and financial mechanisms. In deciding on cross-border cost allocation, national regulatory authorities should allocate efficiently incurred investment costs, as relevant in view of their national approaches and methodologies for similar infrastructure, across borders in their entirety and include them in the national tariffs, and, afterwards, if relevant, determine whether their impact on national tariffs could represent a disproportionate burden for consumers in their respective Member States. The national regulatory authorities should avoid the risks of double support for projects by taking into account actual or estimated charges and revenues. Those charges and revenues should be taken into account only in so far as they relate to the projects, and are designed to cover the costs concerned. (48) There is a need for cross-border projects that have a positive effect on the Union’s power grid, such as smart electricity grids or electrolysers, without involving a physical common border. (49) The internal energy market legislation requires that tariffs for access to networks provide appropriate incentives for investment. However, several types of projects of common interest are likely to have externalities that might not be fully captured in, and recovered through, the regular tariff system. In applying the internal energy market legislation, national regulatory authorities should ensure a stable and predictable regulatory and financial framework with incentives for projects of common interest, including long-term incentives, that are commensurate with the level of specific risk of the project. That framework should apply in particular to cross-border projects, innovative transmission technologies for electricity allowing for the large scale integration of renewable energy, of distributed energy resources or of demand response in interconnected networks, and energy technology and digitalisation projects, which are either likely to incur higher risks than similar projects located within one Member State or which promise higher benefits for the Union. Moreover, projects with high operational expenditure should also have access to appropriate incentives for investment. In particular, offshore grids for renewable energy, which serve the dual functionality of electricity interconnectors and connecting renewable offshore generation projects, are likely to incur higher risks than comparable onshore infrastructure projects, due to their intrinsic connection to generation assets which brings regulatory risks, financing risks such as the need for anticipatory investments, market risks and risks pertaining to the use of new innovative technologies. (50) This Regulation should apply only to the granting of permits for projects of common interest, public participation therein and their regulatory treatment. Member States should nevertheless be able to adopt national provisions to apply the same or similar rules to other projects that do not have the status of projects of common interest within the scope of this Regulation. As regards the regulatory incentives, Member States should be able to adopt national provisions to apply the same or similar rules to projects of common interest falling under the category of electricity storage. (51) Member States that currently do not attribute the highest possible national significance to energy infrastructure projects as regards the process of permit granting, should be encouraged to consider introducing such a high national significance, in particular by evaluating whether that would lead to a quicker permit granting process. (52) Member States that do not currently have in place accelerated or urgent judicial procedures applicable to energy infrastructure projects should be encouraged to consider introducing such procedures, in particular by evaluating whether that would lead to the quicker implementation of such projects. (53) Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 has demonstrated the added value of leveraging private funding through significant Union financial assistance to allow the implementation of projects of European significance. In the light of the economic and financial situation and budgetary constraints, targeted support, through grants and financial instruments, should continue under the multiannual financial framework, in order to maximise the benefits to Union citizens and to attract new investors into the energy infrastructure priority corridors and areas set out in an annex to this Regulation, while keeping the budgetary contribution of the Union to a minimum. (54) Projects of common interest should be eligible for Union financial assistance for studies and, under certain conditions, for works pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 of the European Parliament and of the Council (24) in the form of grants or in the form of innovative financial instruments to ensure that tailor-made support can be provided to those projects of common interest which are not viable under the existing regulatory framework and market conditions. It is important to avoid any distortion of competition, in particular between projects contributing to the achievement of the same Union priority corridor. Such financial assistance should ensure the necessary synergies with the Structural Funds, in order to finance smart energy distribution networks, and with the Union renewable energy financing mechanism established by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1294 (25), pursuant to Article 33(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council (26). A three-step logic should apply to investments in projects of common interest. First, the market should have the priority to invest. Second, if investments are not made by the market, regulatory solutions should be explored, the relevant regulatory framework should be adjusted if necessary, and the correct application of the relevant regulatory framework should be ensured. Third, where the first two steps are not sufficient to deliver the necessary investments in projects of common interest, it should be possible to grant Union financial assistance where the project of common interest fulfils the applicable eligibility criteria. Projects of common interest may also be eligible under the InvestEU programme, which is complementary to grant financing. (55) The Union should facilitate energy projects in disadvantaged, less connected, peripheral, outermost or isolated regions so as to enable access to the trans-European energy networks in order to accelerate the decarbonisation process and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. (56) Where there is no TSO in a Member State, the references to TSOs throughout this Regulation should apply mutatis mutandis to distribution system operators (DSO). (57) Grants for works related to projects of mutual interest should be available under the same conditions as for other categories where they contribute to the Union’s overall energy and climate policy objectives and where the decarbonisation objectives of the third country are consistent with the Paris Agreement. (58) Regulations (EC) No 715/2009, (EU) 2019/942 (27), and (EU) 2019/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directives 2009/73/EC and (EU) 2019/944 should therefore be amended accordingly. (59) Whereas the repurposing of the natural gas infrastructure aims to decarbonise the gas networks, allowing the dedicated use of pure hydrogen, a transitional period could allow for the transport or storage of a predefined blend of hydrogen with natural gas or biomethane. The blending of hydrogen with natural gas or biomethane could be used in the scaling up of the hydrogen production capacity and facilitating the transport of hydrogen. To ensure the transition to hydrogen, the project promoter should demonstrate, including through commercial contracts, how, by the end of the transitional period, the natural gas assets will become dedicated hydrogen assets and how the use of hydrogen will be enhanced during the transitional period. In the context of the monitoring exercise, the Agency should verify the timely transition of the project to a dedicated hydrogen asset. Any financing of those projects pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 during the transitional period should be subject to a condition in the grant agreement to repay the financing in the case of a delay of the timely transition of the project to a dedicated hydrogen asset, and to adequate provisions allowing for the enforcement of that condition. (60) In line with the European Council conclusions of 4 February 2011 that no Member State should remain isolated from the European gas and electricity networks after 2015 or see its energy security jeopardised by lack of the appropriate connections, this Regulation aims to ensure