Building on ongoing concerns from the past, including the lingering effects of the pandemic; medium-term priorities such as the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will take place in the later part of next year; and, most notably, a gift that has marked Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Ukraine by way of Russian actions and their consequences: an energy crisis, rising prices, and a very challenging autumn and winter. These topics and more were examined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation on Monday, during a new edition of Forum + Europe hosted by INFORMATION and the Mediterranean House under the banner “Spain, the European Union and the Mediterranean.”
Albares: “Putin uses gas as a weapon to bend European sovereignty”
In his address at the public institution housed in the former Murcia Station in Alicante, Albares outlined his broad international view, detailing how current events—such as Spain’s social and economic situation, the ramifications of the Ukraine crisis, and regional dynamics from the south to Europe’s other hotspots—shape policy decisions. He traced a path that ranges from China to Venezuela, Iran, the United Kingdom, Poland and Hungary, noting how nationalist currents have gained traction in some quarters.
The event featured introductions by Andrés Perelló, director of Casa Mediterráneo, and MEP Domènec Ruiz, with Toni Cabot, director of INFORMATION Club, overseeing Albares’ remarks. Attendees included representatives from Alicante Chamber, the European Union Intellectual Property Office, Miguel Hernández University, and the Generalitat Valenciana. The minister began by addressing the state budget overview for 2023, noting that Casa Mediterráneo received an increase of 200,000 euros, reflecting a 34 percent rise in funding.
During the Q&A, Albares was pressed on issues beyond his portfolio, including purchasing power and the public’s interest in the Sagunto gigafactory. He redirected questions to other government partners while reiterating that efforts were ongoing to align provincial needs with national budgets and he outlined a plan to meet with local business leaders after the forum to discuss these demands.
When pressed about the most recent state investments in Alicante, Albares underscored the province’s strategic importance for Spain’s external projection. He noted meetings with the community’s executive delegate and the ministry of finance as part of ongoing budget work, and he highlighted the significance of EUIPO’s presence in Alicante and the port as critical nodes for Spain’s international trade on the Mediterranean coast.
For the remainder of the address, the Ukraine war and Putin’s actions dominated the discussion, with Albares arguing that Moscow’s gas supplies have been used to test European unity and leverage. He framed the conflict as a clash between two models: democracy and cooperation versus a nationalist, authoritarian approach tied to gas dependence. He asserted that European resilience and autonomy must be strengthened in response to this challenge.
war context
In the current climate of conflict and rising energy dependence, Albares argued that peace and prosperity cannot be entrusted to others and should not be vulnerable to coercion. He advocated for a stronger strategic autonomy during Spain’s upcoming EU presidency, a phase anticipated to begin in the second half of 2023, though his remarks remained relevant to ongoing discussions in the second half of 2024 as well. The message underscored a volatile international context shaped by war and its repercussions.
Following the event, a lineup of participants—Tomás Mayoral, Andrés Perelló, Toni Cabot, Juan R. Gil, José Manuel Albares, Juan José López Espín, Domènec Ruiz and Joan Calabuig—were noted for their involvement in the discussion. In the first segment of Forum + Europe, topics also covered immigration policy and relations with Latin America, with Albares stressing the need to prevent the Mediterranean from becoming a graveyard for people seeking better lives. He outlined a plan for a summit with Latin American leaders to strengthen European outreach to that region, highlighting regions across the Atlantic as central to Europe’s future.
After the remarks, more than two hundred participants asked questions about the presidency and its priorities. The discussion touched on an upcoming Mediterranean summit, originally postponed due to health concerns, which would be hosted in Alicante, and the prospect of a new green energy corridor connecting Spain with Portugal and France. Albares described the aim as bringing Europe closer to its diverse member states and people across the Iberian Peninsula and beyond.
war context
On questions about nuclear risk in the Ukraine conflict, Albares dismissed any immediate threat of nuclear exchange, characterizing Putin’s provocations as theatrical rather than credible, while emphasizing that Russia’s real danger lies in renewed large-scale conventional warfare. He stressed that Russians’ leaders have flirted with nuclear rhetoric but noted there was no substantiation of an imminent threat to Europe.
In discussing the presidency of the EU, Albares asserted that priorities will be outlined in January, but he also warned that the international situation is highly volatile. He listed goals including restoring peace in Europe, rebuilding the post-pandemic economy, reforming energy markets, advancing immigration and asylum agreements, and strengthening ties with Latin America across the Mediterranean. He added that Spain would propose a broader European approach to energy and mobility in the coming months.
Additionally, with the Spanish EU presidency approaching, Albares announced that Alicante would host an informal EU trade council meeting in Valencia. He suggested this would showcase Europe’s shared diversity and bring Spaniards closer to EU decision-making, though a specific date was not finalized at that time.
Many questions from participants focused on Spain’s diplomatic role with Algeria, amid intense cross-border commerce with Alicante and ongoing mediation regarding the Algeria-Morocco-Western Sahara situation. Albares indicated cooperation with UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura to help unlock a long-standing impasse.
From discussions about the UK, Gibraltar, and China’s role, the minister reviewed broader geopolitical shifts. He noted the resignation of Britain’s prime minister and the possibility of a new common area of prosperity with the UK, and he anticipated a stabilizing role for China under President Xi Jinping, stressing China’s demographic and economic weight as a strategic asset in halting Europe’s war-related disruption. He also condemned the repression of Iranian protesters and indicated that EU sanctions would persist until the situation improved.
Overall, the Forum highlighted Spain’s approach to steering regional partnerships, addressing energy security, and sustaining Western democratic values in the face of coercive challenges. The dialogue reflected a commitment to a more integrated Europe that can respond to uncertainty without abandoning its core principles.