The president of the republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said Thursday that the energy interconnections agreement between Portugal, Spain and France is “very important” and will benefit all of Europe.
“It was an agreement for Europe, from which everyone benefits from this agreement, very important for Portugal and Spain, who have long defended it, very important for France, which introduced green hydrogen, which both Portugal and Spain had already said is was a priority”the head of state told journalists in Dublin during his state visit to Ireland.
According to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the project for new energy interconnections was announced on Thursday “it could be very useful for Europe, for the center of Europe, for the north of Europe, which urgently needs an alternative solution with winter approaching” on gas supplied by Russia.
The President of the Republic emphasized that in the dialogue between the Portuguese, Spanish and French governments “the problem that existed with regard to gas was overcome by also using the gas pipeline for the transport of green hydrogen” – what “France was interested in in the first place”.
According to you, “Common sense prevailed, because if it was in the interest of Europe and deep down in the interest of the three, because there were disagreements that were not decisive, there was no reason not to reach an agreement.”
“For Portugal and Spain, green hydrogen and gas were equally important, but liquefied gas is now particularly urgent”said, concluding: “So it’s good news that comes from the meeting of the three political leaders.”
“Which can be positive for three and especially for Europe as a whole”strengthens.
Asked about the European Council meeting in Brussels on measures to lower energy prices, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said the process is “going well” and that “the Commission’s proposal is sensible”.
“It is intended to prevent a rise in the price of gas. Secondly, it accepts in principle what is good in the Iberian market in terms of understanding between Portugal and Spain. Thirdly, it thinks of a fundamental solution to future crises, so that every time there is a crisis there is no one-time solution to the problem. Fourthly, it finds or seeks financial solutions at European level to resolve the situation this winter.”mention.
The energy interconnections agreement was announced at the end of a meeting between Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Speaking to journalists in Brussels, António Costa said it had agreed “to definitely surpass the old project, the so-called MidCat, and develop a new one called “Corredor de Energia Verde”.
The new project “will make it possible to complement the interconnections between Portugal and Spain, between Celorico da Beira and Zamora, and also to create a connection between Spain and the rest of Europe, connecting Barcelona and Marseille. connecting, by sea”, detailed the chief minister.
There will be “a pipeline for ‘green’ hydrogen or other renewable gases that can be used temporarily to transport natural gas to a certain part” and “electrical interconnections will also be strengthened,” he said.
Source: DN
