The biggest political event of the 21st century will take place this Friday in Alicante. capital of the state, IX Euro-Mediterranean Summit EU-MED 9 meeting to be held in Euipo, Casa Mediterráneo and Ciudad de la Luz, with the participation of the presidents and heads of state of Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Slovenia and Croatia; as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, the last two, attended as guests. This appointment was set for September 30 in principle, but had to be postponed until today after the head of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, tested positive for covid.
With the establishment of new fiscal rules, strategic autonomy and economic governance in energy matters, the instability that the Mediterranean is going through, immigration crisisgoing through the global economic situation. The summit will conclude with an agreement on the green hydrogen corridor that will connect Barcelona to Marseille in an action attended by Sánchez; French president Emmanuel Macron; and Portugal’s, António Costa.
European Commission
project green hydrogen runner It will be submitted to the European Commission before the 15th of the month to receive European funding. According to official sources this week, the aim is to get the Commission to finance about 50% of this project, whose technical details and deadlines have not been announced so far. This submarine corridor will only carry green hydrogen, as the financing mechanism it has chosen funds only projects carrying this energy.
However, it is unknown technical and financial details the project as well as the deadlines discussed for its implementation. Ministry of Ecological Transition sources indicate 2030 as the most suitable date for its implementation. The infrastructure rendering process will take between one and two years, although a construction period of four to five years is envisaged.
Regarding the summit’s program, two plenary sessions are envisaged. energy autonomy and economic governance to make progress in changing existing fiscal rules. The nine Mediterranean countries attending the Alicante summit today share their positions on these issues, as did the Commission rejecting the gas limit proposed by the Commission, considering its initial proposal of 275 euros. Spain, for example, considers a lower offer of 220 euros still far from acceptable, so it prefers a dynamic price based on reference prices.
Lunch
This Friday’s event also includes a luncheon at Casa Mediterráneo for the new leaders along with Von der Leyen and Michel. After lunch, the first working session will be held, currently in Ciudad de la Luz, where energy autonomy will be discussed, the current crisis and the proposed solution. gas price cap. Inflation Reduction Law will also be discussed.
The second study session, in which von der Leyen and Michel will no longer be present, Mediterranean leaders discusses economic governance and the proposal made by the Commission for fiscal rules reform. Official sources confirm that the aim of this informal forum, which was born in 2014 and will hold its ninth summit in Alicante, is to propose solutions to the most pressing problems that await today, without falling into divisions and blocs within the European Union. Unity.
Pedro Sánchez talks with Meloni and Macron
Besides his participation in the summit, the day will also serve as the first meeting of the Head of Government, Pedro Sánchez, with the new Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. – Right-wing leader as Italian Chief Executive. Sánchez is scheduled to have a short bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron after the meeting, in which Portuguese António Costa will also be present.
Source: Informacion
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.