Danish Energy Agency (DEA)Consolidated environmental law in the NetherlandsEnvironmental permitting reforms in Finland The Danish Energy Agency acts as a single point of access for regulatory and permitting processes, including coordination with relevant stakeholders. The agency built upon its previous experience in managing oil and gas permitting in the North Sea and expanded this model to offshore wind farms. It also provides a digital data platform with environmental, water, nature and land use data providing transparency on the same sources used by regulatory agencies and developers.104 In the Netherlands, the Environment and Planning Act, effective as of 1 January 2024, centralizes 26 laws, encompassing housing, infrastructure and environment, into one unified framework. It introduces a one-stop- shop for permits, where developers can submit a single application for all required permits that is handled by one authority, with an application process available through an online portal. If the authority fails to issue a decision within the set deadline, the permit is automatically issued “lex silencio positivo”, which guarantees that the project will not be put on hold due to administrative delays.105For Finland to reach carbon neutrality by 2035, it has prioritized the permitting application processes for projects promoting the green transition between 2023 and 2026 and select industrial projects can omit traditional zoning requirements if they meet certain environmental criteria. By January 2026, it aims to introduce a Permit and Supervisory Authority (VALO), which will handle several permits in a single process, merging tasks otherwise performed by several agencies. The permitting process is also supported through the electronic handling of permit applications as well as a website where required permits can be mapped to projects.106TABLE 4 Permitting case studies Source: Loyola Associates, Business Finland. The EU has identified additional critical net-zero technologies for which similar recommendations are needed, namely grid infrastructure, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage (CCS), batteries and biogas.107 These technologies bring unique permitting challenges, such as geological permits for CCS or hydrogen import-export permits, to name a few.108 Future-proofing European renewable energy permitting to account for evolving technology requires five steps: 1. Strategic planning of permitting processes while technologies are scaled up. 2. Centralization of permitting activities in one- stop-shops. 3. Standardization of permitting processes across member states. 4. Digitalization of permitting applications and processing.5. Early and effective public engagement.109 It is also important to remember that sustainability covers many technologies beyond energy. Biotechnology and sustainable chemicals, for example, are innovative sectors that expect 14% and 15% annual growth respectively by 2030.110,111 Both are struggling with lengthy permitting processes in the EU, underscoring the need for a holistic approach to reduce approval timelines.112,113 There are best practices that can be adopted to streamline permitting and reduce delays. They need to be planned strategically across multiple technologies and account for the conflicting priorities of the European Green Deal. By simplifying permitting frameworks, improving coordination between regulatory bodies, and adopting digital tools for transparency and efficiency, the EU can accelerate the green transition and achieve its climate goals. Improved permitting is a much- needed enabler of European competitiveness.114 20 Delivering on the European Green Deal: A Private Sector Perspective

Delivering on the European Green Deal A Private Sector Perspective 2025