One wall is built with lime, the other from sand; a mix of protectionism and openness in trade. Heads of state and government from EU member states are negotiating behind closed doors a draft final declaration for the Granada summit. The text calls for protecting citizens and economies while endorsing state stimulus, stronger partnerships, and robust trade and investment agreements. The Granada meeting is hosted by the rotating Spanish presidency of the Council.
The central emphasis of the draft centers on economic policy. Immigation and expansion are the other two major themes of this informal Council, each addressed in a single paragraph. If consensus falters, the final declaration could be altered or not approved at all.
The document opens with a statement: “We, EU leaders, met in Granada to mark the start of the process that will shape the Union’s political direction and priorities for the years ahead.” It acknowledges that the pandemic and the crisis triggered by Russian aggression have sharpened the need to expand sovereignty and make decisive moves. The text urges protecting both citizens and economies.
There is broad agreement that the EU must remain a competitive space in a world that is constantly shifting. Differences, according to diplomatic sources, revolve around how to achieve this. Countries like France advocate for stronger protectionist measures. For instance, in the pending agreement with Brazil and Argentina and other Mercosur partners, Paris calls for penalties on agricultural producers who fail to meet the same environmental standards as European producers. According to sources in Moncloa, Spain argues that the EU should defend strategic autonomy while staying open to the world, yet simultaneously support tighter barriers to entry for non-affiliated governments in key strategic companies.
Debates in Granada
Ursula von der Leyen had already set the tone upon arrival at the Granada Conference Centre. The president of the European Commission reminded attendees that today’s discussions will cover, among other topics, technological evolution. The Strategic Agenda laid out in Versailles in 2019 guides the conversation. “We have moved forward since then, for example in energy and microchips, which remain central keywords,” the German leader noted.
The final declaration under consideration calls for reinforcing long-term competitiveness to ensure the EU possesses the tools needed for sustainable and inclusive growth during this critical decade.
One risk of rising protectionist tendencies among member states is a potential blow to the European single market. In this context, the text supports efforts to create a more harmonious, innovative, and interconnected single market while maintaining openness.
Endurance 2030
Pedro Sánchez focused on re-industrializing Europe as he outlined Spain’s priorities during its EU Council presidency. After decades of globalization and displacement, the Granada meeting contemplates strengthening the EU’s industrial, technological, and commercial power, emphasizing sectors where Europe currently leads and those it hopes to lead in the future.
The EU runs a sizable trade deficit with China, estimated around 400 billion euros, while maintaining a trade surplus with the United States near 155 billion euros. In her recent State of the Union address, Ursula von der Leyen announced an inquiry into China for oversubsidizing its electric vehicles and warned more broadly against Beijing’s protectionist practices in green technologies. She cautioned that these moves could push European firms to re-evaluate their strategic positions abroad.
For the Granada agenda, Spain highlights a strategic document created by the national foresight and strategy office, now guiding the EU’s long-term plan. The result is Resilience 2030, an80-page study produced by more than 250 experts from 27 member countries, with input from 80 ministries, the European Commission, and the EU Council. The document lays out the pathway Spain envisions to prevent future risks within the Union and calls for clear strategic autonomy. An open question remains how much of that language will appear in the final declaration.
At present, the draft emphasizes expanding trade alliances. It states that collaboration to strengthen and diversify value chains through partnerships, trade, and investment agreements is essential to meet zero-emission targets and to bolster preparedness for future emergencies. The conclusions stress that revitalizing international trade—with the World Trade Organization playing a fundamental role—is key to achieving these goals.