Agenda of the EU Energy Council, 16 March 2026

European grids package

EU energy ministers will hold a policy debate on the European grids package: the Commission proposals for the revision of the existing regulation on the trans-European energy infrastructure (TEN-E) and for the permitting directive, which were presented on 10 December 2025.

The aim of the grids package is to improve cross-border interconnectivity, boost electrification and speed up permitting for grids, while making cross-border infrastructure more resilient and secure.

• Communication on European grids package 
• Proposal for a revised regulation on trans-European network for energy (TEN-E) 
• Permitting directive 
• How the EU is greening energy (background information)
• Energy

Action plan for affordable energy: a year on

The Council will take stock of the progress made on the action plan for affordable energy, which was presented by the Commission a year ago and aims to lower energy costs.

During the exchange of views, energy ministers will have the opportunity to present effective measures taken to implement the action plan and to examine ways to further reduce energy costs in the short term.

• Action plan for affordable energy 
• Affordable energy (European Commission) 

Energy security: lessons learned from Ukraine and Moldova

Ministers will be invited to share their views on advancing mutual energy security through integration and shared lessons with Ukraine and Moldova. They will be joined by Moldovan Minister of Energy, Dorin Junghietu and the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Energy of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal.

• EU assistance to Ukraine: energy security and infrastructure (background information)
• Energy prices and security of supply (background information)

Clean energy investments

Over lunch, ministers will be joined by the Director ad interim of ACER, Volker Zuleger, and the Director-General of the EIB’s Projects Directorate, Laura Piovesan, to discuss ways to accelerate clean energy investments for European competitiveness.

• How is EU electricity produced and sold? (infographic)

Practical information

• Meeting n°4163
• Location: Brussels

Live streaming

16 March 2026

• 09:40  Public session  – morning (Energy)
• 16:05  Public session  – afternoon (Energy)
• 16:15  Press conference  – Energy

Preparatory documents

• List of A items, non-legislative activities 
• Provisional agenda 
• Background brief