Overview
This report covers the publication window from 13.04.2026 till 19.04.2026 (Monday to Sunday). The parliamentary questions (PQs) in this period highlight critical debates surrounding the EU’s energy transition, focusing heavily on renewable energy deployment, grid infrastructure, industrial competitiveness, and energy security. Key themes include the financing of green technologies, the impact of carbon pricing and state aid on heavy industry, and the strategic sourcing of critical raw materials amidst geopolitical volatility. In total, this briefing covers 34 PQs, of which 13 have been answered by the Commission and 21 remain pending.
❓ Fears linked to the slowing pace of electrification in Europe
Submitted on 7 April 2026 by Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (S&D), E-001384/2026 questions the Commission on measures to protect sectors like the photovoltaic industry, which are threatened by downward revisions in electricity demand forecasts following the relaxation of the ban on internal combustion engine vehicles. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Hydropower project threatening biodiversity goes ahead despite local opposition and warnings from experts
Submitted on 9 April 2026 by Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE), E-001454/2026 raises concerns over a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant on the Tambre River in Galicia. The MEP asks how the Commission will address alleged breaches of the Habitats Directive and the Aarhus Convention. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Full dismantling and recycling of offshore wind farms in Greece
Submitted on 9 April 2026 by Galato Alexandraki (ECR), E-001439/2026 asks whether the current EU framework sufficiently enables Member States to require the full dismantling of offshore wind farms and whether the Commission plans to propose binding rules on recycling composite materials and mandatory financial guarantees. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Solar farm under construction in a Natura area in Fokida
Submitted on 1 April 2026 by Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (NI), E-001363/2026 questions the construction of a solar farm in a Natura zone in Agia Efthymia, Greece. The MEP asks for the Commission’s view on the encroachment on private property and the impact of nature restoration regulations on energy expansion. A response from the Commission is pending.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels & Biomass
❓ Avoiding regional exclusion based on theoretical cropping potential
Submitted on 1 April 2026 by Benoit Cassart (Renew), E-001372/2026 asks how the Commission will ensure farmers are not disadvantaged by sustainability criteria under RED III that rely on theoretical land-use potential rather than established regional crop rotations for advanced biofuels. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Giving farmers certainty to invest in and supply sustainable aviation fuel markets
Submitted on 1 April 2026 by Benoit Cassart (Renew), E-001371/2026 requests clarity on how the Commission intends to ensure that certification requirements for advanced agricultural feedstocks provide legal and economic certainty for farmers supplying the SAF market. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Ensuring intermediate crops can realistically contribute to SAF targets
Submitted on 1 April 2026 by Benoit Cassart (Renew), E-001370/2026 seeks assurances that sustainability and certification rules for intermediate crops will reflect actual agronomic practices rather than rigid calendar-based criteria, allowing EU farmers to contribute to SAF targets. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Ecodesign requirements for high-voltage switchgear critical to electricity grid expansion
Submitted on 9 April 2026 by Anna Stürgkh (Renew) and colleagues, P-001442/2026 highlights regulatory uncertainty under the F-Gas Regulation regarding ecodesign requirements for high-voltage switchgear. The MEPs ask when the Commission will propose requirements to prevent grid operators from reverting to SF6 technologies. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Great Sea Interconnector and EU energy security in the Eastern Mediterranean
Submitted on 6 February 2026 by Fidias Panayiotou (NI), E-000494/26 raises concerns over delays to the Great Sea Interconnector caused by Turkish interventions. In a response on 16 April 2026, Commissioner Jørgensen affirmed that the project is of strategic importance to end Cyprus’ energy isolation and receives strong Commission support, noting regular contact with involved parties to manage geopolitical risks. The Commission reiterated the EU’s commitment to defending Member States’ sovereign rights.
❗ Plans to install an LNG plant in the Pagasetic Gulf
Submitted on 15 December 2025 by Kostas Papadakis (NI), E-004955/25 questions the construction of an LNG facility in Volos, Greece, citing industrial accident risks and geopolitical entanglements. In a response on 10 April 2026, Commissioner Jørgensen clarified that Member States are solely responsible for authorising specific energy infrastructure projects and ensuring compliance with EU law, while highlighting the Affordable Energy action plan to address high energy costs.
❓ Cost of capital for renewable energy firms
Submitted on 23 March 2026 by Bruno Gonçalves (S&D), Z-000009/2026 asks the European Central Bank whether it has researched market failures regarding the financing of renewable energy investments, noting that renewable producers often face higher interest rates than non-renewable producers. A response from the ECB is pending.
