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EU, France, Spain, Portugal Reaffirm Push for Power Links, Hydrogen Corridor

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The European Commission and the energy ministers of France, Spain and Portugal held a high-level meeting on Thursday to advance key interconnections across South-West Europe.

According to a statement by the European Commission, this marked the group's first-ever ministerial meeting, aimed at advancing key energy infrastructure projects, particularly those designated as energy highways, in a bid to improve Europe's energy security, competitiveness and decarbonisation.

Discussions included Trans-Pyrenean electricity interconnections between France, Spain and Portugal, along with regional cooperation on offshore renewables and the development of a hydrogen corridor along the South-West.

The Commission stated that work will continue to advance on critical projects, such as the Navarra-Landes high-voltage transmission link, which the EU has backed with 11 million euros ($12.57 million).

The EU's Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jorgensen, noted that expanding cross-border interconnections would strengthen Europe's resilience, improve competitiveness and help lower energy prices for households and businesses.

"This is why it is crucial that we move forward with the electricity interconnections across the Pyreneans to better integrate the Iberian Peninsula into Europe's system," he said.

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