WindEurope has urged Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to strengthen permitting rules and reinforce EU-wide electricity grid planning during upcoming negotiations on the European Union’s Grids Package, warning that delays could undermine Europe’s energy security, industrial competitiveness, and clean energy transition.
The appeal follows the adoption of the Council’s position on the EU Grids Package by EU Energy Ministers. The proposed legislation aims to accelerate the expansion of Europe’s electricity grids, improve cross-border interconnectivity, and streamline permitting procedures for electricity infrastructure and wind energy projects.
While welcoming the progress, WindEurope said the Council weakened key elements of the European Commission’s original proposal by diluting permitting provisions and giving Member States greater influence over EU-wide grid planning. The industry association called on the European Parliament to restore stronger coordination and more effective permitting measures during the trilogue negotiations.
According to WindEurope, more than 500 GW of wind energy capacity across Europe is currently awaiting grid connection approval, with lengthy, complex, and predominantly paper-based permitting procedures continuing to delay project development. The organisation warned that prolonged approval timelines are slowing industrial growth, electrification, and efforts to reduce electricity costs for households and businesses.
Tinne van der Straeten, Chief Executive Officer of WindEurope, said Europe must focus on reducing administrative barriers rather than introducing additional bureaucracy. She noted that accelerating wind farm development is essential to improving energy security, lowering electricity prices, and supporting industrial competitiveness across the region.
On grid planning, WindEurope welcomed the proposal for a common framework covering electricity, hydrogen, and gas infrastructure planning based on a central scenario developed by the European Commission in consultation with Member States and stakeholders. However, the organisation expressed concern that the Council’s amendments could weaken coordinated EU-wide planning by increasing the influence of individual Member States, potentially leading to fragmented infrastructure development.
The association urged the European Parliament to restore stronger EU-level coordination, arguing that a harmonised planning framework would provide greater investment certainty and ensure that new grid infrastructure is developed where it is most needed.
WindEurope also called for several improvements to the permitting framework, including the establishment of digital one-stop permitting platforms, wider application of the “overriding public interest” principle for renewable energy projects, simplified community benefit requirements, and faster approval processes for repowering existing wind farms with more efficient turbine technology.
The organisation highlighted Germany as an example of successful permitting reform, noting that the country approved 21 GW of new onshore wind capacity in 2025, with permitting activity expected to increase further in 2026. WindEurope said streamlined permitting has also contributed to strong participation in Germany’s latest onshore wind auction, resulting in lower awarded electricity prices.
Van der Straeten emphasised that measures such as digital one-stop shops, tacit approval mechanisms, expanded use of overriding public interest provisions, accelerated repowering, and simplified community benefit rules are essential to reducing project delays. She added that decisive policy action would be critical to strengthening Europe’s energy security, accelerating renewable energy deployment, and enhancing the region’s long-term competitiveness.