access to the trans-European energy networks by ending the energy isolation of Cyprus and Malta, that are still not interconnected to the trans-European gas network. That objective should be attained by allowing projects under development or planning that have been granted the status of project of common interest under Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 to maintain their status until Cyprus and Malta are interconnected to the trans-European gas network. Apart from contributing to the development of the renewable energy market, the flexibility and resilience of the energy system, and the security of supply, those projects will ensure access to future energy markets, including hydrogen, and contribute to achieving the Union’s overall energy and climate policy objectives. (61) Projects of common interest should not be eligible for Union financial assistance where the project promoters, operators or investors are in one of the situations of exclusion referred to in Article 136 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council (28), such as in cases of a conviction for fraud, corruption or conduct related to a criminal organisation. It should be possible to remove a project of common interest from the Union list if its inclusion in that list was based on incorrect information which was a determining factor for that inclusion, or if the project does not comply with Union law. For a project of common interest located in the Member States benefiting from a derogation under this Regulation, those Member States should ensure, when supporting any applications for financing pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 for such projects, that the projects do not benefit directly or indirectly persons or entities that are in one of the situation of exclusion as referred to in Article 136 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046. (62) In order to ensure the timely development of essential energy infrastructure projects for the Union, the fifth Union list of projects of common interest should remain in force until the first Union list of projects of common interest and projects of mutual interest established pursuant to this Regulation enters into force. Moreover, to enable the development, monitoring and financing of the projects of common interest on the fifth Union list, certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 should also remain in force and produce effects until the entry into force of the first Union list of projects of common interest and projects of mutual interest established pursuant to this Regulation. (63) Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 should therefore be repealed. (64) In order to ensure that the Union list is limited to projects which contribute the most to the implementation of the strategic energy infrastructure priority corridors and areas set out in an annex to this Regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission to amend the annexes to this Regulation so as to establish and review the Union list, while respecting the right of the Member States to approve projects on the Union list related to their territories. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making (29). The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure the simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council. Where they consider this necessary, the European Parliament and the Council may each send experts to meetings of the Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts to which Member States’ experts are invited. The discussions in the regional groups are instrumental for the Commission to adopt the delegated acts establishing the Union lists. Therefore, it is appropriate, to the extent possible and compatible with the framework of this Regulation, that the European Parliament and the Council be informed about, and may send experts to, the meetings of regional groups in accordance with the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making. Taking into account the need to ensure the achievement of the objectives of this Regulation and, in view of the number of projects on Union lists so far, the total number of projects on the Union list should remain manageable, and therefore should not significantly exceed 220. (65) Since the objectives of this Regulation, namely the development and interoperability of trans-European energy networks and connection to such networks that contribute to ensuring climate change mitigation, in particular achieving the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate and its climate neutrality objective by2050 at the latest, and to ensuring interconnections, energy security, market and system integration, competition that benefits all Member States, and affordable energy prices, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of the scale and effects of the proposed action, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives, HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
CHAPTER I
 

General provisions

 Article 1 Subject matter, objectives and scope 1.   This Regulation lays down guidelines for the timely development and interoperability of the priority corridors and areas of trans-European energy infrastructure (energy infrastructure priority corridors and areas) set out in Annex I that contribute to ensuring climate change mitigation, in particular achieving the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate and its climate neutrality objective by 2050 at the latest, and to ensuring interconnections, energy security, market and system integration and competition that benefits all Member States, as well as affordability of energy prices. 2.   In particular, this Regulation: (a) provides for the identification of projects on the Union list of projects of common interest and of projects of mutual interest established pursuant to Article 3 (Union list); (b) facilitates the timely implementation of projects on the Union list by streamlining, coordinating more closely and accelerating permit granting processes, and by enhancing transparency and public participation; (c) provides rules for the cross-border allocation of costs and risk-related incentives for projects on the Union list; (d) determines the conditions for eligibility of projects on the Union list for Union financial assistance. Article 2 Definitions For the purposes of this Regulation, in addition to the definitions in Regulations (EC) No 715/2009, (EU) 2018/1999, (EU) 2019/942 and (EU) 2019/943 and in Directives 2009/73/EC, (EU) 2018/2001 (30) and (EU) 2019/944, the following definitions apply: (1) ‘energy infrastructure’ means any physical equipment or facility falling under the energy infrastructure categories which is located within the Union, or linking the Union and one or more third countries; (2) ‘energy infrastructure bottleneck’ means limitation of physical flows in an energy system due to insufficient transmission capacity, which includes, inter alia, the absence of infrastructure; (3) ‘comprehensive decision’ means the decision or set of decisions taken by a Member State authority or authorities not including courts or tribunals, that determines whether or not a project promoter is authorised to build the energy infrastructure to realise a project of common interest or a project of mutual interest by having the possibility to start, or procure and start, the necessary construction works (ready-to-build phase) without prejudice to any decision taken in the context of an administrative appeal procedure; (4) ‘project’ means one or several lines, pipelines, facilities, equipment or installations falling under the energy infrastructure categories set out in Annex II; (5) ‘project of common interest’ means a project necessary to implement the energy infrastructure priority corridors and areas set out in Annex I and which is on the Union list; (6) ‘project of mutual interest’ means a project promoted by the Union in cooperation with third countries pursuant to letters of support from the governments of the directly affected countries or other non-binding agreements, which falls under one of the energy infrastructure categories set out in point 1(a) or (f), point 3(a), or point 5(a) or (c) of Annex II, which contributes to the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate and its 2050 climate neutrality objective and which is on the Union list; (7) ‘competing projects’ means projects that fully or partially address the same identified infrastructure gap or regional infrastructure need; (8) ‘project promoter’ means one of the following: (a) a transmission system operator (TSO), a distribution system operator (DSO) or another operator or investor developing a project on the Union list; (b) in the case of more than one such TSO, DSO, other operator or investor, or any