Overview
This report provides an analytical summary of parliamentary questions (PQs) and answers published during the timeframe of 06.09.2026 till 13.09.2026 (Monday → Sunday). The monitored documents highlight a strong focus on the regulatory, infrastructural, and geopolitical dimensions of the European energy transition. Key themes include the deployment and environmental impact of renewables (wind and solar), the development of critical energy infrastructure such as battery storage and grids, and the governance of national recovery plans. Additionally, MEPs raised significant concerns regarding industrial supply chains (EV batteries, PFAS in turbines, lithium mining), regulatory frameworks like the Methane Regulation and CBAM, and external energy security—spanning Arctic drilling, trade dependencies on Türkiye, and sanctions on Russian LNG. In total, this briefing covers 13 PQs, of which 5 have been answered by the Commission and 8 remain pending.
❓ Infrasound and Noise Pollution from Wind Turbines
Submitted on 1 September 2026 by Virginie Joron (PfE), O-000034/2026 questions the Commission on addressing regulatory gaps regarding low-frequency noise (infrasound) generated by new-generation wind turbines, asking whether the Commission plans to redefine minimum safety distances and revise the Environmental Noise Directive or the Industrial Emissions Directive to explicitly include wind turbine noise indicators. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Solar Power Station Construction in Natura 2000 Areas
Submitted on 31 August 2026 by Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE), E-003373/2026 raises concerns about a planned 400 MW solar power station in Thessaly (Antichasia) located within Natura 2000 protected areas, asking how the Commission ensures compliance with EU environmental directives and whether it will request the suspension of permitting procedures to prevent habitat destruction. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Greek Energy Storage and the Recovery Fund
Submitted on 23 June 2026 by Yannis Maniatis (S&D), E-002575/26 inquires about the delayed implementation of energy storage measures in Greece’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) and the resulting impact on electricity prices given the country’s low battery capacity compared to installed renewables. In a response on 9 September 2026, Commissioner Dombrovskis stated that Measure 16926 was revised due to supply bottlenecks and electrification delays, with final milestones requiring 700 MW of battery capacity and civil works for the Amfilochia pumped hydro station to be assessed in Greece’s ninth payment request in September 2026; he noted that while no exact price impact analysis was conducted, a lack of grid flexibility generally increases price volatility and system costs.
❗ Revisions to the Greek Recovery and Resilience Plan
Submitted on 24 June 2026 by Sakis Arnaoutoglou (S&D), E-002601/26 questions whether the continuous revisions, withdrawals, and scope reductions of projects within the ‘Greece 2.0’ National Recovery and Resilience Plan affect the achievement of its original strategic objectives. In a response on 7 September 2026, Commissioner Dombrovskis confirmed that the Commission assesses all amendments against RRF Regulation criteria, noting that the revised plan’s climate tagging has actually increased to 39.8% and that the adjustments, which also address emerging needs like storm reconstruction, remain fully conducive to achieving the plan’s strategic goals.
❗ Methane Regulation and Energy Security Equivalency
Submitted on 23 July 2026 by Sander Smit (ECR), P-003107/26 raises concerns about the Methane Regulation’s impact on oil and gas supply security, asking which third countries have engaged in equivalence procedures since August 2024 and whether the Commission will amend Article 28 to prevent a market shift back to coal. In a response on 4 September 2026, Commissioner Jørgensen stated that while an exploratory dialogue is underway with Canada, no formal equivalence request has been initiated; however, he emphasized that alternative compliance pathways exist, such as the voluntary Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP) framework, which is expected to cover nearly 70% of production at Level 5 by 2027, thereby ensuring a pragmatic implementation that protects both the environment and energy security without requiring immediate legislative amendments.
❓ Legal Basis for Electricity and Natural Gas Taxation
Submitted on 1 September 2026 by Barbara Bonte (PfE), E-003428/2026 challenges the legal basis of proposed Article 18c in the internal electricity market regulation (COM(2026) 600), asking why the Commission relies on Article 194(2) TFEU (qualified majority) rather than Article 194(3) TFEU (unanimity) for a measure that obliges Member States to apply a tax differential between electricity and natural gas. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ CBAM Extension and SME Competitiveness
Submitted on 2 September 2026 by Tobiasz Bocheński (ECR), E-003443/2026 highlights concerns from European industry regarding the planned extension of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to downstream product groups, asking if the Commission has assessed the impact on supply chains and SME competitiveness—particularly in manufacturing hubs like Poland—and whether transitional simplification periods are being considered. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ PFAS Restrictions and Wind Turbine Manufacturing
Submitted by an unspecified MEP on an unlisted date, E-002887/26 addresses the potential impact of the proposed universal restriction on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on the energy sector, specifically wind turbines. In a response on 4 September 2026, Executive Vice-President Séjourné clarified that while the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently assessing wind turbines as a sub-use in terms of risk and socioeconomic impacts, the Commission cannot anticipate the final scientific assessment but remains committed to allowing critical industrial applications under specific conditions and emission reduction requirements until acceptable substitutes are found.
❗ EU Involvement in the Jadar Lithium Mining Project
Submitted by an unspecified MEP on an unlisted date, E-002916/26 queries the extent of EU funding and support for the controversial Jadar lithium mining project in Serbia. In a response on 7 September 2026, Executive Vice-President Séjourné clarified that the project received no direct EU funding, though the Serbian exploration company participated indirectly as an associated partner in the Horizon Europe VECTOR project; he further noted that the Commission is aware of Rio Tinto’s decision to place the project into a care and maintenance phase and maintains the authority under the Critical Raw Materials Act to withdraw Strategic Project status if necessary criteria are no longer met.
❓ Repair and Reuse of Electric Vehicle Batteries
Submitted on 2 September 2026 by Anna-Maja Henriksson (Renew), E-003469/2026 raises concerns from a Finnish citizens’ initiative regarding new national guidelines linked to the Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, asking how the Commission will ensure that independent workshops can continue repairing and reusing EV batteries without being subjected to unreasonable manufacturer obligations that could hinder the circular economy. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Arctic Hydrocarbon Extraction and EU Climate Goals
Submitted on 27 August 2026 by César Luena (S&D), E-003352/2026 asks the Commission to evaluate Norway’s plans to develop new oil and gas reserves in the Barents Sea against the EU’s 2021 Arctic policy, questioning whether replacing Russian fossil fuels with new Arctic investments is compatible with the goal of climate neutrality by 2050. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Reducing EU Trade Dependence on Türkiye
Submitted on 29 August 2026 by Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR), E-003370/2026 highlights geopolitical tensions with Türkiye and its interference in Greek-Cypriot energy interconnections, asking the Commission what specific tools Member States can use to replace Turkish imports, whether it will map dependencies by strategic sector, and if Greece and Cyprus can formally request an EU plan to reduce these dependencies. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Maintenance of Russian LNG Tankers in EU Shipyards
Submitted on 2 September 2026 by Tomáš Zdechovský (PPE), E-003465/2026 questions the legality and ethics of the Danish Fayard shipyard continuing to provide maintenance services to specialized Arc7 tankers transporting Russian LNG, asking if the Commission intends to close remaining sanctions loopholes to prevent EU companies from facilitating revenues that finance Russia’s aggression. A response from the Commission is pending.
