PCI/PMI energy projects: applications for the EU's third list are due by 13 November

On 14 September 2026, the European Commission opened the call for energy infrastructure projects to be included on the Union's third list: projects of common interest (PCI) and projects of mutual interest (PMI). Promoters of electricity transmission and storage projects can apply until 13 November 2026. For smart electricity and gas grids the deadline is 4 December 2026. PCI/PMI status does not come with money, but it makes the project eligible for Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Energy) grants and gives it an accelerated permitting procedure of no more than 3.5 years.

In brief

• Programme: selection of PCI/PMI projects for the Union's third list (TEN-E Regulation)
• Authority: European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy. Evaluation is carried out by the TEN-E regional groups
• Beneficiaries: promoters of energy infrastructure projects, i.e. network operators and energy companies
• Categories in this call: electricity transmission, electricity storage, smart electricity grids, smart gas grids and projects submitted under Article 24 of the TEN-E Regulation
• Submission period: 14 September – 13 November 2026 (midnight) for electricity; 14 September – 4 December 2026 (midnight) for smart grids and Article 24 projects
• Status: call open. The final list will be adopted at the end of 2027 and will enter into force at the beginning of 2028

What does PCI/PMI status bring?

According to the European Commission, projects on the Union list have three advantages:

• Access to CEF Energy funding. PCI and PMI projects are eligible for CEF Energy grants. The programme has 5.8 billion euro for energy in 2021–2027, and the 2026 CEF Energy call, launched on 30 April, had 600 million euro.
• Faster permitting. The pre-application phase lasts no more than 2 years and may be omitted if it is not needed. The statutory permitting procedure lasts no more than 18 months. In total, the process takes a maximum of 3.5 years and can be extended by 9 months in exceptional cases. Permitting is managed by a national competent authority.
• Priority. Member States must treat PCI/PMI projects as urgent, of the highest national importance. In environmental assessments, they may be considered to be of overriding public interest.

Who can apply and which projects qualify?

Applicants are the promoters of projects that can receive PCI or PMI status. A PCI must have an impact on at least two Member States. It must also contribute to market integration, competition, security of supply, climate objectives and the integration of renewable sources.

A PMI is a project between a Member State and a non-EU country. The partner country must have a policy framework very close to that of the EU, and the project must bring benefits for security of supply and decarbonisation. PMI status is granted only for electricity transmission, hybrid offshore interconnectors, hydrogen transmission and CO2 networks.

In practice, this means cross-border transmission lines, electricity storage capacity and projects for the digitalisation and automation of networks. Such projects are usually managed by transmission and distribution operators or by large energy companies.

How and by when do you apply?

Each category has a separate submission channel:

• Electricity transmission: on the ENTSO-E TYNDP 2026 platform (tyndp2026.entsoe.eu), by 13 November 2026;
• Electricity storage: also on the ENTSO-E TYNDP 2026 platform, by 13 November 2026;
• Smart electricity grids: via the Commission's EUSurvey form, by 4 December 2026;
• Smart gas grids: via the dedicated EUSurvey form, by 4 December 2026;
• Article 24 projects: by e-mail to EU-PCI-PMI-LIST@ec.europa.eu, by 4 December 2026.

On 30 September 2026, from 9:30 to 12:30, the Commission is holding an information webinar. The recording will be published on the PCI/PMI selection process page.

For hydrogen, electrolysers and CO2 there is a separate call, which closes on 30 September 2026.

What happens after you submit?

The selection is repeated every two years and has several stages:

1. The regional groups check whether the projects are eligible and evaluate them against the criteria of the TEN-E Regulation. The groups are led by the Commission and include the Member States, transmission operators, ACER and the regulatory authorities.
2. The decision-making bodies, made up of the Member States and the Commission, rank the compliant projects.
3. The Commission adopts the Union list by means of a delegated act.
4. The European Parliament and the Council have two months to examine the list. They cannot amend it, but they can reject it.
5. If there are no objections, the list enters into force. For this cycle, that is expected at the beginning of 2028.

What this means for your business

Our recommendation: the call is aimed primarily at network operators and energy companies with cross-border projects. An ordinary SME or a town hall cannot request PCI/PMI status on its own. Even so, the call matters to them too, for two reasons:

• Suppliers and contractors. Projects on the list receive CEF money and are permitted faster, so there will be contracts for works, equipment and services in the coming years. Construction, electrical installation and automation companies can follow which projects from Romania make it onto the list.
• Distribution operators and energy companies. If you have a smart grid project with cross-border impact, the real deadline is 4 December. Prepare the cost-benefit analysis and the evidence of the impact on at least two Member States in good time, because the regional groups evaluate against these criteria.

The common pitfall: PCI/PMI status is not a grant. Funding is requested separately, in the annual CEF Energy calls, only after the project is on the list. For a project submitted now, that means 2028. If you want to find out which funding options suit your company today, try the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Will I receive money if my project becomes a PCI or PMI?

Not directly. The status makes the project eligible for CEF Energy grants and brings it accelerated permitting and priority. The money is obtained separately, through CEF Energy calls. The 2026 call had 600 million euro.

What is the deadline for submitting applications?

Electricity transmission and storage projects must be submitted by 13 November 2026, at midnight. Smart electricity and gas grids and Article 24 projects must be submitted by 4 December 2026, at midnight.

How long does permitting a PCI/PMI project take?

No more than 3.5 years: a pre-application phase of up to 2 years, which may be omitted, and a statutory procedure of up to 18 months. In exceptional cases, the deadline can be extended by 9 months.

Can I also submit a hydrogen project now?

Hydrogen, electrolysers and CO2 networks have a separate call, which closes on 30 September 2026. The 14 September call covers only electricity, smart grids and Article 24 projects.

When will the final list be ready?

The Commission estimates that it will adopt the third Union list at the end of 2027. The list will enter into force at the beginning of 2028, if the European Parliament and the Council do not reject it.

Official sources

• European Commission – call for electricity and smart grid PCI/PMI projects (14 September 2026)
• European Commission – PCI and PMI selection process
• European Commission – permitting of PCI and PMI projects
• European Commission – funding of PCI and PMI projects through CEF

Information checked on 28 September 2026. Conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.