E.DSO welcomes the European Commission’s MFF 2028–2034 proposal, presented on the last 16th of July. It emphasizes the importance of aligning EU funding with strategic energy and climate goals and calls for stronger support for electricity distribution infrastructure as a central enabler of the green transition.
In its initial reaction paper (you can find the full version here), E.DSO advocates for increased funding in distribution networks, research, skills development, and cohesion to support grids as a cornerstone of Europe’s energy transition.
More concretely, this position paper highlights the following key positions and recommendations:
- Supports the €30 billion increase in the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) budget.
- Calls for smart electricity grids, especially DSO-led projects with cross-border or system-wide impact, to remain eligible as PCI under TEN-E, with urgent clarity needed on their access to CEF funding.
- Advocates continued eligibility for DSO-led projects, especially smart electricity grids.
- Calls for coordinated funding across EU instruments (including National and Regional Partnerships), not relying solely on CEF.
- Supports synergy between European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) and Horizon Europe to fund R&D and grid deployment and scale-up of new technologies.
- Recommends that ECF, as a complement of CEF, should target grid modernization, digitalization, and expansion.
- Boost energy skills via a dedicated Erasmus+ stream (10–15% of its funds allocated to energy skills training).
- Welcomes the introduction of distribution grids among the specific priorities of the proposed National and Regional Partnerships regulation.
- Emphasizes the need for long-term financial and regulatory certainty to support grid expansion.
E.DSO is committed to engaging constructively with the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council and other stakeholders to shape the post-2027 MFF. We look forward to contributing our expertise to ensure the framework supports a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive energy future.
