EU Takes Measures to Secure Energy Supply, Avoiding Internal Resource-Related Interruptions
Let's Talk About That Power Outage:
Hey there! Some folks might remember that awhile back, Pedro Sánchez found himself in a pickle with a power outage on the Iberian Peninsula. But fear not, our dear Ursula von der Leyen was right there, ready to lend a helping hand. She promised to rally the troops at the European Commission, ready to join forces with national and European authorities, and even whip out their Electricity Coordination Group if needed.
Just like a superhero leaping into action, von der Leyen announced that the European Commission would take charge, coordinating efforts and doling out information to help get that power grid back on its feet.
Now, the folks over at REN – Redes Energeticas Nacionais – confirmed the power outage across the whole of the Iberian Peninsula and a chunk of French territory. They hopped on their staged power restoration plans, and got to work, although full recovery could take anywhere from 6 to 10 hours.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wasted no time, gathering the National Security Council to tackle this tricky situation. Meanwhile, Portugal's PM Luís Montenegro held an emergency meeting to restore power, hoping to get everything up and running before the day was through. With hospitals running on generators and transportation networks at a standstill, it was a hectic time, no question.
Now, the power outage didn't just affect Portugal and Spain. Pieces of France and Belgium also felt the hit. But the focus has been mainly on the bilateral coordination between the two Iberian countries, rather than the European Commission taking the lead. Still, France's grid operator, RTE, pitched in by sending some electricity over to Spain to help out. However, REN hasn't made many appearances in the reports so far.
The root cause of the outage remains a mystery, though initial guesses point towards issues with the grid interconnection in the European network. But don't worry, there's no sign of any cyberattacks at this juncture. Both Spain's Endesa/Iberdrola and the authorities have kept quiet about any such shenanigans. The investigations are still ongoing, but it seems they're more interested in getting the lights back on before delving too deep into figuring out the cause.
If you want to read more about it, check out this article on the European Commission's lack of evidence of a cyberattack in this blackout. Stay tuned for more updates as we dig deeper into this baffling power outage!
References:
[1]: European Commission. (2025, April 28). Statement from Ursula von der Leyen on power outage in Iberia. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_23_20250428_REN
[2]: Associated Press. (2025, April 28). Power outage hits Iberian Peninsula, part of France. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/huge-blackout-hits-spanish-portuguese-power-grid-2025-04-28/
- The power outage that affected the Iberian Peninsula and a portion of French territory, initially confirmed by REN – Redes Energeticas Nacionais, was subsequently also noticed in parts of France and Belgium.
- Following the power outage, both national and European authorities, including the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen, intended to join forces to restore the energy supply and prevent such events in the future.
- Economic sectors such as finance and industry that heavily rely on a consistent power supply, including Spain's Endesa/Iberdrola, felt the impact of the blackout and communicated their concerns to the authorities.
- While the European Commission has promised support to address the power outage issue, the immediate focus has been on the bilateral coordination between Spain and Portugal, as opposed to a direct intervention from the Commission's Electricity Coordination Group.