group thereof, the entity with legal personality under the applicable national law which has been designated by contractual arrangement between them and which has the capacity to undertake legal obligations and assume financial liability on behalf of the parties to the contractual arrangement; (9) ‘smart electricity grid’ means an electricity network, including on islands that are not interconnected or not sufficiently connected to the trans-European energy networks, that enables cost-efficient integration and active control of the behaviour and actions of all users connected to it, including generators, consumers and prosumers, in order to ensure an economically efficient and sustainable power system with low losses and a high level of integration of renewable sources, of security of supply and of safety, and in which the grid operator can digitally monitor the actions of the users connected to it, and information and communication technologies for communicating with related grid operators, generators, energy storage facilities, and consumers or prosumers, with a view to transmitting and distributing electricity in a sustainable, cost-efficient and secure way; (10) ‘smart gas grid’ means a gas network that makes use of innovative and digital solutions to integrate in a cost-efficient manner a plurality of low-carbon and particularly renewable gas sources in accordance with consumers’ needs and gas quality requirements in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the related gas consumption, enable an increased share of renewable and low-carbon gases, and create links with other energy carriers and sectors, including the related physical upgrades if they are indispensable to the functioning of the equipment and installations for integration of low-carbon and particularly renewable gases; (11) ‘authority concerned’ means an authority that, under national law, is competent to issue various permits and authorisations related to the planning, design and construction of immovable assets, including energy infrastructure; (12) ‘national regulatory authority’ means a national regulatory authority designated in accordance with Article 39(1) of Directive 2009/73/EC or a regulatory authority at national level designated in accordance with Article 57 of Directive (EU) 2019/944; (13) ‘relevant national regulatory authority’ means the national regulatory authority in the Member States hosting the projects and in Member States to which the project provides a significant positive impact; (14) ‘works’ means the purchase, supply and deployment of components, systems and services including software, the carrying out of development, repurposing and construction and installation activities relating to a project, the acceptance of installations and the launching of a project; (15) ‘studies’ means activities needed to prepare project implementation, such as preparatory, feasibility, evaluation, testing and validation studies, including software, and any other technical support measure including prior action to define and develop a project and decide on its financing, such as reconnaissance of the sites concerned and preparation of the financial package; (16) ‘commissioning’ means the process of bringing a project into operation once it has been constructed; (17) ‘dedicated hydrogen assets’ means infrastructure ready to accommodate pure hydrogen without further adaptation works, including pipeline networks or storage facilities that are newly constructed, repurposed from natural gas assets, or both; (18) ‘repurposing’ means the technical upgrading or modification of existing natural gas infrastructure in order to ensure that it is dedicated for the use of pure hydrogen; (19) ‘climate adaptation’ means a process that ensures that resilience to the potential adverse impacts of climate change of energy infrastructure is achieved through a climate vulnerability and risk assessment, including through relevant adaptation measures. 
CHAPTER II
 

Projects of common interest and projects of mutual interest

 Article 3 Union list of projects of common interest and projects of mutual interest 1.   Regional groups (Groups) shall be established in accordance with the process set out in Section 1 of Annex III. The membership of each Group shall be based on each priority corridor and area and their respective geographical coverage as set out in Annex I. Decision-making power in the Groups shall be restricted to Member States and the Commission (decision-making body), and based on consensus. 2.   Each Group shall adopt its own rules of procedure, having regard to the provisions set out in Annex III. 3.   The decision-making body of each Group shall adopt a regional list of projects drawn up in accordance with the process set out in Section 2 of Annex III, the contribution of each project to implementing the energy infrastructure priority corridors and areas set out in Annex I and their fulfilment of the criteria set out in Article 4. Where a Group draws up its regional list: (a) each individual proposal for a project shall require the approval of the Member States to whose territory the project relates; where a Member State does not give its approval, it shall present its substantiated reasons for doing so to the Group concerned; (b) it shall take into account the advice from the Commission with the aim of having a manageable total number of projects on the Union list. 4.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 20 of this Regulation in order to establish the Union list, subject to the second paragraph of Article 172 TFEU. In exercising its power, the Commission shall ensure that the Union list is established every two years, on the basis of the regional lists adopted by the decision-making bodies of the Groups established pursuant to Section 1, point (1), of Annex III, following the procedure set out in paragraph 3 of this Article. The Commission shall adopt the delegated act establishing the first Union list pursuant to this Regulation by 30 November 2023. If a delegated act adopted by the Commission pursuant to this paragraph cannot enter into force due to an objection expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council pursuant to Article 20(6), the Commission shall immediately convene the Groups in order to draw up new regional lists taking into account the reasons for the objection. The Commission shall adopt a new delegated act establishing the Union list as soon as possible. 5.   When establishing the Union list by combining the regional lists referred to in paragraph 3, the Commission shall, taking due account of the deliberations of the Groups: (a) ensure that only projects that fulfil the criteria referred to in Article 4 are included; (b) ensure cross-regional consistency, taking into account the opinion of the Agency as referred to in Section 2, point (14), of Annex III; (c) take into account the opinions of Member States referred to in Section 2, point (10), of Annex III; (d) aim to ensure a manageable total number of projects on the Union list. 6.   Projects of common interest that fall under the energy infrastructure categories set out in point (1)(a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of Annex II to this Regulation shall become an integral part of the relevant regional investment plans under Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and of the relevant national ten-year network development plans under Article 51 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 and other national infrastructure plans, as appropriate. Those projects of common interest shall be conferred the highest possible priority within each of those plans. This paragraph shall not apply to competing projects, projects that have not reached a sufficient degree of maturity to provide a project-specific cost-benefit analysis as referred to in Section 2, point (1)(d), of Annex III or projects of mutual interest. 7.   Projects of common interest that fall under the energy infrastructure categories set out in point (1)(a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of Annex II and that are competing projects or projects that have not reached a sufficient degree of maturity to provide a project-specific cost-benefit analysis as referred to in Section 2, point (1)(d), of Annex III may be included in the relevant regional investment plans, the national ten-year network development plans and other national infrastructure plans, as appropriate, as projects under consideration. Article 4 Criteria for the assessment of projects by the Groups 1.   