The European Union still does not know the reason for the major power outage that has affected Spain, Portugal, and southern France. However, for now, it rules out any type of attack, as some voices had suggested. "For now, there is nothing that leads us to think it was a boycott," pointed out the Executive Vice President for the Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera, who emphasized this idea on two occasions in her statements to the media before appearing in the European Parliament.
"There is nothing that allows us to affirm that there is any kind of boycott or cyberattack," Ribera added, also explaining that "Portugal disconnected its electrical system from the Spanish one to gradually recover, and in Spain, it is recovering with hydro and in some cases thermal generation." In other words, Spain is the origin of the problem.
Reuters reports that sources from Redes Energéticas Nacionais, the company that manages the national electrical system, indicate that the origin of the blackout is indeed Spain and is due to an "unusual atmospheric phenomenon."
Ribera also added that "it is true that it is one of the most significant falls in the electrical system that has occurred in recent years," and that European authorities are in constant contact and collaboration with the Spanish authorities.
Von der Leyen speaks with Sánchez
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has had a conversation with the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez. "I have reaffirmed the support of the European Commission in monitoring the situation with national and European authorities and our Electricity Coordination Group. We will coordinate efforts and share information to help restore the electrical system, and we have agreed to remain in close contact," the German official posted on her X social media profile.
The president will participate tomorrow and Wednesday in the Popular Party Congress in Valencia, an event that is still scheduled despite communications in Spain being completely paralyzed. The party believes that there is room for some normalcy to be restored and the event, where Manfred Weber will be reelected president and Dolors Montserrat will be appointed secretary-general, will take place.
And the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, has indicated that he is also in contact with Sánchez and with Luís Montenegro, the Prime Minister of Portugal. "The network operators of both countries are working to find the cause and restore the power supply. At the moment, there are no indications of any cyberattack," he emphasized.