Vulcan Insight | Spain takes over Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Following the Swedish term, the European Council has welcomed Spain for their Presidency on 1 July. During this process, Spain will chair the Council meetings whilst ensuring the external representation of the EU with regards to common foreign and security policy. This remains an important process as this mandate will determine how the EU will handle certain oncoming issues and how they will address them.

Earlier this week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a statement at a joint press conference in Madrid to mark the Spanish Presidency debut. The conference covered a variety of ambitious projects that aim to take place during the Spanish Presidency. During the conference at the Royal Collections Gallery in Madrid, von der Leyen highlighted a variety of topics that need to be better addressed by the EU collectively, with particular emphasis on EU funding to Ukraine in support of the ongoing war of aggression from Russia. Further alluding to the extended duration of the war, von der Leyen underlined that it has been over “500 days of suffering of the Ukrainian people” during which Ukraine has shown “impressive resistance” when fighting for their freedom. Von der Leyen claims the EU needs to match the Ukrainian endurance in supporting them with all means necessary, such as financial support which would stem from a revised EU budget. Further methods include supporting Ukraine with regards to their progression on an EU path and maintaining sanctions to keep high pressure on Russia.

The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez highlighted Spain’s immense responsibility in dealing with Europe’s major challenges whether domestic or foreign, whilst claiming the importance in rising to them as “inaction is not an option.” The Spanish Presidency will equally aim to make a difference in seeking new potential partners for the EU, whilst targeting the Latin American and Caribbean region maintaining that they should be one of the EU’s main potential allies. To further support this idea, the Spanish presidency has organized an EU-CELAC summit on 17 to 18 July which aims to uncover trade and financial links between them.

Sanchez further mentioned the priorities of the Spanish Presidency is reaching the agreement with Chile as they want to further their current agreement with MERCOSUR. Additional priorities that aim to be addressed in the upcoming period included the progression in the green transition, environmental adaptation, and – among its digital proposals – the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act).. The Spanish Presidency will equally propose a strategic vision to the EU that aims to increase its “productive capacities, strengthen technological leadership, guarantee economic security and diversity trade relations.”

Von der Leyen’s closing statements reiterated the importance of the upcoming Spanish Presidency in maintaining a competitive European Union, further alluding to the next six-month period as the “last mile to go.”

Compliments of Vulcan Consulting – a member of the EACCNY.