A project of common interest shall meet the following general criteria: (a) the project is necessary for at least one of the energy infrastructure priority corridors and areas set out in Annex I; (b) the potential overall benefits of the project, assessed in accordance with the relevant specific criteria in paragraph 3, outweigh its costs, including in the longer term; (c) the project meets any of the following criteria: (i) it involves at least two Member States by directly or indirectly, via interconnection with a third country, crossing the border of two or more Member States; (ii) it is located on the territory of one Member State, either inland or offshore, including islands, and has a significant cross-border impact as set out in point (1) of Annex IV. 2.   A project of mutual interest shall meet the following general criteria: (a) the project contributes significantly to the objectives referred to in Article 1(1), and those of the third country, in particular by not hindering the capacity of the third country to phase out fossil fuel generation assets for its domestic consumption, and to sustainability, including through the integration of renewable energy into the grid and the transmission and distribution of renewable generation to major consumption centres and storage sites; (b) the potential overall benefits of the project at Union level, assessed in accordance with the relevant specific criteria in paragraph 3, outweigh its costs within the Union, including in the longer term; (c) the project is located on the territory of at least one Member State and on the territory of at least one third country and has a significant cross-border impact as set out in point (2) of Annex IV; (d) for the part located on Member State territory, the project is in line with Directives 2009/73/EC and (EU) 2019/944 where it falls within the infrastructure categories set out in points (1) and (3) of Annex II to this Regulation; (e) there is a high level of convergence of the policy framework of the third country or countries involved and legal enforcement mechanisms to support the policy objectives of the Union are demonstrated, in particular to ensure: (i) a well-functioning internal energy market; (ii) security of supply based, inter alia, on diverse sources, cooperation and solidarity; (iii) an energy system, including production, transmission and distribution, moving towards the objective of climate neutrality, in line with the Paris Agreement and the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate and its 2050 climate neutrality objective, in particular, avoiding carbon leakage; (f) the third country or countries involved support the priority status of the project, as set out in Article 7, and commit to complying with a similar timeline for accelerated implementation and other policy and regulatory support measures as applies to projects of common interest in the Union. As regards projects for the storage of carbon dioxide falling under the energy infrastructure category set out in point (5)(c) of Annex II, the project shall be necessary to allow the cross-border transport and storage of carbon dioxide and the third country where the project is located shall have an adequate legal framework based on demonstrated effective enforcement mechanisms to ensure that standards and safeguards apply to the project, preventing any carbon dioxide leaks, and concerning climate, human health and ecosystems as regards the safety and effectiveness of the permanent storage of carbon-dioxide, which are at least at the same level as those provided by Union law. 3.   The following specific criteria shall apply to projects of common interest falling within specific energy infrastructure categories: (a) for electricity transmission, distribution and storage projects falling under the energy infrastructure categories set out in point (1)(a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of Annex II, the project contributes significantly to sustainability through the integration of renewable energy into the grid, the transmission or distribution of renewable generation to major consumption centres and storage sites, and to reducing energy curtailment, where applicable, and contributes to at least one of the following specific criteria: (i) market integration, including through lifting the energy isolation of at least one Member State and reducing energy infrastructure bottlenecks, competition, interoperability and system flexibility; (ii) security of supply, including through interoperability, system flexibility, cybersecurity, appropriate connections and secure and reliable system operation; (b) for smart electricity grid projects falling under the energy infrastructure category set out in point (1)(e) of Annex II, the project contributes significantly to sustainability through the integration of renewable energy into the grid, and contributes to at least two of the following specific criteria: (i) security of supply, including through efficiency and interoperability of electricity transmission and distribution in day-to-day network operation, avoidance of congestion, and integration and involvement of network users; (ii) market integration, including through efficient system operation and use of interconnectors; (iii) network security, flexibility and quality of supply, including through higher uptake of innovation in balancing, flexibility markets, cybersecurity, monitoring, system control and error correction; (iv) smart sector integration, either in the energy system through linking various energy carriers and sectors, or in a wider way, favouring synergies and coordination between the energy, transport and telecommunication sectors; (c) for carbon dioxide transport and storage projects falling under the energy infrastructure categories set out in point (5) of Annex II, the project contributes significantly to sustainability through the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in the connected industrial installations and contributes to all of the following specific criteria: (i) avoiding carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining security of supply; (ii) increasing the resilience and security of transport and storage of carbon dioxide; (iii) the efficient use of resources, by enabling the connection of multiple carbon dioxide sources and storage sites via common infrastructure and minimising environmental burden and risks; (d) for hydrogen projects falling under the energy infrastructure categories set out in point (3) of Annex II, the project contributes significantly to sustainability, including by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by enhancing the deployment of renewable or low carbon hydrogen, with an emphasis on hydrogen from renewable sources in particular in end-use applications, such as hard-to-abate sectors, in which more energy efficient solutions are not feasible, and supporting variable renewable power generation by offering flexibility, storage solutions, or both, and the project contributes significantly to at least one of the following specific criteria: (i) market integration, including by connecting existing or emerging hydrogen networks of Member States, or otherwise contributing to the emergence of an Union-wide network for the transport and storage of hydrogen, and ensuring interoperability of connected systems; (ii) security of supply and flexibility, including through appropriate connections and facilitating secure and reliable system operation; (iii) competition, including by allowing access to multiple supply sources and network users on a transparent and non-discriminatory basis; (e) for electrolysers falling under the energy infrastructure category set out in point (4) of Annex II, the project contributes significantly to all of the following specific criteria: (i) sustainability, including by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the deployment of renewable or low-carbon hydrogen in particular from renewable sources, as well as synthetic fuels of those origins; (ii) security of supply, including by contributing to secure, efficient and reliable system operation, or by offering storage, flexibility solutions, or both, such as demand side response and balancing services; (iii) enabling flexibility services such as demand response and storage by facilitating smart energy sector integration through the creation of links to other energy carriers and sectors; (f) for smart gas grid projects falling under the energy infrastructure category set out in point (2) of Annex II, the project contributes significantly to sustainability by ensuring the integration of a plurality of low-carbon and particularly renewable gases, including where they are locally sourced, such as biomethane or renewable hydrogen, into the gas transmission, distribution or storage systems in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and that project contributes significantly to at least one of the following specific criteria: (i) network security and quality of supply by improving the efficiency and interoperability of gas transmission, distribution or storage systems in day-to-day network operation by, inter alia, addressing challenges arising from the injection of gases of various qualities; (ii) market functioning and customer services; (iii) facilitating smart energy sector integration through the creation of links to other energy carriers and sectors and enabling demand response. 