Government moves forward with assignment on international power cables
Published
The Government is now moving forward with an assignment for Svenska kraftnät, Sweden’s power grid authority, that allows for a planned renewal and upgrade of an electricity cable connection to Denmark to be put on hold. At the EU’s meeting of Energy Ministers in March, Swedish Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch announced that Sweden would halt new or upgraded electricity cable connections to continental Europe unless there was a shift in the focus of the legislation being negotiated in the European Commission’s European Grids Package.
“The EU should not receive Swedes’ electricity money. At the moment, Brussels is not listening to us. That’s why we are pausing plans for new cables for power exports,” says Ms Busch.
Negotiations on the European Grids Package have been ongoing since December 2025. Sweden has been very critical about several aspects of the package since it was first presented. Criticism has been about the excessive focus on managing problems with electricity supply with new electricity grids. The main objections are about how to best limit the use of electricity congestion revenues and to concentrate planning of the electricity system at EU level.
During negotiations in recent weeks, some adjustments have been made in regard to congestion revenues. This means that Sweden has achieved important gains in line with the Government’s priorities. However, the legislative text currently under negotiation still restricts Member States’ use of congestion revenues more than today. Sweden has been clear that Member States must be allowed to use the funds to finance fossil-free energy and plannable electricity production that are necessary to enable electrification. Not least, this applies to states that have internal bidding zones. It should also be possible to use the funds for electricity subsidies. In regard to central electrical system planning, progress in negotiations has been very limited.
Therefore, the Government is tasking Svenska kraftnät to draft a revised investment plan for 2027–2029 that will exclude the renewal and upgrade of electricity cable connections to Denmark (Konti-Scan Connect). At the same time, the Government recognises a need for an in-depth analysis regarding the possibility of new cables to Finland.
The Government will continue to work for Swedish interests in the EU, together with the European Commission and other interested parties and countries. The measures proposed by Sweden would mean better resources and conditions to strengthen Sweden’s electricity supply, security and competitiveness even more quickly.
Investment plan
Svenska kraftnät is required to submit a proposal for an operational plan for the following three years to the Government by 1 March each year. This must also include an investment plan. New investment projects that cost at least SEK 400 million to implement must be reviewed by the Government. The investment plan is approved through the Riksdag’s decision on the budget bill.
Press contact
Press Secretary to Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch
Mobile 076-1251709
email to Mia Widell
