The notes of Pau Casals’ Hymn of Peace put the ceremonial finishing touch on Spain’s presidency of the Council of the Union on 21 December. A concert was reported in Madrid attended by the kings and most of the government (four vice presidents and twelve ministers) Spanish Newspaper. In these six months, when dozens of important files were unblocked in the EU, they show their chests in Moncloa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. migration to energypassing through Artificial intelligence wave financial discipline. The opposition criticizes the lack of political support that Pedro Sánchez has received this term, first waiting for early elections and then holding negotiations with Catalan independentists to get the necessary votes for candidacy. Describing the period as a success, the president emphasized that more than 70 complex agreements were concluded, above average.
“The strong political tension in Spain and the polarization of the national debate affected: Both the Government and the opposition wanted it transfer internal problems to Europe“For example, amnesty and the quality of the rule of law or language problems,” says Raquel García, researcher at the Royal Institute of Elcano, for this newspaper and continues: “Ultimately, this affects the perception of a solid, reliable and consistent language of the partner.”
When Pedro Sánchez announced the election progress from the Government at the end of May Semester was provided Spain’s presidency of the EU Council will not be harmed. They argued that Spain had sufficient forces to organize the hundreds of events required. And Pedro Sánchez would be able to provide sufficient political momentum, just as Emmanuel Macron managed during his presidency, which also coincided with the election period.
However, the elections disrupted both the agenda and content of some presidential appointments. The date of the Board of Commissioners’ visit was changed so as not to conflict with the campaign. Pedro Sánchez Twice postponed his appearance before the European Parliament It will announce its priorities first in July and then in September. And when he finally attended in Strasbourg on 13 December, the meeting was marred by a series of accusations and confrontations against the head of the European People’s Party. Manfred WeberWhile denouncing the rise of the far right, Pedro Sánchez echoed the arguments of the Spanish PP regarding the state of the rule of law in Spain.
The election cycle permeates every phase of the presidency. In fact, negotiations to gain the votes of Catalan independentists (Junts and ERC) began on 17 August with a letter from José Manuel Albares. He asked the EU to change the language regime To include the use of Catalan, Basque and Galician. It is a kind of letter written to Pedro Sánchez, as it was sent to the EU Council, which he chairs. Since then, Spain has tried to request this participation at various meetings of the EU General Affairs Council.
The Head of Government hurriedly left Brussels after the summit with Latin American countries EU-Celac on 17 and 18 July. Instead of making the traditional press appearance to journalists, he returned to Spain to attend a rally in Donosti ahead of the elections. 23-J general elections. At another summit in Granada, Sánchez brought together fifty European leaders from the European Political Community, whom he hosted at the Alhambra.
legislative frenzy
Sources from the presidential organization in Moncloa are aware of the impact of the electoral advance. “WITH despite all the obstaclesclosed perfectly and the files [acuerdos entre los 27] They underlined the unobtrusive technical role of senior diplomats of the permanent representations (Coreper) in Brussels. They continued to work hard to execute the files opened in the “trilogies”. In the EU, they are working groups consisting of three members (one from the Commission, one from the Parliament and the third from the Council Presidency) for each legislative proposal.
This led to agreement on far-reaching reforms: the first Artificial Intelligence regulation in the world (after the Chinese regulation), the Pact on Migration and Asylum, electricity system reform, the launch of accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova or the new EU debt and deficit rules.
Diplomatic sources also point to some overlooked issues, such as progress in the expansion of the Mediterranean, to which Spain has given particular political impetus. Schengen area to Bulgaria and Romania wave European Disabled CardThis will ensure that people with disabilities can move freely across the EU.
“Most of the closed agreements relate to the Spanish priorities on the agenda, in particular the so-called ‘social pillar’ and the defense of European citizenship,” says Raquel García. “Among others, focus on social rights“European Digital Identity, regulation of digital platform workers, tripartite summit with unions and companies or focus on regional harmonization”.
Spanish stamp on the presidency
Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009, each country’s role and ability to leave its mark on the Council’s rotating presidencies has been limited.
Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares argued that Spain left its mark on his presidencyespecially “Latin America is at the center.” “The EU-Celac Summit marked a before and after, because it has not been held for eight years and would not have been held without the power of Spain,” he said at a semi-annual forum on 21 December. Said. presidential. “Brazilian president [Luiz Inácio] “Lula da Silva said that the EU has never received as much love and attention towards Latin America as at this summit.”
No concrete results could be obtained from the meeting on the main bilateral issue, the Mercosur free trade agreement, which was blocked by France due to agriculture and livestock sector and environmental problems. The EU has committed to invest €45 billion to support a strengthened partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean through the Global Gateway by 2027.
Albares said the approval of the launch of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and the progress in the Balkans ““clearly Spanish impulse”. “We knew we had to make a decision, but we had to show the way,” says the head of Spanish diplomacy.
Every presidency is also measured by the unforeseen. During the Spanish period, there was the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which left more than 1,200 dead, and Israel’s retaliation against the Gaza Strip, which has already killed more than 20,000 people.
The EU included in the outcomes of its last summit a Spanish initiative to hold a peace conference as soon as the war conflict ends, in order to promote a two-state solution, with Palestinians alongside Israel. Albares concludes: “The ceasefire request has the Spanish seal and, as a commissioner intended, to prevent the EU from stopping its aid to Palestine. That’s what the presidency is for, to show leadership.”