EU Presidency 2026: SupergridEurope submission on energy priorities
SupergridEurope has submitted a response to the Irish Government’s public consultation on the development of the priorities and policy programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026 (July–December).
With the European Commission’s Grids Package published on 10 December 2025, Ireland has a unique opportunity during its 2026 EU Council Presidency to lead negotiations on the legislative initiatives needed to deliver a “genuine Energy Union”, as called for by EU leaders, including at the European Council on 20 March 2025.
“The Irish Presidency of the EU is an opportunity to communicate how an energy-independent, decarbonised Europe will benefit people, businesses and communities across the Union, and to build support for the shared reforms needed to get there. With the right focus, Europe can deliver a modern, fossil-free electrostate powered by indigenous renewable energy,” said Christian Kjaer, Executive Director of SupergridEurope.
In our submission, we propose four priorities for the Irish Presidency to focus on:
Modernise and accelerate European electricity grids and planning: securing agreement on the European Grids Package, strengthening cross-border governance and planning, and enabling anticipatory investment and faster permitting.
Accelerate electrification: advancing reforms on dynamic pricing, cost-reflective network tariffs, flexible connections and integrated planning across electricity, hydrogen and gas systems.
Strengthen energy security: updating the EU energy security framework, addressing emerging risks (including cybersecurity and physical threats), and improving cross-border monitoring, coordination and resilience.
Embed flexibility in the energy system: prioritising flexibility needs assessments and market design work to ensure a reliable, low-cost, renewables-based electricity system as electrification accelerates.
SupergridEurope also encourages the Irish Presidency to convene energy-focused events in Ireland and Brussels ahead of, and during, the Presidency term to build alignment among stakeholders and amplify shared messages around EU energy priorities.
Read SupergridEurope’s full submission to the consultation here.
Read the Irish Government consultation page here.