55% of Europe’s power system risks blackouts without improved grid interconnection

Europe’s energy infrastructure is under attack, with Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign escalating every day. Interconnectors form the backbone of energy security, safeguarding Europe against grid failures and geopolitical threats. The more interconnectors we have, and the better we secure our existing infrastructure, the safer we are in the face of sabotage.

Pawel Czyzak
‍Europe Programme Director, Ember

In the context of the Baltic power system, the role of cross-border interconnectors goes far beyond standard grid functions — they form the backbone of regional energy sovereignty and systemic resilience. The Baltic is no longer just a geographic area – it is becoming the integrated power plant of Northern and Eastern Europe, built on mutual support and diversified energy sources. Baltic Sea countries already account for more than one-third of total EU electricity generation, and their share will only grow with new investments in renewables and low-carbon technologies. This is a potential that Europe’s energy transition cannot afford to overlook — and one that must be actively protected. The urgency is clear: the Baltic has become the epicenter of sabotage incidents in Europe, showing that undersea cables and power lines are now as strategic as ports and shipping lanes. Protecting this infrastructure must therefore go beyond the energy sector itself — it should be treated as part of NATO’s collective defense and the EU’s security architecture.

Zuzanna Nowak
‍Executive Director of the The Opportunity Institute for Foreign Affairs