Abstract - Current European Standards (HD
631 SI- 1999 E) have fostered the so-called "Common Grounding System" (CGS) concept. It consists in the interconnection of the grounding systems of all the MV/LV substations of a MV network together to the HV/MV substation grounding grid, by means of the MV cables' metal sheaths and/or of dedicated ground con ductors buried along the MV cable lines. In con tinenta l Europe, MV (15-20 kV) public distribu tion networks are generally operated in radial configuration; neutral grounding varies, with ungrounded neutral in Italy, resistance ground ing in Spain and France, resonant grounding in Germany and Northern Europe in general, i.e. all choices except solid grounding.