4.   For projects falling under the energy infrastructure categories set out in Annex II, the criteria set out in paragraph 3 of this Article shall be assessed in accordance with the indicators set out in points (3) to (8) of Annex IV. 5.   In order to facilitate the assessment of all projects that could be eligible as projects of common interest and that could be included in a regional list, each Group shall assess each project’s contribution to the implementation of the same energy infrastructure priority corridor or area in a transparent and objective manner. Each Group shall determine its assessment method on the basis of the aggregated contribution to the criteria referred to in paragraph 3. That assessment shall lead to a ranking of projects for internal use of the Group. Neither the regional list nor the Union list shall contain any ranking, nor shall the ranking be used for any subsequent purpose except as described in Section 2, point (16), of Annex III. In assessing projects, in order to ensure a consistent assessment approach among the Groups, each Group shall give due consideration to: (a) the urgency and the contribution of each proposed project in order to meet the Union’s 2030 targets for energy and climate and its 2050 climate neutrality objective, market integration, competition, sustainability, and security of supply; (b) the complementarity of each proposed project with other proposed projects, including competing or potentially competing projects; (c) possible synergies with priority corridors and thematic areas identified under trans-European networks for transport and telecommunications; (d) for proposed projects that are, at the time of the assessment, projects on the Union list, the progress of their implementation and their compliance with the reporting and transparency obligations. As regards smart electricity grids and smart gas grids projects falling under the energy infrastructure categories set out in point (1)(e) and point (2) of Annex II, ranking shall be carried out for those projects that affect the same two Member States, and due consideration shall also be given to the number of users affected by the project, the annual energy consumption and the share of generation from non-dispatchable resources in the area covered by those users. Article 5 Implementation and monitoring of projects on the Union list 1.   Project promoters shall draw up an implementation plan for projects on the Union list, including a timetable for each of the following: (a) feasibility and design studies including, as regards, climate adaptation and compliance with environmental legislation and with the doing ‘no significant harm’ principle; (b) approval by the national regulatory authority or by any other authority concerned; (c) construction and commissioning; (d) the permit granting process referred to in Article 10(6), point (b). 2.   TSOs, DSOs and other operators shall cooperate with each other in order to facilitate the development of projects on the Union list in their area. 3.   The Agency and the Groups concerned shall monitor the progress achieved in implementing the projects on the Union list and, where necessary, make recommendations to facilitate their implementation. The Groups may request additional information in accordance with paragraphs 4, 5 and 6, convene meetings with the relevant parties and invite the Commission to verify the information provided on site. 4.   By 31 December of each year following the year of the inclusion of a project on the Union list, project promoters shall submit an annual report, for each project falling under the energy infrastructure categories set out in Annex II, to the national competent authority referred to in Article 8(1). That report shall include details of: (a) the progress achieved in the development, construction and commissioning of the project, in particular with regard to the permit granting process and the consultation procedure, as well as compliance with environmental legislation, with the principle that the project does ‘no significant harm’ to the environment, and climate adaptation measures taken; (b) where relevant, delays compared to the implementation plan, the reasons for such delays and other difficulties encountered; (c) where relevant, a revised plan aiming to overcome the delays. 5.   By 28 of February of each year following the year in which the project promoter has to submit the report referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article, the competent authorities referred to in Article 8(1) shall submit to the Agency and to the relevant Group the report referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article supplemented with information on the progress and, where relevant, on delays in the implementation of projects on the Union list located on their respective territory with regard to the permit granting processes, and on the reasons for such delays. The contribution of the competent authorities to the report shall be clearly marked as such and drafted without modifying the text introduced by the project promoters. 6.   By 30 April of each year in which a new Union list should be adopted, the Agency shall submit to the Groups a consolidated report for the projects on the Union list that are subject to the competence of national regulatory authorities, evaluating the progress achieved and expected changes in project costs, and, where appropriate, make recommendations on how to overcome the delays and difficulties encountered. That consolidated report shall also evaluate, in accordance with Article 11, point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2019/942, the consistent implementation of the Union-wide network development plans with regard to the energy infrastructure priority corridors and areas set out in Annex I. In duly justified cases, the Agency may request additional information necessary for carrying out its tasks set out in this paragraph. 7.   Where the commissioning of a project on the Union list is delayed when compared to the implementation plan, other than for overriding reasons beyond the control of the project promoter, the following measures shall apply: (a) in so far as measures referred to in Article 22(7), point (a), (b) or (c) of Directive 2009/73/EC and Article 51(7), point (a), (b) or (c) of Directive (EU) 2019/944 are applicable in accordance with respective national law, national regulatory authorities shall ensure that the investment is carried out; (b) if the measures of national regulatory authorities pursuant to point (a) are not applicable, the project promoter shall, within 24 months of the date of commissioning set out in the implementation plan, choose a third party to finance or construct all or part of the project; (c) if a third party is not chosen in accordance with point (b), the Member State or, when the Member State has so provided, the national regulatory authority may, within two months of the expiry of the period referred to in point (b), designate a third party to finance or construct the project which the project promoter shall accept; (d) where the delay compared to the date of commissioning in the implementation plan exceeds 26 months, the Commission, subject to the agreement and with the full cooperation of the Member States concerned, may launch a call for proposals open to any third party capable of becoming a project promoter to build the project in accordance with an agreed timetable; (e) where measures referred to in point (c) or (d) are applied, the system operator in whose area the investment is located shall provide the implementing operators or investors or third party with all the information needed to realise the investment, shall connect new assets to the transmission network or, where applicable, the distribution network and shall generally make its best efforts to facilitate the implementation of the investment and the secure, reliable and efficient operation and maintenance of the project on the Union list. 8.   A project on the Union list may be removed from the Union list in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 3(4) if its inclusion in that list was based on incorrect information which was a determining factor for that inclusion, or the project does not comply with Union law. 9.   