section_path: Area
section_name: Area
paragraph_text: Area
  
  The synchronous grid of continental Europe covers territory of the ENTSO-E continental Europe regional group and some neighbouring countries not involved in the ENTSO-E. As of 2025, the synchronous grid includes all or parts of the following countries:
  
  The grids of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia are synchronised with the European grid through the Gibraltar AC link and form the South West Mediterranean Block. In April 2015, the grid of Turkey was synchronised with the European grid. Although synchronous, some countries operate in a near island mode, with low connectivity to other countries. The European Commission considers high connectivity to be beneficial, and has listed several interconnection projects as Projects of Common Interest. However, the national grids must also be upgraded to handle increased power flows if the values of a free energy market are to be realised in the EU.
  
  On 16 March 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ENTSO-E set up synchronisation with the networks of Ukraine and Moldova on an emergency basis to provide external support for the power supply in those countries. Plans for Ukraine to shift from the Russian grid to the European grid were already in progress, with an experimental separation from the Russian grid underway when the invasion occurred. Power exchange and integration gradually increased, and by August 2022, 400–700 MW were sent from Ukraine to Eastern parts of EU.
  
  The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania disconnected from IPS/UPS on 8 February 2025 and on 9 February 2025 synchronised with the continental grid.
  
  On 2025, Cyprus and Greece approved an electricity cable to link its power grid. France’s Nexans is building the cable and Germany’s Siemens will be contracted to build the onshore transformers. The cable will eventually continue from Cyprus to connect with Israel’s electricity grid.