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Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 15 December 2025
Main results
Connecting Europe Facility
EU energy ministers reached agreement on a partial mandate on the 2028-2034 Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
The regulation is a part of the broader negotiations on the post-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF) and will provide for investments in trans-European networks for transport and energy infrastructure, including military mobility and cross-border renewable energy projects.
Energy infrastructure is what links us together. Today’s agreement provides the framework for new investments in Europe’s energy infrastructure, strengthens support for cross-border projects and ensures that no member state is left isolated. A more connected EU will bring energy prices down, strengthen competitiveness and improve energy security.
Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s minister for climate, energy and utilities
The Council has further strengthened the central objectives of the CEF to include decarbonisation, ending energy isolation and integration of the internal market. Member states have also been attributed a pivotal role in implementing political priorities in the work programmes of CEF.
The mandate is 'partial' because it excludes financial and cross-sector issues. These are currently being discussed as part of the negotiations on the next MFF, also covering the period 2028 to 2034. The mandate will serve as the Council’s negotiating position for negotiations with the European Parliament.
Ministers held a policy debate on the European grids package, which was presented by the European Commission on 10 December. The key goal of this initiative will be to contribute to the modernisation and expansion of European grids, so as to support rapid electrification and help individuals and businesses access affordable, secure and clean energy.
The debate provided ministers with an opportunity to engage on the main priorities, focus areas and strategic objectives of the package. They welcomed the package as a timely and necessary step to strengthen the Energy Union and ensure that Europe’s energy infrastructure would become more resilient, better interconnected and fit for an energy system that needs to be rapidly electrified and decarbonised, against a backdrop of continued geopolitical uncertainty and growing investment needs.
Ministers also underlined the importance of addressing bottlenecks that are slowing grid development, in particular due to lengthy permitting procedures, investment and financing challenges, and insufficient coordination in planning processes.
Ministers exchanged views on the links between energy and security with the deputySecretary-General of NATO, Radmila Šekerinska.
Ministers emphasised the increasing need to integrate energy and security considerations, highlighting the urgent risks posed to critical energy infrastructure, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions and the ongoing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. They stressed the importance of building a resilient and secure energy system, highlighted the essential role of clean energy transition and called for close cooperation and coordination between theEU and NATO in safeguarding energy security.
Over lunch, ministers were joined by the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Dr. Fatih Birol, to discuss European security of supply and competitiveness in a shifting global energy landscape.
Poland, supported by Estonia and Lithuania, informed ministers about the impact of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) on technical, non-commercial electricity imports from Ukraine to the EU member states.
Portugal and Spain briefed ministers on the need to ensure coherence of national energy price support schemes, to safeguard the internal market and support the energy transition.
