German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced plans to support the construction of a gas pipeline intended to boost supply from the Iberian Peninsula toward central Europe, as the region seeks new energy sources to reduce reliance on Russia.
Scholz noted that accelerating such links with the Iberian market would have made a meaningful difference earlier. He described the project as a major contribution to stabilizing energy supplies and highlighted that Germany has relied on Russian gas for years, a dependence many governments have sought to change.
In light of this, the German leader stated his intention to present the proposal to the president of the European Commission during a press conference. The discussion will involve key leaders from Spain, Portugal, and France, including Ursula von der Leyen, to align on the project’s scope and political support.
The foreign minister also reported meetings with colleagues from Spain, France, and Portugal as well as the European Commission to advance this initiative. The talks emphasized that strengthening links with North Africa could diversify supply routes and enhance resilience against shocks.
The MidCat project has faced long delays due to its costs and a comparatively inexpensive Russian supply. The roughly 226-kilometer line from the Catalan town of Hostalric to the French city of Barbaira remains on the table, with Spain urging the EU to cover substantial portions of the expenditures.
Currently, only two gas interconnections connect Spain to northern Europe, while the failed North Stream 2 proposal demonstrated the challenge of moving gas from Russia to Germany. In terms of capacity, the existing interconnections carry far less than potential demand, underscoring the need for additional interconnections and diversified supply routes.
Scholz also stressed that Germany would continue to increase its support for Ukraine. He indicated plans for further arms deliveries in the near future, while underscoring the necessity of wide-ranging, timely decisions to aid Ukraine in its struggle for independence.
Germany has committed to economic support for Ukraine and has prepared for the possibility that the conflict will have global repercussions, though the focus remains on Europe and Germany’s own security considerations.
Response to Prime Minister’s proposal
Officials explained that integrating European energy policies offers clear benefits for all member states and requires stronger coordination of infrastructure. Spain has consistently shown willingness to interconnect more deeply with its neighbors and has urged faster progress. The current crisis illustrates the advantages of deeper European integration. Government sources view the Foreign Affairs Minister’s message positively, stressing that interconnections should not stay a bilateral issue and that broader involvement from the European Commission and the Council will help attract investments and meet interconnection targets set for 2020 (10%) and 2030 (15%). This analysis reflects a shared commitment to energy resilience and regional cooperation [citation].