RED III infringement procedures keep pressure on Baltic states
Although Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland have begun implementing the RED III requirements, the European Commission is continuing infringement proceedings against all four countries. These proceedings are most often related to the lack of formally approved status for renewables acceleration areas, the absence or incomplete functionality of a single contact point, and the lack of digital tools. The Commission’s guidelines clearly emphasize that without these components, Member States will not be able to fully announce tenders or attract EU co-financing. This regulatory pressure from Brussels is a factor that accelerates national reforms, but at the same time creates additional instability in investment planning. Legal certainty and a predictable timetable are important for international developers, but the current situation in the Baltics creates a lot of uncertainty. Many local governments and environmental agencies are not sufficiently prepared to implement reforms – there is a lack of staff, training, and interagency coordination. This shows that legal reforms are only the first step: actual implementation requires long-term institutional capacity and effective management.