By Jorge Liboreiro
And just like that, the lights went out.
This Monday, Spain and Portugal suffered a sudden power outage that plunged the entire Iberian Peninsula into darkness. Spain lost 60% of its electricity demand, equivalent to 15 GW, in just five seconds. Trains, ATMs, traffic lights, air conditioning, Wi-Fi networks, TV sets, freezers and every other device connected to the electricity grid stopped working in the blink of an eye. Authorities rushed to fix the problem and gradually restore power, even if there was no specific rulebook to follow because the large-scale event was, quite simply, unprecedented.
“This has never happened before,” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
While Spanish and Portuguese citizens remained civil and organised, it was nevertheless striking to see some of the extraordinary scenes that were captured on the streets. Random passersby stepping in to direct traffic. Residents trapped in lifts. Stranded commuters walking through metro tunnels. Store owners forced to throw away the valuable stockpiles they had frozen. People scrambling to find cash to pay for food that could be eaten raw.
The crisis exposed the fragility of our hyper-connected modern societies. The continued advancements in technology have woven an intricate environment that necessitates a constant, steady flow of energy to function. Government buildings, factories, underground transport, offices, newsrooms, schools, police stations, banks, grocery shops, bakeries, cinemas. Everything is connected. Once power is cut off, it all comes to a standstill. Paralysed.
It’s remarkable to think – and, in this case, actually see – how vulnerable we are. But this isn’t the first time that Europe has had to reckon with energy security.
In the second half of 2022, the possibility of widespread blackouts made headlines across the continents. Back then, Russia was manipulating gas supplies as a twisted way to punish the bloc for imposing sanctions against the Kremlin. The so-called energy crisis sent wholesale prices to record-breaking heights. Consumers turned down the heat and put on the blanket in a bid to save money. Companies partially shut down production. Governments approved drastic measures to intervene in the market and control spiralling prices. NGOs launched campaigns to combat energy poverty. The panic was tangible, even if the worst-case scenario never materialised.
Brussels learned the lessons and has since then developed plans to diversify the EU’s energy suppliers, remove dangerous dependencies and boost the production of clean electricity, which is home-grown and therefore better protected against external manipulation.
Another lesson it learned is preparedness. In the aftermath of Russia’s war, security became a multifaceted priority for the bloc, spilling over into all policy areas.
Just one month ago, the European Commission presented its Preparedness Union Strategy, recommending that every member state develop a 72-hour survival kit for citizens in case of unexpected crises. As part of the strategy, Commissioner Hadja Lahbib posted a video of herself stocking several items in her emergency bag, such as a flashlight, matches, a lighter, water, a Swiss army knife, medication, canned snacks, cash, a charger, a power bank, a radio and a deck of cards.
The video quickly went viral, amassing over four million views, but for the wrong reasons: critics excoriated its comical tone and fast-paced editing, which seemed at odds with the seriousness of the topic. The reaction was so harsh that Lahbib’s team ended up restricting comments on the social media post. The Commission’s strategy was also decried as unnecessary fear-mongering and war hysteria.
As it turns out, some of the items that Lahbib was gleefully displaying were the same ones that Iberians were desperately searching for to cope with the outage. Spanish TV showed people on the streets trying to buy candles to avoid total darkness at home and analogue radios to access information. The blackout hindered telecommunications, which means many users couldn’t receive messages on their phones and had no idea what was going on. The old-school radio that nobody cares for anymore was the only tool to get real-time updates. Imagine that.
Does Brussels feel vindicated?
“No, obviously not, and we are happy that the situation is getting back to normal,” a Commission spokesperson replied.
“The preparedness strategy is not about vindicating or anything like this. It’s about changing the mindset. It’s mainly about the fact that people are prepared, because, and I think it applies to many situations in life, being prepared is better than being badly surprised.”
Editor’s note: The Briefing arrives to you exceptionally on a Wednesday due to Labour Day. Enjoy the break! | 
