Kelly Welcomes Overwhelming Support for Strategic Electricity Grids Report

Sean Kelly MEP, Ireland South representative and Leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament, has welcomed the “resounding endorsement” of the European Parliament for the report Electricity Grids: the backbone of the EU energy system, which passed with 418 votes in favour, 112, against and 45 abstentions.

Mr Kelly, who served as lead negotiator for the European People’s Party (EPP) on the file, described the report as “a crucial turning point in Europe’s energy transition,” adding that “this is about putting the wires in place for our Net Zero future.”

“I’m delighted with the strong support this report has received,” Kelly said. “It sends a clear signal to the Commission ahead of the forthcoming Grids Package: we need long-term planning, political ambition, and investment clarity to get this done.”
Kelly warned that without a modernised grid system, Europe’s climate and competitiveness goals are in jeopardy. “European competitiveness and Net Zero will not happen without a massively expanded and modernised electricity grid,” he stated.

Highlighting the urgent need to address delays in strategic energy projects, Kelly said: “Across Europe, critical projects are being held up for years—sometimes decades—by red tape and legal bottlenecks. We hear plenty of talk about the climate emergency, but we need far more voices calling for faster, streamlined planning for grid infrastructure.”

The report outlines concrete recommendations for improving interconnection, unlocking offshore wind potential, enhancing digital and cyber-resilience, and reducing permitting delays.

“We must work backwards from our 2050 objective,” Kelly stressed. “What grid reinforcements do we need? How do we drive interconnection and complete the Energy Union? How do we finally move from vision to delivery on the European SuperGrid?”
Kelly emphasised the need to treat grid infrastructure as a strategic public interest: “If we don’t build grid, Europe will be both uncompetitive and high-emitting—the worst of both worlds.”

“The adoption of this report gives us a real opportunity to shift gears,” Kelly concluded. “Now the challenge is delivery. We need to move from words to wires—urgently.”