The Spanish presidency will promote the changes and decisions needed to tackle the EU’s major challenges
The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, received the College of Commissioners of the European Union in Madrid.
The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, received the College of Commissioners of the European Union in Madrid on Monday.
This is one of the first events of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU.
“The responsibility that lies in our hands is immense. Europe faces major challenges at home and abroad. And to rise to them, inaction is not an option”, said Sánchez in a press conference with the President of the Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, after their meeting.
The President of the Government of Spain said that “the EU needs to make changes, take decisions, adopt measures”.
“And it must do so under our presidency, which will be the last fully operational one of the legislative cycle because the elections to the European Parliament will take place in June next year”, he added.
EU united in resolving global crises
Sánchez recalled the crises recently faced by the EU, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the fall of the Afghan government in 2021.
In all of them, Spain has worked in solidarity and responsibly with the other EU members, and it is in the “same spirit” that our country will work during the presidency of the Council, he stressed.
At the meeting with the commissioners, the first and foremost issue discussed was the present and future of Ukraine. “The Russian aggression has shaken the foundations of the West and brought back concerns and ghosts that we thought we had defeated. However, the whole world must be clear that we will not back down a single step, that the EU will support Ukraine for as long as the war lasts”, Sánchez said.
The responsibility that lies in our hands is immense. Europe faces major challenges at home and abroad.
For her part, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stressed that Spain is taking the helm of the presidency of the Council at a decisive moment when, she said, efforts to support Ukraine must be redoubled.
“It has been 500 days of suffering for the Ukrainian people, but also of their resistance as they fight for their freedom. Our duty is to live up to that resilience. We need regular and sufficient financial support”, stressed the president of the Commission.
In this regard, she stated that the EU needs the Spanish presidency to reach a rapid agreement to supply more ammunition to Ukraine and at the same time strengthen its own arms reserves.
Von der Leyen asserted that Europe will not be able to exist in the future without Ukraine, Moldova, the Western Balkans, and all the European countries that are currently under the influence of Russia or China.
Seeking new allies
The president also pointed out that “the international order is changing, and Europe must change with it” and to this end, the Spanish presidency will propose a “strategic vision” to the Union “that will allow it to increase its productive capacities, strengthen technological leadership, guarantee economic security and diversify trade relations”.
“Spain is convinced that the Latin American and Caribbean region can and should be one of the EU’s priority allies. That is why we have organised a new EU-CELAC summit on 17–18 July to discuss new trade and financial links between the two regions”, he added.
Spain is convinced that the Latin American and Caribbean region can and should be one of the EU’s priority allies.
Ursula von der Leyen pointed out that the Spanish presidency of the Council can “make a difference” when it comes to seeking new partners for the EU.
“We have a very important event, which is the CELAC Summit, the first of its kind in eight years, and there are many things at stake. We want to promote the agreement with MERCOSUR, we have a key agreement with Mexico, and I am also counting on the Spanish presidency for the agreement with Chile, which is ready and just needs to be signed”.
The meeting with the commissioners also addressed progress in the green transition and environmental adaptation, one of the priorities of the Spanish presidency.
“This is an issue on which the Government of Spain and the European Commission are fully aligned”, Sánchez stressed.
It has been 500 days of suffering for the Ukrainian people, but also of their resistance as they fight for their freedom. Our duty is to live up to that resilience. We need regular and sufficient financial support
A great challenge: the Migration and Asylum Pact
The Spanish presidency faces the challenge of finalising the Migration and Asylum Pact. “The Swedish presidency did a great job and our will is to build on what has already been achieved and forge the compromises that will allow us to reach a balanced agreement that we all feel comfortable with”, he said.
Pedro Sanchez added that “Spain has a particular interest in this issue, as do other first-entry countries”, adding that during the rotating presidency, he will seek to build bridges to overcome the differences between European countries.
“We will work from Spain to ensure that this agreement is balanced between responsibility and solidarity”, he stated.
For her part, von der Leyen indicated that two-thirds of the legislative package has already been resolved. “All that remains is the final sprint so that it can be adopted before the end of this term”, she said.