In September 2024, the European Commission sent formal warning letters to 26 EU Member States in its infringement package, stating that they had not fully transposed the requirements of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) regarding the simplification and acceleration of the permit granting process.
RED III – the revised RED (Directive 2023/2413 amending Directive 2018/2001) entered into force in November 2023, and certain provisions had to be transposed by 1 July 2024. They provide for clear deadlines for the issuance of permits for specific technologies or projects, the strengthening of the single point of contact principle, and the presumption that renewable energy projects and the necessary network infrastructure are objects of overriding public interest.
Although Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland have taken some steps to implement RED III, the Commission stresses that the requirements of the Directive have not yet been fully implemented, particularly with regard to speeding up the granting of permits and the formal approval of areas for accelerated development of renewable energy resources. Only Denmark has fully notified the transposition of all requirements within the deadline.
Member States have two months to respond and fully comply with their transposition obligations, failing which the Commission may issue a reasoned opinion, which is the next step in the infringement procedure.
Source: European Commission, 26.09.2024.