ANNEX to the Proposal for a Council Implementing Decision on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Greece

Abstract

This component of the Greek recovery and resilience plan targets reforms and investments to increase the weight of renewable energy sources in the electricity system and facilitate Greece’s process of decarbonisation. Reforms shall simplify licensing rules for renewable energy investment, make the electricity market more efficient, and secure the financial sustainability of support schemes. The component also includes key investments in networks to complete the interconnection with the Cyclades islands and make electricity distribution more environment-friendly and able to absorb a greater share of renewable energy. Storage systems shall also support the decarbonisation of the economy through accumulating surplus renewable electricity. Land rehabilitation shall also be supported in areas currently used as lignite mines, as a step of the just transition process in the territories most affected by the phase-out of lignite. The component is in line with the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and supports addressing the country-specific recommendations on public and private investment (Country Specific Recommendation 3 of 2020 and Country Specific Recommendation 2 of 2019). It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).