Europe, it's time to power on

Ireland's Presidency of the EU Council comes at a critical point in Europe's energy transition

The decisions taken in the coming years will determine whether the European Union can meet its climate ambitions while maintaining energy affordability, security and competitiveness.

Ireland will soon assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, placing it at the centre of EU decision-making for six months as it helps steer complex negotiations that shape policy for around 450 million people.

Recent global events have underscored the importance of accelerating Europe's energy transition. Reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels will be essential to strengthening energy security, competitiveness and economic resilience, with clean electricity providing the foundation for a more secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.

Through its AccelerateEU agenda, the EU has signalled a strong commitment to strengthening energy infrastructure and accelerating decarbonisation. However, translating ambition into delivery will require sustained political focus and coordinated action across Member States.

As a long-term investor and operator of electricity infrastructure across Ireland and Europe, SSE believes Ireland has a unique opportunity to prioritise key areas of the EU energy agenda and drive progress on the legislation and policy that matter most for delivery.

How can Ireland use its Presidency to power progress?

We have identified five priorities that can help accelerate delivery and support Europe's transition to a cleaner, more secure and more competitive energy future.

Electricity networks are now the primary constraint on Europe's clean energy transition. Investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure has not kept pace with the growth in renewable generation.

Ireland should show leadership in advancing a strong European Grids Package, focused on strategic regional planning, forward-looking investment and more efficient planning processes.

Stronger cross-border coordination and enhanced interconnection can deliver improved consumer outcomes, strengthen resilience and support energy security.

Identification of cross border infrastructure needs should be based on a robust cost-benefit analysis and, in Ireland’s case, look at the wholesale market implications (SEM). Such an assessment should consider the marginal benefit of each additional MW and be based on whole-system modelling to evaluate the impact on consumers. 

More regional cross border planning is urgently required, beyond just national planning. Joint planning at regional level should be pursued, e.g. at North Seas basin level for offshore wind including with Norway and the UK. 

Electrification, alongside energy efficiency, is the most effective pathway to decarbonising homes, transport and industry. It can deliver lower emissions, improved energy security and greater long-term affordability.

Securing agreement on a strong EU Electrification Action plan during Ireland’s Presidency would provide a clear signal of intent. Progress is also needed on EU-level measures to remove barriers to electrification, including reducing the cost of industrial decarbonisation.

Progress is also needed on EU-level measures to remove barriers to electrification, including reducing the cost of industrial decarbonisation.

It is critical that the taxation of fuel, energy and electricity across the EU considers both affordability and the climate imperative and the EU’s electrification goals. Ireland should support efforts to conclude Energy Taxation Directive reform which has stalled. Barriers to electrification in the VAT Directive should also be addressed.

Ireland’s EU Presidency also offers an opportunity to progress reforms with regard to network charges which incentivise the efficient use of existing infrastructure and the shift towards flexibility and electrification.

To meet its 2040 targets, the EU will need to play a more active role in mobilising and de-risking decarbonisation investment in the enterprise sector. SSE supports the introduction of an Industrial Decarbonisation Bank and guarantee schemes for PPA off takers. Electrification will require a mix of incentives and regulations. It is critical that EU firms have access to funds to assist them with electrification and energy efficiency measures to deliver targets set under the Renewable Energy Directive, Energy Efficiency Directive and other legislation

Lengthy and complex permitting processes continue to slow the delivery of critical energy infrastructure across Europe. In many cases, major projects take a decade or more to complete as noted in Ireland’s Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan.

Ireland should also use its Presidency to advance the “simplification” agenda and promote an approach to EU regulations which enables the acceleration of infrastructure to address the challenges identified in the Draghi Report. Ireland should build on the omnibus packages which have sought to reduce regulatory burdens and simplify legislation.

Ireland should prioritise work on a framework that supports more efficient delivery while maintaining appropriate regulatory standards.

This should include well-resourced permitting authorities, streamlined approval processes and greater use of digital tools.

Maintaining effective market signals, including continued progress on emissions trading and renewable energy deployment, will also be essential.

Faster project delivery could be advanced through the sharing of permitting best practices, the promotion of one-stop shops, the use of digital platforms and the implementation of EU permitting rules (REDIII).

Ireland should use its 2026 Presidency to support effective implementation of RED III. A central focus should be promoting structured exchanges on best practices and lessons learned between Member States. Ireland should also work with the Commission to monitor Member State progress in RED III implementation and provide targeted support where capacity gaps exist.

SSE welcomes the commitment in the Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan to develop a strategy for engagement with the EU Commission to ensure new EU legislation is drafted with clauses/flexibility that reflects the differences between common and civil law jurisdictions. Ireland’s Presidency of the EU offers an opportunity to progress this work alongside other common law jurisdictions like Cyprus and Malta.

Offshore wind will play a central role in Europe’s clean energy future. Ireland can build on growing international political alignment by helping to translate commitments into delivered projects. Supporting supply chain development and measures to improve competitiveness will be important to ensure offshore wind can be deployed at scale in the years ahead.

To date, Ireland has played a critical role in developing the North Seas Energy Cooperation, in particular increasing focus on the shared value presented by unlocking the significant wind resource in the Celtic Sea, the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Building on this legacy in NSEC leadership, the EU Presidency should work in collaboration with the NSEC Presidency and the EU Commission to ensure there’s an EU focus on the delivery of the commitments made at the upcoming North Sea Summit to accelerate delivery and help drive technology cost reductions by 2040.

Closer regional cooperation will be critical to delivering a secure, competitive and decarbonised energy system. Ireland is well placed to support stronger collaboration between the EU and neighbouring markets, including the UK.

Progress on market integration, infrastructure planning and supply chains can strengthen resilience and efficiency across the system. Advancing agreements on emissions trading and addressing potential barriers to electricity trade will also help to support a more coordinated European energy market.

The inaugural EU-UK Summit in May 2025 signalled an important new chapter in the relationship between the EU and UK, and in the area of energy cooperation in general. The next EU-UK Summit is expected to take place during the Presidency, and presents an opportunity to build on the EU-UK Common Understanding in delivering electricity market coupling, shared infrastructure plans, supply chain cooperation and energy system security.

The commitment of both sides to link the respective Emissions Trading Systems (ETS) is particularly welcome. Ireland should also ensure the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) legislative Review negotiations are brought to a final conclusion by December 2026, ensuring that the rules on imported electricity are substantially improved.

By focusing on practical actions that enable delivery, Ireland’s Presidency can help power the transition to a cleaner, more secure and more competitive European energy system.

The opportunity is clear

By focusing on practical actions that enable delivery, Ireland's Presidency can help power the transition to a cleaner, more secure and more competitive European energy system.

Download SSE's EU Presidency priorities

SSE news from across Ireland and the EU

Ireland and the EU 01 Jul 2026

SSE sets out Priorities for Ireland's EU Council Presidency

Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months. As a long-term investor and operator of electricity infrastructure across Ireland and Europe, SSE believes this is a unique opportunity to prioritise key areas of the energy agenda and drive progress on the policy that matters most for delivery.

Ireland and the EU 26 Jun 2026

Construction begins at Platin Power Station

Construction begins at Platin Power Station in County Meath. Minister Thomas Byrne TD, Minister for EU Affairs, Cathaoirleach Sarah Reilly and Barry O’Regan, CFO, SSE turned the sod on Friday 26 June 2026.

Ireland and the EU 01 Jun 2026

Jubera becomes SSE’s first operational onshore wind farm in Spain

SSE’s 64MW Jubera onshore wind farm in northern Spain is now fully operational.