Projects which are no longer on the Union list shall lose all rights and obligations linked to the status of project of common interest or project of mutual interest provided for in this Regulation. However, a project which is no longer on the Union list but for which an application file has been accepted for examination by the competent authority shall maintain the rights and obligations laid down in Chapter III, except where the project has been removed from the Union list for the reasons set out in paragraph 8 of this Article. 10.   This Article shall be without prejudice to any Union financial assistance granted to any project on the Union list prior to its removal from the Union list. Article 6 European coordinators 1.   Where a project of common interest encounters significant implementation difficulties, the Commission may designate, in agreement with the Member States concerned, a European coordinator for a period of up to one year, renewable twice. 2.   The European coordinator shall: (a) promote the projects, for which he or she has been designated as a European coordinator and the cross-border dialogue between the project promoters and all stakeholders concerned; (b) assist all parties as necessary in consulting the stakeholders concerned, discussing alternative routing, where appropriate, and obtaining necessary permits for the projects; (c) where appropriate, advise project promoters on the financing of the project; (d) ensure that appropriate support and strategic direction by the Member States concerned are provided for the preparation and implementation of the projects; (e) submit every year, and, where appropriate, upon completion of their mandate, a report to the Commission on the progress of the projects and on any difficulties and obstacles which are likely to significantly delay the commissioning date of the projects. The Commission shall transmit the report of the European coordinator referred to in point (e) to the European Parliament and the Groups concerned. 3.   The European coordinator shall be chosen following an open, non-discriminatory and transparent process and on the basis of a candidate’s experience with regard to the specific tasks assigned to him or her for the projects concerned. 4.   The decision designating the European coordinator shall specify the terms of reference, detailing the duration of the mandate, the specific tasks and corresponding deadlines, and the methodology to be followed. The coordination effort shall be proportionate to the complexity and estimated costs of the projects. 5.   The Member States concerned shall fully cooperate with the European coordinator in the execution of the tasks referred to in paragraphs 2 and 4. 
CHAPTER III
 

Permit granting and public participation

 Article 7 Priority status of projects on the Union list 1.   The adoption of the Union list shall establish, for the purposes of any decisions issued in the permit granting process, the necessity of projects on the Union list from an energy policy and climate perspective, without prejudice to the exact location, routing or technology of the project. This paragraph shall not apply to competing projects or to projects that have not reached a sufficient degree of maturity to provide a project specific cost-benefit analysis as referred to in Section 2, point (1)(d), of Annex III. 2.   For the purpose of ensuring efficient administrative processing of the application files related to projects on the Union list, project promoters and all authorities concerned shall ensure that those files are treated in the most rapid way possible in accordance with Union and national law. 3.   Without prejudice to obligations provided for in Union law, projects on the Union list shall be granted the status of the highest national significance possible, where such a status exists in national law, and be appropriately treated in the permit granting processes and, if national law so provides, in spatial planning, including those processes relating to environmental assessments, in the manner such treatment is provided for in national law applicable to the corresponding type of energy infrastructure. 4.   All dispute resolution procedures, litigation, appeals and judicial remedies related to projects on the Union list in front of any national courts, tribunals, panels, including mediation or arbitration, where they exist in national law, shall be treated as urgent, if and to the extent to which national law provides for such urgency procedures. 5.   Member States shall assess, taking due account of the existing guidance issued by the Commission on streamlining the environmental assessment procedures for projects on the Union list, which legislative and non-legislative measures are necessary to streamline the environmental assessment procedures and to ensure their coherent application and shall inform the Commission of the result of that assessment. 6.   By 24 March 2023, Member States shall take the non-legislative measures that they have identified under paragraph 5. 7.   By 24 June 2023, Member States shall take the legislative measures that they have identified under paragraph 5. Those legislative measures shall be without prejudice to obligations provided for in Union law. 8.   With regard to the environmental impacts addressed in Article 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC and Article 4(7) of Directive 2000/60/EC, provided that all the conditions set out in those Directives are fulfilled, projects on the Union list shall be considered as being of public interest from an energy policy perspective, and may be considered as having an overriding public interest. Where the opinion of the Commission is required in accordance with Directive 92/43/EEC, the Commission and the national competent authority referred to in Article 9 of this Regulation shall ensure that the decision with regard to the overriding public interest of a project is taken within the time limits set in Article 10(1) and (2) of this Regulation. This paragraph shall not apply to competing projects or to projects that have not reached a sufficient degree of maturity to provide a project specific cost-benefit analysis as referred to in Section 2, point (1)(d), of Annex III. Article 8 Organisation of the permit granting process 1.   By 23 June 2022, each Member State shall update, where necessary, the designation of one national competent authority which shall be responsible for facilitating and coordinating the permit granting process for projects on the Union list. 2.   The responsibilities of the national competent authority referred to in paragraph 1 or the tasks related to it may be delegated to, or carried out by, another authority, per project on the Union list or per particular category of projects on the Union list, provided that: (a) the national competent authority notifies the Commission of that delegation and the information therein is published by either the national competent authority or the project promoter on the website referred to in Article 9(7); (b) only one authority is responsible per project on the Union list, and it is the sole point of contact for the project promoter in the process leading to the comprehensive decision for a given project on the Union list, and coordinates the submission of all relevant documents and information. The national competent authority may retain the responsibility to establish time limits, without prejudice to the time limits set in Article 10(1) and (2). 3.   Without prejudice to relevant requirements under Union and international law and, to the extent it does not contradict them, national law, the national competent authority shall facilitate the issuing of the comprehensive decision. The comprehensive decision shall be issued within the time limits set in Article 10(1) and (2) and in accordance with one of the following schemes: (a) integrated scheme: the comprehensive decision shall be issued by the national competent authority and shall be the sole legally binding decision arising from the statutory permit granting procedure. Where other authorities are concerned by the project, they may, in accordance with national law, give their opinion as input to the procedure, which shall be taken into account by the national competent authority; (b) coordinated scheme: the comprehensive decision comprises multiple individual legally binding decisions issued by several authorities concerned, which shall be coordinated by the national competent authority. The national competent authority may establish a working group where all concerned authorities are represented in order to draw up a detailed schedule for the permit granting process in accordance with Article 10(6), point (b), and to monitor and coordinate its implementation. The national competent authority shall, after consulting the other authorities concerned, where applicable in accordance with national law, and without prejudice to time limits set in Article 10(1) and (2), establish on a case-by-case basis a