Brussels Monitors Blackout in Spain and Portugal, Urges 'Maximum Caution'

Brussels is closely monitoring the blackout that affected Spain and Portugal on Monday. European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera has urged caution regarding this incident, stating that, for now, 'there is nothing to suggest that there has been sabotage or a cyberattack'. The European executive is in contact with the authorities of both countries to provide follow-up and 'support', at a time when the top priority is to restore the normal functioning of the peninsula's electrical system.

The technical services of Brussels have been tracking the situation since receiving the alert from Spain and Portugal at 12:45 PM on Monday. 'This is a historic episode, and we are coordinating to restore service as soon as possible,' the vice-president noted. She further indicated that the operators of the European electrical system are working 'not only to clarify what happened but also to support the restoration of the system'. 'For now, the most important message is one of patience and to follow civil protection instructions,' Ribera added.

The head of Clean Transition and Competition at the European Commission confirmed that the blackout affected Spain and Portugal and may have caused minor disruptions in southern France. To facilitate the recovery of its electrical system, Ribera explained that Portugal has disconnected from the Spanish grid and that Spain is supporting its electricity generation with hydroelectric and thermal energy.

In a statement, the European Commission affirmed that it remains in contact with Madrid and Lisbon and with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity to understand the cause and impact of the blackout. The Commission will continue to monitor the situation and ensure smooth communication of information between parties. 'According to the current European legislation on emergency and restoration network codes, there are protocols to restore the system's operation,' stated the institution led by German Ursula von der Leyen. The head of the European executive will travel to Spain this week to attend the European People's Party Congress, which takes place on April 29 and 30 in Valencia.

A Brussels spokesperson also refuted a false statement attributed to Von der Leyen, which circulated on social media, claiming that the blackout was caused by 'a wave of cyberattacks' perpetrated by Russia.