European Union

Every year on 27 January the victims of the Holocaust are commemorated. Although there are ever fewer eyewitnesses who can give personal testimony about the mass murders committed by the Nazis, numerous events are held to help keep the memory alive. Efforts to educate people about the past must be redoubled, commentators urge.

Tomorrow, on Wednesday 28 January, Internal Market Committee MEPs will hold a Q&A session with cities competing to host the headquarters of the future European Customs Authority (EUCA).
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Tomorrow, on Wednesday 28 January, Internal Market Committee MEPs will hold a Q&A session with cities competing to host the headquarters of the future European Customs Authority (EUCA).
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Tomorrow, on Wednesday 28 January, Internal Market Committee MEPs will hold a Q&A session with cities competing to host the headquarters of the future European Customs Authority (EUCA).
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Written by Saša Butorac.

CONTEXT

Expansion and modernisation of the energy infrastructure in Member States is one of the key challenges of the ongoing energy transition in the EU. The electricity grids need to develop in order to ensure the security of energy supply, increase the resilience of Europe’s energy system, and integrate the rapid roll-out of renewable energy sources, particularly at the distribution level. Given the peristent challenges relating to permit-granting procedures and delays in grid connection approvals at the national level, on 10 December 2025 the European Commission published the European grids package.

Along with the Commission proposal to introduce a new framework on the trans-European energy infrastructure guidelines, the proposal on acceleration of permit-granting procedures forms the core part of the grids package. It seeks to introduce a coherent regulatory framework at the EU level that addresses key challenges to a timely and cost-efficient development and upgrade of the transmission and distribution grids, storage, recharging stations and renewable energy projects. Major hurdles addressed in the proposal are incoherent administrative systems, lack of resources in national competent authorities, the complex nature of environmental impact assesments, the lack of public acceptance, the limited digitalisation of the procedures and data availability, as well as various judicial challenges.

Legislative proposal

2025/0400(COD) – Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives (EU) 2018/2001, (EU) 2019/944, (EU) 2024/1788 as regards acceleration of permit-granting procedures – COM(2025) 1007, 10.12.2025.

NEXT STEPS IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

For the latest developments in this legislative procedure, see the Legislative Train Schedule:2025/0400(COD)

Read the complete briefing on ‘Acceleration of permit-granting procedures‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

The Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement to improve the efficiency of the EU External Action Guarantee under NDICI-Global Europe.

The 25th meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro provisionally closed chapter 32 on financial control.

Damit haben nur wenige gerechnet: Gino Caviezel kehrt 13 Monate nach seinem fürchterlichen Abflug in Bormio (It) an den Weltcup-Start zurück. Der Bündner erklärt, wieso es in diesem Winter bei diesem einen Start bleiben wird.

Nach dem Rücktritt von Joel Wicki ist es Zeit, die besten Schwinger der Historie anzuschauen. Den amtierenden König Orlik lässt er hinter sich, verpasst aber die vorderen Plätze der Top 15.

Eine Idee mit politischem Hintergrund: Eine Ehe zwischen Prinzessin Isabella und Barron Trump. Dabei geht es nicht um die beiden Teenager, sondern um Grönland. Der ungewöhnliche Vorschlag sorgt für Wirbel im Netz.

Dem Aargauer Tiefsteuerparadies Meisterschwanden droht ein Loch in der Kasse. Nun will die Gemeinde den Steuerfuss von 60 auf 70 Prozent erhöhen. Grund ist unter anderem der Wegzug der Swatch-Dynastie Hayek.

Der Luzerner Regierungsrat ist beunruhigt darüber, wie der Stromkonzern Axpo mit seiner Luzerner Tochter CKW umgeht. Er will deswegen alle Optionen prüfen, auch einen Verkauf seiner CKW-Aktien.

No Normal boomt bei Outdoorfans weltweit, besonders aber in den USA. Trotz Zöllen verkauft sich Kaffee in der Tube dort besser, sagen die Schweizer Gründer. Alexander Häberlin und Philippe Greinacher verraten ihre Kaffee-Pläne für das laufende Jahr.

Vor 26 Tagen änderte sich das Leben von Leila Micheloud aus Réchy VS dramatisch: Ihre Töchter Farah (20) und Meissa (18) wurden beim Inferno von Crans-Montana schwer verletzt. Die Familie kämpft um Heilung – und Gerechtigkeit.

Written by Saša Butorac.

CONTEXT

Timely, cost-efficient expansion and modernisation of the European energy infrastructure is one of the key challenges in the EU’s ongoing energy transition. Grid development is needed to ensure energy supply security, increase the resilience of Europe’s energy system and integrate the rapid roll-out of renewable energy sources. Cross border infrastructure plays a vital role in connecting national energy networks..

Meeting the 2030 interconnection targets is particularly important for completing the energy union and reaching European Union energy and climate goals. Given the scale of investment required, the persistent governance challenges around cross‑border projects and the need to enhance the robustness of the scenarios on which they are based, the European Commission has put forward a proposal to revise the TEN‑E regulation, as part of the European grids package published on 10 December 2025. The proposal is one of two legislative initiatives forming the core of the package (the other is on accelerating permit‑granting procedures).

Legislative proposal

2025/0399(COD) – Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, amending Regulations (EU) 2019/942, (EU) 2019/943 and (EU) 2024/1789 and repealing Regulation (EU) 2022/869 – COM(2025) 1006, 10 December 2025.

NEXT STEPS IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

For the latest developments in this legislative procedure, see the Legislative Train Schedule:

2025/0399(COD)

Read the complete briefing on ‘Guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure Revision of the TEN E Regulation‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.