Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the proposal on Monday. “Europe is ready to negotiate with the US”, she stated.

The Leaders decided to establish a Strategic Partnership between the two regions, marking a new phase in relations. “We are moving closer together. This Partnership will make deeper connections between our two regions. It will lead to new opportunities for cooperation. Be it in the energy sector or security, from digital to tourism. And it will bring people together from across our regions. Reliable partners have never been so important.”, said Von der Leyen.

Analysts warn that U.S. tariffs on clean tech could fracture global supply lines and send renewable project costs soaring in Europe, threatening investment flows and deepening dependence on Chinese technology.

The President of the European Commission noted that the universal tariffs announced by the United States are a severe blow to businesses and consumers around the world. “Europe is ready to respond,” she asserted.

The call, linked to the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility for Energy (CEF Energy), addresses funding proposals for studies and construction works and will be open until 16 September 2025 at 17.00 (CEST). Results will be known early next year. 

The rapid development of new electricity grids and the optimal use of existing infrastructure are key to a successful EU energy transformation. On 26 March 2025, the Minister of Climate and Environment, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, addressed this topic at the flagship event of the Polish Presidency: Resilient EU grids : ensuring energy security and competitiveness.