❓ Energy price containment measures
Submitted on 30 March 2026 by Catarina Martins (The Left), E-001309/2026 asks if the Commission will re-implement pandemic-era measures, such as revenue caps and market correction mechanisms, to contain energy prices impacted by the conflict with Iran. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Guaranteeing affordable energy prices in view of the conflict in Iran and the limitations of the European electricity market
Submitted on 1 April 2026 by Marina Mesure (The Left) and colleagues, E-001360/2026 questions the Commission on measures to guarantee affordable electricity prices and asks if a structural reform of the EU electricity market is being considered to decouple prices from gas indexation. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ European Public Prosecutor’s Office 2025 annual report
Submitted on 8 April 2026 by Alexander Jungbluth (ESN), E-001431/2026 references the EPPO’s findings of alleged fraud connected to NextGenerationEU. The MEP asks what structural vulnerabilities the Commission has identified in the oversight of green transformation funds and how it plans to prevent misappropriation. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Just Transition Fund and coal-mining regions
In a parliamentary inquiry regarding the Just Transition Fund (E-000295/2026), Executive Vice-President Fitto responded on 13 April 2026 that the core mission of the fund has been integrated into the National and Regional Partnership Plans for 2028-2034. While there is no dedicated earmarking for coal-mining regions in the next MFF, Member States must explain how their plans will contribute to territorial just transition strategies.
❗ Application of the GBER and access to state aid for energy-intensive undertakings in difficulty
Submitted on 3 February 2026 by Wouter Beke (PPE), E-000427/26 asks if the Commission will allow greater flexibility in the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) for energy-intensive sectors facing solvency issues. In a response on 17 April 2026, Executive Vice-President Ribera clarified that undertakings in severe distress are excluded from certain aid to prevent competition distortion, but noted that the GBER is currently being revised to simplify rules and reduce administrative burdens.
❗ Possibility of suspending the ETS
Submitted on 4 February 2026 by Marcin Sypniewski (ESN), E-000454/26 asks if the Commission is considering a temporary suspension of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to aid business competitiveness. In a response on 17 April 2026, Commissioner Hoekstra stated there are no plans to suspend the ETS, noting that upcoming reviews will set the emissions cap beyond 2030 and that the Clean Industrial Deal aims to lower energy costs.
❓ Appropriateness of implementing ETS2
Submitted on 10 April 2026 by Mihai Tudose (S&D), P-001472/2026 questions whether the Commission plans to assess the impact and appropriateness of introducing ETS2 in 2028, given the severe global energy price crisis and its effect on purchasing power. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ CBAM and the establishment of a temporary decarbonisation fund
Submitted on 30 January 2026 by Morten Løkkegaard (Renew), E-000397/26 asks why CO2-intensive semi-finished products will not be covered by CBAM until 2028. In a response on 10 April 2026, Commissioner Hoekstra explained that the 2028 timeline allows sufficient preparation for stakeholders. He added that the Temporary Decarbonisation Fund will support EU producers in 2026 and 2027 to reduce carbon leakage risks.
❓ European MRV and ETS frameworks for offshore activities
Submitted on 8 April 2026 by Wouter Beke (PPE), E-001421/2026 highlights implementation challenges of the EU MRV and ETS frameworks for offshore activities, such as the definition of a ‘port of call’. The MEP asks if the Commission is considering adapting the framework to ensure a level playing field. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Judicial inquiries in Spain into alleged favourable treatment in the authorisation of renewable-energy projects
Submitted on 4 March 2026 by Dolors Montserrat (PPE) and colleagues, E-000902/2026 asks if the Commission intends to seek clarification from Commissioner Teresa Ribera regarding corruption investigations into the authorization of renewable energy projects during her tenure as Spain’s Minister for Ecological Transition. A response from the Commission is pending.
Critical Raw Materials
❗ EU supplies of critical raw materials
Submitted on 9 February 2026 by Mihai Tudose (S&D), E-000513/26 references a European Court of Auditors report on critical raw materials and asks how the Commission will rectify recycling bottlenecks. In a response on 13 April 2026, Executive Vice-President Séjourné highlighted the recognition of 60 Strategic Projects (including 10 recycling projects) and proposed amendments to the Critical Raw Materials Act to advance circularity.
