This report covers Parliamentary Questions answered in late September and early October 2025. Key themes include the development, resilience, and interconnectivity of EU energy grids, particularly in response to price volatility and physical incidents. Financing mechanisms for energy infrastructure, such as the Modernisation Fund, were also scrutinised. On the regulatory front, MEPs sought clarity on the implementation of the Methane Regulation and the balance between renewable energy deployment and environmental protections under the Habitats Directive. Finally, the bloc’s external energy partnerships were a major focus, with questions addressing the landmark energy agreement with the United States and geopolitical stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. A total of 8 Parliamentary Questions are covered in this briefing, all of which have received a response from the European Commission.
Commission Addresses Iberian Blackout and Stresses Critical Infrastructure Resilience
In response to a question concerning a recent blackout on the Iberian Peninsula, documented in E-002516/25, the Commission outlined its high-priority focus on enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure. In a response on 1 October 2025, Commissioner Jørgensen noted that while investigations into the blackout’s causes are ongoing, Member States are actively implementing the Directive on the resilience of critical entities and the Cybersecurity Directive. He also pointed to the Action Plan on Cable Security and a planned review of the energy security framework by 2026. The answer framed the incident within the broader context of risks associated with fossil fuel dependency, highlighting the REPowerEU plan and the Fit-for-55 package as key strategies to reduce such vulnerabilities through domestic renewable energy production.
Commission Welcomes Parliament Report on Grids, Touts Economic Benefits of Integration
Following the European Parliament’s own-initiative report on electricity grids, the Commission was asked about its position in E-002637/25. Commissioner Jørgensen, in a reply on 30 September 2025, welcomed the report, stating its findings align with the Commission’s own Action Plan for Affordable Energy and the EU Action Plan for Grids. The response underscored the immense economic benefits of more integrated energy markets, citing current savings of €34 billion yearly with a potential to reach €43 billion annually by 2030. Furthermore, integrated networks could generate net savings of up to €8 billion annually by 2040 and create 4.1 million extra jobs. The Commissioner reassured that all legislative initiatives respect Member States’ rights under Article 194 TFEU to determine their own energy mix.
EU Tackles Electricity Price Spikes in South-East Europe with Infrastructure and Market Measures
A question documented in P-003192/25 raised concerns about electricity price spikes in South-East Europe. In a response on 1 October 2025, Commissioner Jørgensen detailed the Commission’s collaborative efforts with Member States to mitigate these issues. Key measures discussed in recent Energy Council meetings include maximizing cross-border trade capacity, enhancing system flexibility, and reducing peak demand. The response highlighted the Affordable Energy Action Plan, a proposed fivefold budget increase for the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), and the work of the Energy Union Task Force, which has specifically focused on South-East Europe. The Commission also supports accelerating interconnections via the CESEC High-Level Group and has adopted a new State Aid framework within the Clean Industrial Deal to encourage clean energy investments.
Commission Clarifies Rules for Gas Infrastructure Financing via Modernisation Fund
MEP Mihai Tudose (S&D) submitted P-003363/25 on 2 September 2025, asking about the Commission’s stance on valuing energy security in applications for the Modernisation Fund and on amending the Climate Delegated Act to include natural gas transmission as a transition tool. In his reply on 30 September 2025, Commissioner Hoekstra explained that while the Modernisation Fund generally excludes fossil fuel investments, projects involving gaseous fossil fuels can be financed under certain circumstances related to energy security. However, he clarified that gas transmission infrastructure qualifies only as a “non-priority investment,” requiring a specific recommendation from the fund’s investment committee before the Commission can approve disbursement. Regarding the EU Taxonomy, he stated it already covers certain gas-related activities under strict conditions and noted that the EU’s gas infrastructure is already robust.
Commission Opts for Pragmatic Implementation over Simplification of Methane Regulation
A group of MEPs from the ECR group, including Mariateresa Vivaldini, submitted E-002719/25 on 3 July 2025, questioning how the Commission would simplify the Methane Regulation (EU) 2024/1787, which they described as difficult to implement. Responding on 30 September 2025, Commissioner Jørgensen stated that the Commission believes the most efficient way to address implementation challenges is through a pragmatic approach rather than legislative revision. This involves developing an EU reporting framework based on industry best practices, creating an implementing act on leak detection and repair, and formulating technical standards with the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). The Commission is also engaging in dialogue with industry and stakeholders to provide guidance, emphasizing that the regulation itself offers flexibility for compliance.
Commission Reaffirms Environmental Safeguards for Renewables in Natura 2000 Areas
A question regarding the installation of renewable energy projects in Natura 2000 sites in Greece, E-002580/25, prompted a detailed response on environmental law. On 3 October 2025, Commissioner Roswall reiterated that under the Habitats Directive, any project likely to have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site must undergo an appropriate assessment and can only be authorised if the site’s integrity is safeguarded. The response highlighted that the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Greece in June 2025 for failing to establish necessary conservation measures for 239 sites. While the amended Renewable Energy Directive (RED) aims to accelerate permitting, it also obliges Member States to identify specific areas for renewables where environmental impact would not be significant, explicitly excluding Natura 2000 sites from these lighter regimes.
Commission Confirms USD 750 Billion EU-US Energy Deal to Replace Russian Imports
In response to a query about a new energy agreement with the United States, E-003195/25, the Commission provided details on the landmark deal. Commissioner Šefčovič, in a reply on 1 October 2025, confirmed a political agreement to increase energy imports from the US, including liquified natural gas (LNG), oil, and nuclear items, with an expected total value of approximately USD 750 billion over the next three years. This initiative is designed to contribute to the full replacement of all Russian energy imports. The Commissioner clarified that the purchases will be carried out by private companies and are contingent on US production capacity and market conditions. He asserted that the agreement is compatible with the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal, as the bloc will still require some imported oil and gas during the transition.
EU Reaffirms Commitment to Great Sea Interconnector Amid Eastern Mediterranean Tensions
A question regarding the EU’s position on stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and its relationship with Türkiye, E-003188/25, received a firm response from the Commission. On 1 October 2025, High Representative/Vice-President Kallas stated that a stable and secure environment requires Türkiye’s unequivocal commitment to good neighbourly relations and international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The response stressed that the delimitation of exclusive economic zones must be addressed through dialogue and negotiation. The Commission explicitly reaffirmed its commitment to the Great Sea Interconnector, a Project of Common Interest supported by a €657 million grant from the Connecting Europe Facility and an additional €100 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, and stated the EU retains the right to use all available instruments to defend its interests.
