A coalition of industrial, energy and infrastructure companies is proposing a cross-border permitting agreement for the Benelux region to break through the permitting deadlock for strategic cross-border energy projects.
The Benelux is the perfect testing ground for cross-border integration in the EU. But, as elsewhere in Europe, strategic energy projects in the Benelux are currently often constrained by fragmented and slow permitting procedures. This delays the energy transition and prolongs our region’s dependence on fossil fuels. A new industry paper argues that a fix might lie in closer collaboration within the Benelux, one of Europe’s main industrial and logistical hubs.
A newly published policy paper by the Benelux Business Roundtable (BBR) – a coalition of leading industrial, energy and infrastructure stakeholders across Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg – provides practical solutions to break the permitting deadlock through an integrated Benelux approach. The paper draws on extensive consultations with stakeholders across the industry, including both BBR members and non-members.
What’s in the policy paper?
The BBR proposes a coordinated approach at Benelux level: the establishment of a formal Benelux agreement through the Benelux Union to create a legally binding framework for strategic cross-border infrastructure projects. Within the framework of the agreement, several actions can be taken in the short and middle term, relating to issues such as alignment of methodologies, general derogations and procedural improvements.
This framework would be operationalised through two bodies: a cross-border permitting taskforce established under the Benelux Agreement and the Benelux Court of Justice. By implementing the framework outlined in this paper, we believe that the Benelux can accelerate decarbonisation, strengthen growth, and ensure the region remains a global hub for investment.
Why now?
The need for action on permitting is becoming increasingly urgent. Demand for clean energy is growing across the Benelux, but the strategic projects to help deliver the energy to customers often remain stuck in lengthy procedures. Without faster and more integrated permitting for these projects, critical investments risk being postponed, undermining both climate goals and industrial competitiveness.
While the European Commission has proposed reforms to help accelerate the permitting process, the EU necessarily moves slower than individual member states can. EU government leaders have expressed the need for urgency by adopting the “One Europe, One Market” roadmap. Europe’s industry cannot wait for reform, and the Benelux is perfectly placed to lead the way with a “One Benelux, One Market” approach. The framework outlined in the paper can act as a basis for broader regional cooperation, with other countries able to join in the future.
Eric ter Hark, Executive Chairman of the Benelux Business Roundtable said:
“Byzantine permitting procedures are keeping critical energy projects in the waiting room while Benelux industries face high energy prices and global competition. A region that represents 8.2% of Europe’s GDP cannot afford a stalled clean industrial future.
Our reform plan offers policymakers at the EU and national levels a concrete way to secure the future of Europe’s industrial heartland and make the Benelux the blueprint for a more competitive and integrated Europe – fully in line with their political mandate under the European Council conclusions of March and the Benelux Treaty.”
Pascal Buck, CEO, Fluxys, said:
“Fluxys strongly supports this Benelux initiative to overcome permitting bottlenecks, as faster and more coordinated procedures are essential to deliver the cross-border energy infrastructure the transition requires. By supporting this BBR policy paper, we underline our commitment to pragmatic solutions that accelerate decarbonization while reinforcing security of supply and the region’s industrial competitiveness.”
Cas König, CEO, North Sea Port, said:
“North Sea Port welcomes the BBR’s proposal for a cross-border permitting agreement for strategic cross-border energy projects. Together with the industry, our Belgian-Dutch crossed border port is ambitious to reduce 8 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030. Closer cooperation between the Benelux countries on permitting procedures is the right way to go for speeding up cross border electrification, CCSU and hydrogen infrastructures.”
Johan Klaps, President of the Board of Directors, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said:
“BBR’s position paper contains valuable insights and recommendations to simplify and accelerate permitting procedures. Port of Antwerp-Bruges supports every initiative aiming to strengthen the competitiveness of our industrial port cluster and to overcome cross-border inefficiencies within this transnational port cluster. Even at the Benelux level the internal market is far from completed.”
Tabita Verburg, Area President Dow Benelux, said:
“We need to look beyond our borders to tackle the challenges facing Europe. The proposal presented today offers a unique opportunity to remove barriers and press ahead with the enabling conditions necessary for the transition, such as energy and infrastructure projects. This must go hand in hand with the creation of a market for decarbonised and circular products. Only in this way can we ensure that investments actually yield a return. The Benelux has a great opportunity here to show Europe and the world that things can be done faster and more pragmatically.”
Pieter Tavenier, Managing Director CCS, Gasunie, said:
“As Gasunie, we are currently engaged in complex, and protracted permitting procedures aimed at enabling future cross border energy connections within the Benelux region. In this context, we emphasize that faster and coordinated regulatory processes can significantly reduce overall timelines for critical cross border infrastructure projects.
We therefore strongly support the objectives set out in this BBR policy paper and reaffirm our commitment to advancing the development of robust and resilient infrastructure supporting the energy transition.”
Claudia Albertini, CEO, Holcim Belgium, said:
“For heavy industry to meet its decarbonisation targets, Carbon Capture and Storage is an absolute necessity, which is why Holcim Belgium is driving forward with flagship initiatives like our GO4ZERO project. However, current disparities in national regulations severely complicate the development of essential cross-border CO₂ networks required to connect such projects to final storage sites. We urgently need an integrated Benelux framework to break the permitting deadlock for these strategic projects. Only by streamlining the approval processes for cross-border transport infrastructure can we effectively accelerate decarbonisation and ensure our region remains a competitive hub for investment.”
Note to editors:
To conduct any interviews with our spokespeople, please contact:
Ms Jennifer Kwao
Email: j.kwao@publyon.com
Tel: +32 499 65 13 11
About the BBR
The Benelux Business Roundtable is a coalition of leading industrial companies in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg. Since 2015, we have been advocating at the EU and national levels for closer cross-border cooperation and deeper European integration to support economic prosperity and competitiveness.