reasonable time limit within which the individual decisions shall be issued. The national competent authority may take an individual decision on behalf of another national authority concerned, where the decision by that authority is not delivered within the time limit and where the delay cannot be adequately justified; or, where provided under national law, and to the extent that this is compatible with Union law, the national competent authority may consider that another national authority concerned has either given its approval or refusal for the project where the decision by that authority is not delivered within the time limit. Where provided under national law, the national competent authority may disregard an individual decision of another national authority concerned if it considers that the decision is not sufficiently substantiated with regard to the underlying evidence presented by the national authority concerned; in doing so, the national competent authority shall ensure that the relevant requirements under Union and international law are respected and shall provide reasons for its decision; (c) collaborative scheme: the comprehensive decision shall be coordinated by the national competent authority. The national competent authority shall, after consulting the other authorities concerned, where applicable in accordance with national law, and without prejudice to time limits set in Article 10(1) and (2), establish on a case-by-case basis a reasonable time limit within which the individual decisions shall be issued. It shall monitor compliance with the time limits by the authorities concerned. Member States shall implement the schemes in a manner which, according to national law, contributes to the most efficient and timely issuing of the comprehensive decision. The competence of the authorities concerned can either be incorporated into the competence of the national competent authority designated in accordance with paragraph 1 or the authorities concerned can maintain, to a certain extent, their independent competence in line with the respective permitting scheme chosen by the Member State in accordance with this paragraph to facilitate the issuing of the comprehensive decision and cooperate with the national competent authority accordingly. Where an authority concerned does not expect to deliver an individual decision within the set time limit, that authority shall immediately inform the national competent authority, providing reasons for the delay. Subsequently, the national competent authority shall set another time limit within which that individual decision shall be issued, in compliance with the overall time limits set in Article 10(1) and (2). Member States shall choose among the three schemes referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of the first subparagraph to facilitate and coordinate their procedures and shall implement the scheme which is most effective for them in light of national specificities in their planning and permit granting processes. Where a Member State chooses the collaborative scheme, it shall inform the Commission of its reasons. 4.   Member States may apply the schemes set out in paragraph 3 to onshore and offshore projects on the Union list. 5.   Where a project on the Union list requires decisions to be taken in two or more Member States, the relevant national competent authorities shall take all necessary steps for efficient and effective cooperation and communication among themselves, including the steps referred to in Article 10(6). Member States shall endeavour to provide joint procedures, particularly with regard to the assessment of environmental impacts. 6.   The relevant national competent authorities of the Member States involved in a project on the Union list belonging to one of the priority offshore grid corridors set out in Section 2 of Annex I shall jointly designate among themselves a unique point of contact for project promoters per project, which shall be responsible for facilitating the exchange of information between the national competent authorities on the permit granting process of the project, with the aim of facilitating that process as well as the issuance of decisions by the relevant national competent authorities. The unique points of contact may act as a repository aggregating the existing documents pertaining to the projects. Article 9 Transparency and public participation 1.   By 24 October 2023, the Member State or national competent authority shall, where applicable, in collaboration with other authorities concerned, publish an updated manual of procedures for the permit granting process applicable to projects on the Union list to include at least the information specified in point (1) of Annex VI. The manual shall not be legally binding, but it shall refer to or quote relevant legal provisions. The national competent authorities shall, where relevant, cooperate and find synergies with the authorities of neighbouring countries with a view to exchanging good practices and facilitating the permit granting process, in particular for the development of the manual of procedures. 2.   Without prejudice to environmental law and any requirements under the Aarhus Convention, the Espoo Convention and relevant Union law, all parties involved in the permit granting process shall follow the principles for public participation set out in point (3) of Annex VI. 3.   The project promoter shall, within an indicative period of three months following the start of the permit granting process pursuant to Article 10(3), draw up and submit a concept for public participation to the national competent authority, following the process outlined in the manual referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article and in line with the guidelines set out in Annex VI. The national competent authority shall request modifications or approve the concept for public participation within three months of receipt of the concept, taking into consideration any form of public participation and consultation that took place before the start of the permit granting process, to the extent that such public participation and consultation has fulfilled the requirements of this Article. Where the project promoter intends to make significant changes to an approved concept for public participation, it shall inform the national competent authority thereof. In that case the national competent authority may request modifications. 4.   Where it is not already required under national law at the same or higher standards, the project promoter or, where required by national law, the national competent authority shall carry out at least one public consultation, before the project promoter submits the final and complete application file to the national competent authority pursuant to Article 10(7). That public consultation shall be without prejudice to any public consultation to be carried out after submission of the request for development consent pursuant to Article 6(2) of Directive 2011/92/EU. The public consultation shall inform the stakeholders referred to in point (3)(a) of Annex VI about the project at an early stage and shall help to identify the most suitable location, trajectory or technology, including, where relevant, in view of adequate climate adaptation considerations for the project, all impacts relevant under Union and national law, and the relevant issues to be addressed in the application file. The public consultation shall comply with the minimum requirements set out in point (5) of Annex VI. Without prejudice to the procedural and transparency rules in Member States, the project promoter shall publish on the website referred to in paragraph 7 of this Article a report explaining how the opinions expressed in the public consultations were taken into account by showing the amendments made in the location, trajectory and design of the project, or by providing reasons why such opinions have not been taken into account. The project promoter shall prepare a report summarising the results of activities related to the participation of the public prior to the submission of the application file, including those activities that took place before the start of the permit granting process. The project promoter shall submit the reports referred to in the first and second subparagraphs together with the application file to the national competent authority. The comprehensive decision shall take due account of the results of these reports. 5.   For cross-border projects involving two or more Member States, the public consultations carried out pursuant to paragraph 4 in each of the Member States concerned shall take place within a period of no more than two months from the date on which the first public consultation started. 6.   