January infringements package: key decisions on energy

In its regular package of infringement decisions, the European Commission pursues legal action against Member States for failing to comply with their obligations under EU law. These decisions, covering various sectors and EU policy areas, aim to ensure the proper application of EU law for the benefit of citizens and businesses.

In the list of January infringements, there is 1 energy-related letter of formal notice and 2 reasoned opinions and additional reasoned opinions.

Letters of formal notice

Commission calls on Member States to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty
Today, the European Commission decided to send letters of formal notice to 16 Member States that remain contracting parties to the Energy Charter Treaty after the European Union and Euratom withdrew from that Treaty on 28 June 2025. The Member States concerned are: Belgium (INFR(2026)2222), Bulgaria (INFR(2026)2223), Czechia (INFR(2025)2225), Estonia (INFR(2025)2226), Ireland (INFR(2025)2231), Greece (INFR(2025)2227), Croatia (INFR(2025)2229), Cyprus (INFR(2025)2224), Latvia (INFR(2025)2232), Hungary (INFR(2025)2230), Malta (INFR(2025)2233), Austria (INFR(2025)2221), Romania (INFR(2025)2234), Slovakia (INFR(2025)2236), Finland (INFR(2025)2228) and Sweden (INFR(2025)2235). The Energy Charter Treaty organises trade and investment relations in the energy sector between its contracting parties. In accordance with the Treaties, trade and investment fall within the exclusive competence of the European Union, and Member States may exercise this competence only if the Union empowers them to do so. Following the withdrawal of the Union and Euratom from the Energy Charter Treaty, the Member States concerned have not received such empowerment, nor have they taken any steps to withdraw from the Treaty. The Commission now calls on the Member States concerned to withdraw from the Treaty without undue delay. These Member States have now two months to respond to the letters of formal notice. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.

Reasoned opinions and additional reasoned opinions

Commission urges France to fully transpose EU rules accelerating permitting procedures for renewable energy projects
Today, the European Commission decided to send an additional reasoned opinion to France (INFR(2024)0227) for failing to fully transpose into national law the provisions of the revised Renewable Energy Directive related to the simplification and acceleration of permitting procedures. The revised Directive (EU) 2023/2413 amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001 entered into force in November 2023 and certain provisions had to be transposed into national law by the Member States by 1 July 2024. These provisions include measures to simplify and accelerate permitting procedures both for renewable energy projects and the infrastructure projects which are necessary to integrate the additional capacity into the electricity system. They also include clear time limits for permit-granting procedures targeted to specific technologies or types of projects, the strengthening of the role of the single contact point for applications, and the presumption that renewable energy projects and the related grid infrastructure are of overriding public interest. In September 2024, the Commission sent letters of formal notice to 26 Member States for failing to fully transpose the Directive into national law. In February 2025, France received a reasoned opinion for failing to provide sufficiently clear and precise information on how the transposition measures implement each of the Directive's provisions. This was because France had not explained clearly and precisely the national measures it considered to transpose the different obligations imposed by the Directive. After examining the transposition measures and correlation table notified by France, the Commission concluded that France has not yet fully transposed the Directive. Therefore, the Commission has decided to issue an additional reasoned opinion to France, indicating which specific provisions are not considered transposed. France has now two months to respond and complete the transposition. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union with a request to impose financial sanctions.

Commission urges Bulgaria and Austria to comply with the Methane Regulation
Today, the European Commission decided to send a reasoned opinion to Bulgaria (INFR(2025)2115) and Austria (INFR(2025)2116), for breaching the Methane Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 by failing to appoint a competent authority responsible for monitoring and enforcing the application of the rules and notify it to the Commission. The Methane Regulation tackles methane emissions in the crude oil, natural gas and coal sectors. It aims to improve measurement and reporting of methane emissions in the EU, to foster their abatement and to increase transparency in the EU and globally. It also incentivises the EU's international partners to measure, report and reduce their methane emissions. Member States had to notify to the Commission the names and contact details of their competent authorities by 5 February 2025. The Commission notes that Bulgaria and Austria have still not fulfilled this obligation. The Commission is therefore sending a reasoned opinion to the two Member States, which now have two months to respond and address the shortcomings raised by the Commission. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

For more information on the EU infringement procedure, see the full press release and Q&A. For more detail on the history of a case, you can consult the infringement decisions' register.