French scepticism about a new gas pipeline across the Pyrenees is highlighting the competing visions for Europe's future energy mix as the continent urgently confronts a power crisis.
MidCat would be a third gas connection between France and Spain, which its main backers — Madrid, Lisbon and more recently Berlin — say would help Europe reduce its Russian gas reliance.
But French President Emmanuel Macron has bluntly told his partners he sees no case for the multi-billion euro project.