The European Commission has launched a new electricity interconnection targets expert group to help it boost electricity interconnection between EU countries. It was established in order to provide the Commission with technical advice on how to break down a 15% electricity interconnection target into regional, country and/or border interconnection targets, while taking costs into account.

The group will also provide the Commission with advice on achieving the 10% by 2020 interconnection target, in particular with regard to project finance and permit-granting procedures.
By 2020, the Commission has set a target of 10% electricity interconnection. Twenty-two EU countries are on track to reach, or have already reached, the target, but more interconnections are needed in some regions.

In 2014, in its European Energy Security Strategy, the Commission suggested extending its 10% electricity interconnection target by 2020 to 15% by 2030. To help achieve this, the Commission set up an expert group on electricity interconnection.

Recent developments in improving electricity interconnections include the LitPol cable that links the electricity infrastructures of Lithuania and Poland and the INELFE cable linking the French and Spanish systems.

Improving cross-border electricity interconnections will help the EU achieve its climate and energy goals. Connecting Europe's electricity systems would allow the EU to boost its security of electricity supply and to integrate more renewable energy. For example, surplus renewable energy produced in one country could be used in another country with a high electricity demand, via cable interconnections.

The group is made up of experts with detailed knowledge of the European energy market selected from European industry organisations, academic and research organisations, NGOs, international organisations and individuals.

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