Spain’s Prime Minister begins EU presidency

July 3, 2023 9News Nigeria Europe 0

Priorities include the reindustrialisation of the EU and guaranteeing its open strategic autonomy, making progress on ecological transition and environmental adaptation, promoting greater social and economic justice, and strengthening European unity.

Pedro Sanchez received Charles Michel at La Moncloa Palace a day after his trip to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian president Volodimir Zelenskyy and reiterated his commitment to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes” and “regardless of the price to be paid”.

Besides Ukraine, Spain hopes to make progress on several major EU issues during its presidency including that the EU finalize a controversial pact on migration despite lingering differences within the 27-nation group.

Spain also says that its snap election this month will not disrupt Spain’s presidential turn.

Migration issue and threat of the far right

Earlier this month, EU countries saw a breakthrough on asylum law reform, sealing an agreement on a plan to share responsibility for migrants entering Europe without authorization. Only Poland and Hungary voted against it.

EU lawmakers have warned that this may be the last chance to solve the issue before EU-wide elections in a year’s time, when migration is likely to be a hot-button issue once again.

The rotating presidency comes as Spain faces an early general election on 23 July, which polls shows could oust Sánchez’s leftist coalition government and replace it with a conservative administration, or even a coalition with the extreme right, and follow a trend happening in much of Europe.