BRUSSELS, Belgium: Substituting plans to extend the so-called MidCat pipeline across the Pyrenees, earlier opposed by France, Spain and Portugal announced that they will build a sea-based pipeline to carry hydrogen and gas between Barcelona and Marseille.

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said the pipeline, also known as BarMar, will help pump green hydrogen and other renewable gases, as well as temporarily allow for the transportation of a "limited amount" of natural gas, to help ease Europe's energy crisis.

As Russia has gradually cut gas flows after the West imposed sanctions, in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February, Europe has been scrambling to secure alternative energy supplies.

After a meeting this week with the three leaders in Brussels, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters that the pipeline "is a response to calls for solidarity from our European partners, in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin's blackmail."

French President Emmanuel Macron also said it was "imperative that Europe remains united."

The BarMar effectively ends a stand-off between Spain and Portugal, which wanted to extend the MidCat pipeline to central Europe, but France argued that the pipeline would take too long to build to resolve short-term supply issues.

"It is good news, one of Europe's oldest blockades has been overcome," Costa said.

In a joint announcement, Spain and France also agreed to accelerate the construction of an electricity interconnection through the Bay of Biscay and identify and work on other connections between the two national grids.

The leaders of the three countries will meet again on 9th December in Alicante, Spain, to decide on a construction timeline and how it will be financed.