Portugal plans to appeal to the European Commission to urge France to expedite cross-border electricity connections following a blackout that affected both Spain and Portugal. The blackout, attributed to insufficient interconnections, has reignited tensions between Spain and France, with Portuguese Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho highlighting that delays represent a barrier to the EU internal market. Despite ongoing efforts for a new connection to enhance capacity, experts note that France’s reluctance and environmental concerns have impeded progress, with current interconnection levels remaining critically low.
