Up to 55% of Europe’s power system has limited options to import electricity, increasing the risk of blackouts across the continent, according to think tank Ember. Analysts note that cross-border connections have prevented or managed three major blackouts within the EU over the past five years and have kept the grids in Ukraine and Moldova running during Russia’s aggression.

The strategic role of cross-border infrastructure has also made it a prime target for sabotage. Since 2022, nine incidents damaging energy and communication links have been recorded in the Baltic Sea alone.

The region is not the only target: in April 2025, Russian hackers attacked a Norwegian hydropower plant, while in September 2025 other incidents took place, including the explosion of a gas train near Vilnius, a deliberate blackout in Berlin, and Israeli attacks in Qatar, a key gas supplier to Europe.

“Europe’s energy infrastructure is under attack, and Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign is intensifying every day,” said Pawel Czyzak, Head of Ember’s European programme. “Interconnectors are the backbone of energy security, shielding Europe from grid failures and geopolitical threats. The more interconnectors we have—and the better we protect existing infrastructure—the safer we will be against sabotage.”

Ember’s report highlights the vital role interconnectors play in preventing supply cuts and enabling recovery. In Poland, a substation error in 2021 triggered a major frequency drop that was quickly stabilized thanks to interconnector support. In 2020, Poland also avoided record generation losses from blackouts largely due to emergency imports. Interconnectors contributed to restarting the Iberian grid in April 2025 and supported France’s electricity supply in 2022.

While 55% of Europe’s power system has suboptimal import options, Spain, Ireland and Finland are particularly exposed to grid incidents due to their limited cross-border infrastructure.

Unless immediate action is taken to expand and protect interconnectors, blackout risks will rise, especially in countries with limited supply diversity. Ember stresses this should not be viewed as just an energy priority but as a vital measure to protect European societies from attacks. In times of instability, European nations should actively develop cross-border links to safeguard the security of millions of citizens, Czyzak added.

Zuzanna Nowak, Executive Director of the Institute for Opportunity in Foreign Affairs, emphasized the broader strategic importance of interconnectors:

“In the context of the Baltic power system, the role of cross-border interconnectors goes far beyond standard grid functions: they are 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, based on mutual support and diversified energy sources. Baltic countries already account for more than one-third of the EU’s total electricity generation, and their share will continue to grow with new investments in renewables and low-carbon technologies".

This is potential Europe’s energy transition cannot afford to neglect and must actively protect. The urgency is clear: the Baltic has become the epicentre of sabotage in Europe, proving that submarine cables and power lines are now as strategic as ports and shipping routes. Protecting this infrastructure must go beyond the energy sector itself; it should be considered part of NATO’s collective defence and the EU’s security architecture.”