EU Member States agreed Wednesday to allocate EUR 647 M to support priority infrastructure projects.

The bulk of the support goes to gas projects in the Baltic region as well as in Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe, according to a media statement of the European Commission.

Funding will come from an EU program called the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

The supported projects are to increase Europe's energy security and help end the isolation of Member States from EU-wide energy networks.

The projects will also contribute to the completion of a European energy market and the integration of renewables to the electricity grid.

EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said: "I welcome today's decision, which will help us to quickly build the infrastructure we need to ensure Europe's energy security. The geopolitical crisis has highlighted the need to better connect energy networks. This is also crucial for an integrated energy market where consumers get the best value for their money."

Most of the money will directly or indirectly finance gas projects. Besides the construction of new pipelines, these gas projects also include terminals to ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the Baltic region, Central Eastern and South Eastern Europe.

Innovative technologies in electricity will also be co-financed. These include a feasibility study for a 700 km long subsea high-voltage direct current cable between Norway and the United Kingdom and a smart grids project on the border of Ireland and the UK (Northern Ireland).

Of the 34 grants given, 16 are in natural gas and 18 in electricity sector, 28 grants are paid for studies, such as environmental impact assessments (EUR 91.4 M), 6 grants go to construction works project (EUR 555.9 M).

A number of projects supported have been identified as key security of supply projects in the European Energy Security Strategy of May 28, 2014. The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) provides funding for those projects that have clear benefits beyond national borders and are commercially not viable or not affordable to users in certain Member States.

The grants under CEF can finance up to 50% of the eligible costs of actions. However, in exceptional circumstances - when an action clearly benefits security of supply, strengthens solidarity between Member States or enables highly-innovative solutions - up to 75% of the costs for works can be covered by the facility.

The European Commission proposal was supported by the CEF Coordination Committee, which consists of representatives from Member States. Later this year, the Commission will formally adopt the list of proposals which will receive financial assistance under CEF-Energy.

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