17th BES Online Seminar: The Challenge of CACM 2.0
Europe’s electricity market at a crossroads
As Europe’s electricity system becomes increasingly interconnected and dependent on renewable energy sources, the rules governing cross-border electricity trading are facing new challenges. How can Europe optimize the use of its existing power grids while keeping the system secure? This question was central to discussion at the 17th Balkan Energy School (BES) Seminar, held online on October 6, 2026. Dedicated to the revision of the Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management (CACM) framework, the event brought together regulatory, transmission system and electricity market perspectives to explore the next steps towards a more integrated European electricity market.
CACM 2.0: rewriting the rules of market integration
The CACM Regulation provides the regulatory foundation for Europe’s day-ahead and intraday electricity market coupling .
The 70% rule: opening the borders without compromising security
One of the central issues addressed by the reform is the requirement to make at least 70% of relevant transmission capacity available for cross-zonal electricity trading, in accordance with EU electricity market rules.
Managing congestion: who decides and who pays?
When electricity flows exceed the safe operating limits of parts of the network, transmission system operators must intervene to manage congestion.
Market coupling: towards a new governance model
The reform also addresses the institutional architecture behind European electricity trading.
Towards a more integrated European electricity market
The central message of the seminar was that market integration depends on more than interconnections and trading platforms.