Learnings from other mechanisms The EU already has several mechanisms in place for multilevel governance and cross-border cooper­ation that can serve as inspiration for the CCT, or as existing mechanisms the CCT can plug into. The Trans-European Networks(for energy, transport or telecommunications, though here we focus only on energy), Important Projects of Common European Interest, and EU Semester are all presented below as such mechanisms to learn from and build on. TEN-E The Trans-European Networks for Energy(TEN-E) is an instrument for connecting energy networks across EU countries. This is aimed at strengthen­ing cohesion and solidarity while also improving market integration between EU countries. This pol­icy was first enacted in Regulation(EU) 347/2013 and most recently revised in Regulation EU 2022/­869 to align with the objectives of the European Green Deal and help improve the affordability of energy prices. 35 The governance of TEN-E involves establishing regional groups that propose and review potential projects of common interest to establish regional lists of projects. The regulation calls for this to be done in cooperation with national governments and relevant stakeholders, including civil society, to ensure broad consensus and project success. 36 The regulation also states that the Commission should play an important role in facilitating coop­eration between regional groups to mitigate im­pacts between regions, and that a“competent au­thority” should coordinate permit-granting pro­cesses for overall efficiency and transparency. 37 The Letta Report also pointed to the potential of these regional groups to“spearhead significant action” through more active political engage­ment, with annual ministerial-level meetings. 38 Still, there are shortcomings in TEN-E. First, de­spite the EU’s decarbonisation goals, gas projects are still routinely identified as projects of com­mon interest 39 . Second, the project selection pro­cess is too slow and complex, and permitting pro­cedures vary significantly between Member States, further slowing down the process and cre­ating a gap between legally-required timeframes and the reality. 40 In 2025, a call for evidence on the European Grids Package was published to 35  European Commission.(n.d.). Trans-European Networks for Energy. Retrieved on October 31, 2025 from https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/ infrastructure/trans-european-networks-energy_en. 36  European Parliament and Council.(2022, May 30). Regulation(EU) 2022/869 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, amending Regulations(EC) No 715/2009,(EU) 2019/942 and(EU) 2019/943 and D­ irectives 2009/73/EC and(EU) 2019/944, and repealing Regulation(EU) No≈347/ 2013[Arts. 31, 38](OJ L 152/45). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-­content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32022R0869. 37  European Parliament and Council.(2022, May 30). Regulation(EU) 2022/869 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, amend­ing Regulations(EC) No 715/2009,(EU) 2019/942 and(EU) 2019/943 and D­ irectives 2009/73/EC and(EU) 2019/944, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 347/2013[Arts. 32, 39](OJ L 152/45). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-­content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32022R0869. 38  Letta, E.(2024). Much more than a market: Speed, security, solidarity: Empowering the Single Market to deliver a sustainable future and ­prosperity for all EU Citizens(p. 62). https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/ny3j24sm/much-more-than-a-market-report-by-enrico-letta.pdf. 39  Cross-border infrastructure projects which link the energy systems of EU countries. These ­projects qualify based on meeting certain criteria. 40  Ahamad, H.& Lotito, A.(2025). European grids package: Lessons learnt from the implementation of the TEN-E framework(PE 774.695). ­European Parliamentary Research Service, Ex-Post Evaluation Service. ­European Parliament. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ BRIE/2025/774695/EPRS_BRI(2025)774695_EN.pdf. 14 Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung e.V.