<h6><strong>Ane Barcos</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Spain and Portugal have requested a firm political and financial commitment from the European Commission to accelerate electricity interconnection projects with the rest of the continent, following the massive blackout that affected the Iberian Peninsula on April 28.</strong></h4> This Wednesday, Madrid and Lisbon conveyed to the European Commission the urgency of completing the Iberian Peninsula's electricity interconnections with the rest of Europe. The request was formalized in a joint letter signed by the Third Vice President of the Spanish Government and Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, and the Portuguese Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho. The latter personally delivered the letter to the European Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jørgensen, during a meeting held in Brussels. In the letter, the Iberian governments emphasize that the recent blackout highlighted the importance of greater interconnectivity within the European electricity system, especially in critical situations. Furthermore, they denounce that France has blocked key progress on new interconnection projects, considered essential to guaranteeing security of supply and avoiding future interruptions. As a solution, they propose holding a ministerial meeting before the end of the year, with the participation of the European Commission and the French government, with the aim of agreeing on a roadmap with concrete milestones to achieve the interconnection targets set by the EU for 2030 and 2040. Currently, the Iberian Peninsula's electricity interconnection capacity barely reaches 2.8%, well below the European target of 15% set for 2030. According to Spain and Portugal, this deficit increases electricity prices and weakens the stability of their energy networks. Although existing infrastructure is already being strengthened and a new submarine pipeline is being developed across the Bay of Biscay, expected to be operational in 2028, the two countries are calling for a stronger political and financial commitment from the European Union. For his part, Commissioner Jørgensen positively assessed the meeting, emphasizing that it was a good opportunity to receive updated information on the causes of the blackout. He also expressed the European Commission's solidarity with the affected countries and reiterated its support for the ongoing investigations. Jørgensen also stressed the importance of making progress in improving energy interconnections and in decarbonizing the European Energy Union.