❗ EU position on the FORGE initiative for critical minerals supply chains
Submitted on 13 February 2026 by Beatrice Timgren (ECR) and colleagues, E-000643/26 asks about the EU’s involvement in the US-led FORGE initiative. In a response on 13 April 2026, Executive Vice-President Séjourné confirmed that the Commission has proposed to the Council to join FORGE on behalf of the EU, noting its potential to foster project development along the value chain.
❓ EU dependence on imports of raw materials
Submitted on 26 March 2026 by Tobiasz Bocheński (ECR), E-001283/2026 asks if the Commission will propose a plan to reduce dependence on raw material imports and take action to support manufacturing and mining within the EU. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Securing resilient supply chains for critical raw materials
Addressing a parliamentary inquiry (E-000471/2026) concerning critical raw materials, Executive Vice-President Séjourné responded on 13 April 2026 that the EU has accelerated the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act and adopted the RESourceEU Action Plan. The Commission plans to adopt a Circular Economy Act in the third quarter of 2026 to foster the recovery of critical raw materials from waste.
❓ Equivalence of radioactive minerals to other strategic minerals for the EU’s energy security
Submitted on 7 April 2026 by Jorge Martín Frías (PfE), E-001382/2026 asks how the Commission ensures that nuclear fuel supply chains receive equivalent regulatory treatment to critical raw materials linked to renewable energy, given that radioactive minerals fall outside the Critical Raw Materials Act. A response from the Commission is pending.
Industrial Competitiveness & Manufacturing
❗ ‘Buy European’
Submitted on 4 March 2026 by Siegbert Frank Droese (ESN), E-000899/26 questions whether the EU’s ‘Buy European’ policy amounts to protectionism. In a response on 17 April 2026, Executive Vice-President Séjourné stated that the Industrial Accelerator Act introduces targeted ‘Union origin’ requirements in specific strategic sectors when public money is involved, maintaining that the proposal aligns with WTO commitments and does not discriminate against international suppliers.
❗ Support for EV battery manufacturing
In response to a parliamentary inquiry (E-003795/2025) regarding EV battery manufacturing, Executive Vice-President Séjourné stated on 17 April 2026 that the Commission has announced up to EUR 3 billion from the Innovation Fund for EV battery manufacturing. He also highlighted the proposed Competitiveness Fund for the 2028-2034 MFF and EU content requirements under the Industrial Accelerator Act.
❗ Impact of EU transport policy on the automotive sector and budgetary impact on the EGF
Submitted on 11 February 2026 by Rachel Blom (PfE) and Auke Zijlstra (PfE), E-000588/26 asks how the Commission distinguishes between redundancies caused by business decisions versus EU legislation when assessing European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) applications. In a response on 10 April 2026, Executive Vice-President Mînzatu clarified that EGF mobilisation is based solely on the significant economic impact of job displacements, not the cause, and highlighted initiatives like the Battery Booster to scale up clean vehicle production in the EU.
❓ Contingency framework for public support in the steel sector
Submitted on 8 April 2026 by Bruno Tobback (S&D) and Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D), E-001433/2026 asks how the Commission will ensure sufficient capacity for EU low-carbon steel production and whether public support will be tied to local employment and decarbonisation, including claw-back procedures for offshoring. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Hungary’s action before the CJEU against the REPowerEU Regulation due to energy security and sovereignty concerns
Submitted on 10 February 2026 by Petra Steger (PfE), E-000547/26 asks why the import ban on Russian gas was passed by qualified majority rather than unanimity. In a response on 16 April 2026, Commissioner Jørgensen clarified that the regulation is a trade and energy policy measure meant to eliminate security risks, not a foreign policy sanction. He stated the Commission is working with Hungary and Slovakia to prepare the phase-out of Russian gas trade without supply risks.
❓ EU’s energy strategic autonomy
Submitted on 8 April 2026 by Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Renew), E-001404/2026 asks if the Commission envisages an accelerated strategy for energy strategic autonomy and whether it will adopt a technologically neutral approach reassessing the role of shale gas, nuclear energy, and coal during periods of acute external disruption. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Energy crisis and our energy independence
Submitted on 26 March 2026 by Damien Carême (The Left) and colleagues, E-001271/2026 questions the Commission on policies to extricate the EU from fossil fuel dependence and asks if steps will be taken to freeze diesel prices in light of geopolitical tensions involving the US and Israel. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ EU-Azerbaijan energy cooperation and potential risks
Submitted on 30 March 2026 by Loucas Fourlas (PPE), E-001312/2026 asks how the Commission assesses geopolitical risks arising from energy cooperation with Azerbaijan and what safeguards are in place to prevent new forms of energy dependency. A response from the Commission is pending.
