Sánchez resigns himself to a “particular” EU solution for Spain and Portugal in energy

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  • The president lowers expectations and demands that community partners take into account the condition of “energy islandfrom the Iberian Peninsula

  • He defends that his output, “solid”, does not alter “Not at all” the operation of the European energy market. It would be a “specific” solution for the two countries

The intense tour of the last week, which has taken him to visit six countries and talk with his counterparts from nine Member States of the European Union, has served Pedro Sánchez to realize that his claims to lower energy prices , his demand to decouple the gas from the electricity bill throughout the club, will have no place. At least for now. The President of the Government collects cable. He lowers the initial expectations of him and already demands that, at least, the Twenty-seven allow Spain and Portugal, a “energy island“poorly connected to the rest of the continent, arbitrate a way out”particular“, “specific” to contain the escalation of prices.

Sánchez conveyed that message, much less ambitious, upon his arrival this Thursday in Brussels at the European Council, after participating, also in the Belgian capital, in the NATO summit. The head of the Executive already knew that the latest draft of the conclusions negotiated by the members of the EU does not include his demand to decouple the price of gas from that of electricity and limits himself to requesting that the battery of options presented be studied “urgently” this week by the European Commission, which contemplates the option of establishing a reference price for gas. The document also invites community partners to make the most of the temporary framework of public aid and to use the so-called benefits from heaven as a source of financing. In addition, the text points to May as the date to adopt more structural measures, once the Community Executive has in its hands the report from the European regulators.

Last week, Sánchez called for a European solution, because the problem is common and “all” countries are affected by rising energy costs, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. And, from Rome, after sealing his alliance with the prime ministers of Italy, Portugal and Greece, he stressed that “27 national responses” did not fit. But the reluctance of some countries, especially Holland and Germany, has made him back down. The president indicated upon his arrival at the summit that he continues to demand “a solution for all of Europe”, such as joint purchases of gas and incorporating caps on the price of this hydrocarbon, but “being aware” that this exit “may take a few weeks “, now proposes that the Twenty-seven and the Commission articulate a “particular” response for the Iberian Peninsula. It is a plan that Moncloa already advanced yesterday Wednesday, and that this Thursday the president himself verbalized.

The reason is that the energy ‘mix’ is different, since in Spain barely 17.1% of the electricity generated in 2021 came from combined cycles, which demonstrates the “commitment” to the green agenda, and above all because of the weak interconnection with the rest of Europe. This is barely 2.8%, he stressed, when what was committed for 2020 was 10% and 15% in 2030. So, in his opinion, Spain and Portugal deserve “a specific consideration“, without “in any way harming” the European energy market and the marginal price formation system and “without calling into question” the common policy. It would therefore be a question of the Twenty-seven authorizing a “private answer” to the problem “specific” that the Iberian Peninsula suffers, a formula that “is adapted to the geographical and energetic reality” of Spain and Portugal, to its condition of “energy island“. “We are poorly integrated into the European energy market but all the rules apply in Spain”, so this double peculiarity “doubly harms” the country.

Three “Compatible” Steps

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The proposal shared by Madrid and Lisbon, by the two socialist governments, is “reasonable“, “solvent“, “solid”, he praised, and even the most “doubtful” States value his “technical quality”. Sánchez insisted again and again that his approach does not break the European market, untouchable condition for other countries. “We hope that we can find the levers so that this can become a reality as soon as possible,” she said.

The Spanish offer, therefore, consists of three steps, “perfectly compatible“. One, the approval of “urgent” and “aligned” measures with the needs of Madrid and Lisbon. Two, the study of centralized gas purchases and price control (a measure shared not only by Spain and Portugal, but also Italy, Greece, Belgium, Romania…) And three, a “structural” reform of the European energy market.



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