Source: European Union 2 Published on: 2026-06-15
The Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP) is one of the four political High-level Groups established under the leadership of the European Commission to foster regional cooperation in the field of energy and one of the priority energy infrastructure corridors identified under the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) policy. Under BEMIP, the eight Member States across the Baltic Sea region have worked to improve cross-border connectivity, strengthen regional cooperation and integrate their energy systems into the wider European market.
Within this framework, CEF Energy has supported the development of key gas infrastructure projects of common interest (PCIs) aimed at addressing long-standing energy security challenges in the region, including dependence on a single external gas supplier and limited cross-border connectivity. These projects are laying the foundations for greater energy security, diversification and regional cooperation and have enabled this region to be the first one achieving independence from Russian gas.
The mission of BEMIP gas was successfully completed this year: between 2014 and 2026, CEF Energy has provided over €800 million in EU funding to 14 gas infrastructure projects across the region. All these projects have been successfully completed, helping to ensure security of supply and transform the Baltic gas market by supporting new interconnections, reinforcing existing infrastructure and improving access to alternative supply routes.
Building a more interconnected Baltic gas market
The 14 supported projects (seven studies and seven works projects) were implemented across Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Denmark:
Together, these projects have helped ensure a continuous flow of natural gas in the region, integrated previously isolated markets, created new cross-border links, increased storage capacity and improved the flexibility of regional gas networks. By enabling gas to flow across borders and access new supply sources and routes, these projects have strengthened the integration of the Baltic and Nordic gas markets with the rest of the European Union.
Among the most significant projects supported by CEF Energy were:
Balticconnector: integrating Finland into the European gas market
Supported with over €181 million of CEF funding, Balticconnector established the first gas interconnection between Finland and Estonia. The 152 km bidirectional pipeline, in commercial use since January 2020, connected Finland to the wider European gas market for the first time and contributed to ending its gas isolation. By linking the Finnish and Estonian gas systems, the project strengthened regional security of supply, improved market competition and supported the creation of a more integrated Baltic gas market.
Baltic Pipe: opening a new supply corridor from the North Sea
The Poland–Denmark interconnection, also known as Baltic Pipe, received more than €263 million in EU support across four CEF Energy actions. Commissioned in 2022, the 900 km pipeline created a new gas supply corridor linking Norway, Denmark and Poland, enabling gas from the North Sea to reach the Baltic region and neighbouring countries, hence providing access to alternative gas sources and significantly strengthening supply diversification in Central and Eastern Europe.
GIPL: ending the gas isolation of the Baltic States
The Gas Interconnection Poland–Lithuania (GIPL) received nearly €264 million in CEF funding and became the first direct gas connection between the Baltic region and the continental European gas network. With a total length of around 508 km, the pipeline links the gas networks of Lithuania and Poland and enables flows in both directions. Since its commissioning in 2022, GIPL has helped integrate the Baltic States and Finland into the EU internal gas market and marked a major milestone in ending the region’s energy isolation and improving market integration.
Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage facility: strengthening regional flexibility and resilience
Located in Latvia, the Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage facility plays a strategic role in regional security of supply and market flexibility. Supported through two CEF Energy actions worth more than €44 million, the project modernised key elements of the facility and increased injection and withdrawal capacity. As the last completed CEF-supported gas project under BEMIP, Inčukalns reinforces the region’s ability to store gas, respond to supply disruptions and support a functioning regional market.
Supporting the next generation of energy infrastructure
While the gas projects supported under BEMIP have now been successfully completed, the region continues to play an important role in Europe’s energy transition.
CEF Energy is now supporting a new generation of infrastructure projects focused on decarbonisation, including hydrogen and CO₂ networks. These emerging projects aim to facilitate the development of integrated European markets for renewable hydrogen, and offer decarbonisation pathways to Baltic countries, supporting industrial decarbonisation and contributing to the EU’s climate neutrality objectives.
• Nordic Hydrogen Route – CEF funding: € 29.3 million
• Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Connector – CEF funding: € 6.8 million
• Baltic Sea Hydrogen Connector – CEF funding: € 15.2 million
• CCS Baltic Consortium – CEF funding: € 3 million
Building on the foundations created through BEMIP, these projects represent the next chapter in the implementation of the TEN-E policy in the region, combining security of supply with the transition towards a more sustainable and cleaner energy system.