Europe bets on energy interconnections

USPA NEWS - Spain, France, Portugal and the European Commission have agreed Wednesday to boost energy connections between the Iberian Peninsula and Europe, seeking the effective establishment of an internal energy market.

The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy; the President of the French Republic, François Hollande; the Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic, Pedro Passos Coelho, and the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, confirmed Wednesday in Madrid his "firm commitment" energy interconnections, which should be "crucial" in the objective of achieving an internal energy market in Europe.

The idea of holding this meeting came from the Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, with capital objective that "the Iberian Peninsula longer an energy island" purpose, and work to create a European energy market. With the signing of a joint declaration to promote energy interconnections, Rajoy said that this meeting in Madrid happened "statements to the facts of the Muses to the theater", taking an important step "in the order of the European Union which is to unite". With this summit, Spain, France, Portugal and EU institutions advance their commitment to energy interconnections and financing of these through European funds, especially Juncker Investment Plan.

The interconnections are a key part of the Energy Union, seeking the effective establishment, within the European Union, of an internal energy market and a common energy policy, both very important sectors for business and the environment, "but especially for citizens, since energy can reach their homes for the best price, increasing their welfare", said Rajoy. For his part, President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said that if the Old Continent fails "can flow freely energy will have failed", so called for all countries of the European Union to join this approach.

The Spanish chief executive explained too that the commitments made are very important for businesses, because they will allow access to a crucial resource for competitiveness to better and more predictable costs, they are for the environment , because they will continue to develop renewable energy, and to the security of Europe, as they facilitate the diversification of energy sources and reduce dependence on supplies from unstable parts of the world. He also stressed that will be very positive for citizens "because energy can reach their homes at lower prices, thereby increasing their welfare".