For projects likely to have a significant transboundary impact in one or more neighbouring Member States, to which Article 7 of Directive 2011/92/EU and the Espoo Convention are applicable, the relevant information shall be made available to the national competent authorities of the neighbouring Member States concerned. The national competent authorities of the neighbouring Member States concerned shall indicate, in the notification process where appropriate, whether they, or any other authority concerned, wishes to participate in the relevant public consultation procedures. 7.   The project promoter shall establish and regularly update a dedicated project website with relevant information about the project of common interest, which shall be linked to the Commission website and the transparency platform referred to in Article 23 and which shall meet the requirements specified in point (6) of Annex VI. Commercially sensitive information shall be kept confidential. Project promoters shall also publish relevant information by other appropriate information means open to the public. Article 10 Duration and implementation of the permit granting process 1.   The permit granting process shall consist of two procedures: (a) the pre-application procedure, covering the period between the start of the permit granting process and the acceptance of the submitted application file by the national competent authority, which shall take place within an indicative period of 24 months; and (b) the statutory permit granting procedure, covering the period from the date of acceptance of the submitted application file until the taking of the comprehensive decision, which shall not exceed 18 months. With regard to point (b) of the first subparagraph, where appropriate, Member States may provide for a statutory permit granting procedure that is shorter than 18 months. 2.   The national competent authority shall ensure that the combined duration of the two procedures referred to in paragraph 1 does not exceed a period of 42 months. However, where the national competent authority considers that one or both of the procedures will not be completed within the time limits set in paragraph 1, it may extend one or both of those time limits before their expiry and on a case-by-case basis. The national competent authority shall not extend the combined duration of the two procedures for more than nine months other than in exceptional circumstances. Where the national competent authority extends the time limits, it shall inform the Group concerned and present it with the measures taken, or to be taken, for the conclusion of the permit granting process, with the least possible delay. The Group may request that the national competent authority reports regularly on progress achieved in that regard and reasons for any delays. 3.   For the purpose of establishing the start of the permit granting process, the project promoters shall notify the project to the national competent authority of each Member State concerned in written form and shall include a reasonably detailed outline of the project. Within three months of receipt of the notification, the national competent authority shall acknowledge or, if it considers the project not to be mature enough to enter the permit granting process, reject the notification, in writing, including on behalf of other authorities concerned. In the event of a rejection, the national competent authority shall provide reasons for its decision, including on behalf of other authorities concerned. The date of signature of the acknowledgement of the notification by the national competent authority shall mark the start of the permit granting process. Where two or more Member States are concerned, the date of the acceptance of the last notification by the national competent authority concerned shall mark the start of the permit granting process. The national competent authorities shall ensure that the permit granting process is accelerated in line with this Chapter for each category of projects of common interest. To that end, the national competent authorities shall adapt their requirements for the start of the permit granting process and for the acceptance of the submitted application file, to make them fit for projects that due to their nature, dimension or lack of requirement for environmental assessment under national law, may require less authorisations and approvals for reaching the ready-to-build phase. Member States may decide that the pre-application procedure referred to in paragraphs 1 and 6 of this Article is not required for the projects referred to in this subparagraph. 4.   The national competent authorities shall take into consideration in the permit granting process any valid studies conducted and permits or authorisations issued for a given project on the Union list before the project entered the permit granting process in accordance with this Article, and shall not require duplicate studies and permits or authorisations. 5.   In Member States where the determination of a route or location undertaken solely for the specific purpose of a planned project, including the planning of specific corridors for grid infrastructures, cannot be included in the process leading to the comprehensive decision, the corresponding decision shall be taken within a separate period of six months, starting on the date of submission of the final and complete application documents by the promoter. In the circumstances described in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the extension referred to in paragraph 2, second subparagraph, shall be reduced to six months, other than in exceptional circumstances, including for the procedure referred to in this paragraph. 6.   The pre-application procedure shall comprise the following steps: (a) as soon as possible and no later than 6 months of the notification pursuant to first subparagraph of paragraph 3, the national competent authority shall determine, on the basis of the checklist referred to in point (1)(e) of Annex VI, and in close cooperation with the other authorities concerned, and where appropriate on the basis of a proposal by the project promoter, the scope of the reports and documents and the level of detail of information to be submitted by the project promoter, as part of the application file, to apply for the comprehensive decision; (b) the national competent authority shall draw up, in close cooperation with the project promoter and other authorities concerned and taking into account the results of the activities carried out under point (a) of this paragraph, a detailed schedule for the permit granting process in line with the guidelines set out in point (2) of Annex VI; (c) upon receipt of the draft application file, the national competent authority shall, where necessary, on its own behalf or on behalf of other authorities concerned, request the project promoter to submit missing information relating to the requested elements referred to in point (a). The pre-application procedure shall include the preparation of any environmental reports by the project promoters, as necessary, including the climate adaptation documentation. Within three months of submission of the missing information referred to in point (c) of the first subparagraph, the competent authority shall accept for examination the application in written form or on digital platforms, starting the statutory permit granting procedure referred to in paragraph 1, point (b). Requests for additional information may be made, but only where they are justified by new circumstances. 7.   The project promoter shall ensure that the application file is complete and adequate and seek the national competent authority’s opinion on that matter as early as possible during the permit granting process. The project promoter shall cooperate fully with the national competent authority in order to comply with the time limits set in this Regulation. 8.   Member States shall endeavour to ensure that any amendments to the national law do not lead to prolonging any permit granting process started before the entry into force of those amendments. With a view of maintaining an accelerated permit granting process for projects on the Union list, national competent authorities shall adequately adapt the schedule established in line with paragraph 6, point (b), of this Article to ensure, to the extent possible, that the time limits for the permit granting process set in this Article are not exceeded. 9.   The time limits set in this Article shall be without prejudice to obligations arising from Union and international law, and without prejudice to administrative appeal procedures and judicial remedies before a court or tribunal. The time limits set in this Article for any of the permit granting procedures shall be without prejudice to any shorter time limits set by Member States. 
CHAPTER IV