In brief

• A Polish MEP from Civic Coalition (KO) wants the CEF fund in 2028-2034 to finance the protection of energy infrastructure against sabotage.
• The amendment was tabled in the ITRE committee, and the vote is scheduled for 10 November.
• The change would cover power plants, transmission grids and submarine cables.

An amendment to the fund for 2028-2034

A Polish MEP is proposing that the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) be able to support the protection of critical infrastructure, not only its construction. The focus is on energy networks, power plants and submarine cables (Europa chce chronić elektrownie i kable podmorskie. Jest propozycja Polski – bankier.pl). The change would apply to the fund in the next EU multiannual budget period, covering 2028-2034.

Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz of Civic Coalition (KO) is the author of the amendment, which she presented in the committee dealing with industry, research and energy. She is also co-rapporteur of the document being prepared jointly with the transport committee. The vote is scheduled for 10 November.

Why protection, not only construction

As the MEP explains, the war in Ukraine has revealed new threats to the energy sector. Building networks alone is not enough; they must also be protected.

The change would cover funding for safeguards against attacks and sabotage, not only the expansion of transmission networks. Projects that add value to the security of the entire Union could benefit from this support.

What's next

The amendment must pass a vote in the ITRE committee, and earlier in the TRAN committee, with which the report is joint. Only then will the document go on to further work in Parliament and negotiations with member states. The final shape of the fund for 2028-2034 is therefore not yet settled.