Spain and Portugal have sent joint letters to the European Commission and France calling for urgent political and financial support to accelerate electric interconnections, following a recent agreement between the two nations.

This initiative aims to integrate the Iberian Peninsula into the European electricity system to enhance supply security, a matter that has gained prominence following a blackout on April 28.

In their correspondence, the leaders emphasized the strategic importance of finalizing the electrical connections with the Iberian Peninsula, describing it as a long-standing priority for both countries and the European Union.

Maria da Graça Carvalho, Portugal's Minister of Environment and Energy, met with European Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen in Brussels, delivering the letter in person.

The minister noted that while enhancing connections with France is paramount, there is also potential consideration for developing infrastructure with Morocco if France does not facilitate further connections.

“We want this issue to be not just a tripartite matter but a European one, and we believe any obstacle to this plan hampers the internal market, one of the pillars of European construction,” she stated.

Portugal is seeking a meeting with the energy ministers of France, Spain, and Portugal, coupled with a call for European Commission mediation to overcome what Carvalho termed obstacles that hinder integration.

In the event of France declining to expedite interconnection, Portugal may explore establishing an electric connection with Morocco, similar to Spain's existing link.

The lack of infrastructure has hindered Portugal's swift recovery following the blackout, which had severe impacts on the Iberian Peninsula’s power supply.

In their letters, both Madrid and Lisbon reiterated the pressing need to complete the connections with France, which currently stands at only 2.84%.

Member states were to achieve a target of 10% by 2020, with a more ambitious 15% baseline set for 2030, as indicated by diplomatic sources.

The April blackout underscored the necessity of strengthening interconnection infrastructure; it severely affected the Iberian Peninsula and highlighted the critical importance of interconnectivity in the European energy system during emergencies.

Additionally, a second letter addressed to French Energy Minister Marc Ferracci mirrored these concerns, urging the French government to take action towards a long-established European and bilateral agenda, with diplomatic sources indicating that the Iberian Peninsula is poised to increase these interconnections.

The demand for enhanced interconnections is also linked to commitments made by the European Union to facilitate the integration and connectivity of the EU’s energy systems, as reflected in a chapter of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in January 2023 by French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

However, the treaty is currently under review by the Spanish Constitutional Court, following objections from the People's Party, regarding certain aspects of the agreement, including the legality of French government participation in Spanish cabinet meetings.

The Spanish Congress did not ratify the treaty recently, with significant opposition reflected in voting results.

In further developments, Carvalho has met with representatives from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), which is conducting an independent investigation into the April blackout.

This investigation aims to involve both entities affected and independent regulatory bodies to provide a factual report, including recommendations to prevent future incidents and ensure quicker recovery.

A preliminary report is expected within six months, although ENTSO-E has not committed to a specific timeline, acknowledging that a rapid response is necessary given the event's severity.

The causes of the blackout are under scrutiny, with initial suspicion pointing to a region in southern Spain, particularly Andalusia, although all potential causes are still being evaluated, including the unlikely prospect of a cyber-attack.

Additionally, discussions have surfaced regarding the impact of renewable energy sources within the system, and the importance of having a balanced energy mix to secure system reliability.