Interconnections for South-West Europe

Objective

The overall objective of the High-Level Group is to work towards better integrating the Iberian Peninsula into the EU energy market, in line with the principles of the Madrid and Lisbon Declarations.

To achieve this, the High-Level Group regularly monitors the progress of the ongoing priority infrastructure projects, ensures political steer and provides support towards accelerating the implementation of these projects.

More specifically, the group’s aims include

• cooperating on cross border interconnections in the region and on the swift implementation of electricity priority projects
• cooperating on the identification of further interconnection projects
• supporting the development of offshore infrastructure and accelerating offshore renewable energy deployment
• tapping into the renewable hydrogen potential of the Iberian Peninsula and renewable and low-carbon hydrogen potential in France, including the necessary cross-border infrastructure
•  cooperating to identify concrete hydrogen and electrolyser priority projects from a regional perspective and support their implementation

Achievements

By supporting the construction of the necessary infrastructure, the EU is ending the energy isolation of the south-western part of Europe, while improving security of supply, giving consumers more choice, and spurring economic growth and jobs. The interconnections are also essential for renewable energy sources to thrive and for contributing to reaching the EU energy and climate targets.

The electricity interconnection capacity between France and Spain was doubled thanks to the commissioning of the Santa-Llogaia-Baixas electricity line in 2015. The completion of the transformer in Arkale, Spain, in 2017 enabled its full utilisation and made it possible for Spain to help France and show solidarity during the winter of 2017. 

The Val de Saône gas pipeline is 188 kilometres long and operational since 2018. It contributes to the unification of the French market, while securing better access to the European gas market for the Iberian Peninsula. 

Ongoing projects 

To further increase the electricity connection capacity between France and Spain, 2 electricity interconnectors between the Pamplona area in Spain and Cantegrit in France, and between Marsillon in France and the Aragón region are planned. 

The interconnection project between Spain and Portugal, Ponte Lima – Vila Nova Famalicão - Recarei and Beariz – Fontefría, will increase the current interconnection capacity level to 3.2 GW. 

The Biscay Bay electricity interconnection will double the interconnection capacity between France and Spain to 5000 MW when completed. It will be a very significant contribution to the full integration of the whole Iberian Peninsula into the EU internal electricity market. 

Political agreements

With the signature of the Madrid Declaration in 2015, the President of France, the Prime Minister of Spain, the Prime Minister of Portugal and the President of the European Commission agreed on the importance to build all the necessary energy infrastructures to achieve an efficient internal energy market, in particular cross-border interconnections for the electricity and gas networks.

The High-Level Group on Interconnections for South-West Europe was set-up to ensure full implementation of the objectives contained in the Madrid Declaration, in particular by way of monitoring and supporting the swift implementation of the identified priority projects.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing the High-Level Group was signed in Paris, in June 2015 and an implementation plan of the Madrid Declaration was subsequently adopted.

In the Lisbon Declaration, signed in 2018, leaders reaffirmed their commitment for swift implementation of the priority interconnection projects between the 3 countries and confirmed the important role of the High-Level Group in advancing the integration of the Iberian Peninsula into the internal energy market. They restated their support for the priority projects identified in the Madrid Declaration and recalled the strategic role of interconnections to achieve a fully integrated, secure, competitive and clean internal energy market.

In December 2023, France, Portugal and Spain, and the Commission, signed a new Memorandum of Understanding, to extend the scope of the High-Level Group on interconnections for South- West Europe, in alignment with new priorities and with the revised TEN-E Regulation.

With this MoU the High-Level Group South-West Europe agrees to continue cooperating on developing cross-border interconnections and swiftly implementing priority projects on electricity. The MoU also introduces new priorities on offshore infrastructure and renewable energy projects, and on exploring the potential of renewable hydrogen in the Iberian Peninsula and the potential of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen in France and the related transport infrastructure.

In line with the new MoU and the identified priorities, the High-Level Group adopted an Action Plan to be completed by 2030. 

Documents