<h6><strong>Ane Barcos</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Following the blackout of April 28, which left the Iberian Peninsula and parts of France without electricity, the European Parliament approved a report this Thursday proposing a set of measures to modernize and strengthen the European Union's electricity grid, facilitate the integration of renewable energies, and streamline authorization processes.</strong></h4> With 418 votes in favor, 112 against, and 45 abstentions, the Parliament adopted this non-legislative initiative on Thursday, which includes a series of proposals aimed at strengthening the resilience of electricity grids, improving cross-border coordination, and accelerating the energy transition across Europe. The electricity blackout of April 28, 2025, which affected large areas of the Iberian Peninsula and part of France, highlighted, according to MEPs, the urgent need to strengthen Europe's electricity infrastructure, providing it with greater responsiveness and reliability in the face of crises and extreme events. The parliamentarians emphasize that this modernization is essential not only to guarantee the security of energy supply, but also to facilitate the efficient integration of renewable energy and promote sustainable economic growth at the EU level. The measures included in the approved report are part of the so-called Network Action Plan, a strategic project that underscores the need for significant investments to modernize energy infrastructure at both the national and European levels. The plan also emphasizes the importance of increasing electricity transmission capacity, which will allow for a more effective incorporation of renewable sources into the system. According to European Commission estimates, approximately €584 billion will need to be invested in electricity grids by 2030 to achieve a decarbonized, flexible energy system capable of meeting future challenges. In this context, the European Parliament emphasizes the importance of more integrated planning at the European level, connecting regions, sectors, and borders. It also considers it essential to establish effective oversight to attract both public and private investment. Therefore, the report calls for the creation of clearer rules and more streamlined procedures to facilitate investment, as well as the definition of network tariffs that reflect the true costs of the electricity system. The report also emphasizes the urgent need to resolve existing grid bottlenecks, which currently prevent the full utilization of renewable energy generation and lead to curtailment. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of fostering social acceptance of new electricity projects through transparent and effective communication with citizens. MEP Anna Sturgkh, rapporteur for the report, warned that the blackout in the Iberian Peninsula was a clear wake-up call regarding the structural weaknesses of Europe's electricity grids. She stated that the energy transition cannot advance without strategic investments in electricity infrastructure, in parallel with the deployment of renewable energy. Sturgkh also noted that France's rapid intervention, thanks to existing cross-border interconnections, demonstrated the value of a truly integrated grid. In this regard, she urged the European Commission to act decisively to prioritize grid and energy storage planning and coordination to prevent future blackouts.
