Alicante became the scene where the technical groundwork for Spain’s leadership phase within the European Union was laid, centered on Casa Mediterráneo during the Spanish Presidency. The meeting began with the 27 EU director-generals, later to be succeeded by their counterparts in Foreign Affairs, who would close the session on Thursday. The first clear takeaway was that the Spanish Presidency should push for peace in the Mediterranean, a region marked by tension and competing national interests. The area remains a flashpoint due to borders and migration pressures that have claimed thousands of lives at sea and raise concerns about regional stability with neighbors such as Lebanon, Morocco, and Algeria.
The Spanish Presidency of the EU opens with a meeting at Casa Mediterráneo
The gathering focused on four strategic axes that guide Spain’s current EU priorities. These include reindustrialization and strategic autonomy, progress in the ecological transition, stronger social justice, and a refreshed commitment to unity within the European Union. In addition, participants examined ongoing developments from the war in Ukraine and the European stance toward Russia in relation to the broader Mediterranean agenda.
Goals
According to the managing director of Casa Mediterráneo, the Mediterranean policy goals set by the Spanish Presidency must be comprehensive and globally oriented. The host, Andres Perelló, outlined the purpose of the meeting as a message of peace and stability in a sea undergoing turbulence. He emphasized that Casa Mediterráneo functions as a hub for advancing environmental innovation, gender equality, and cooperative neighborliness that the EU aims to implement across its southern and eastern shores.
Delegations arriving in Alicante on Tuesday explored a cultural program that included visits to MARQ facilities and a dinner at Santa Bárbara Castle. On Wednesday, the internal affairs of the 27 member states were central, with EU executives taking the lead in articulating a cohesive voice. The Thursday session will transition to a leadership focus on foreign affairs, addressing external diplomacy and cooperation efforts beyond internal EU discussions.
Perelló noted that Spain’s presidential proposals were received as dynamic and timely. He stressed that the Mediterranean requires a unified approach, given its history of conflicts. The aim is to project peace, stability, and shared progress, while working to ease tensions that separate Europe from Africa and hinder regional collaboration.
Gender equality
European officials attending the meeting evaluated Spain’s policies on gender equality, the energy framework, and measures to cap gas usage amid the ongoing disruption since the Ukraine conflict began. The discussion highlighted how these issues intersect with the region’s energy security and climate goals, underscoring the Mediterranean’s role as a platform for inclusive policy development. The host organization indicated that the Mediterranean should serve as a beacon of peaceful coexistence among diverse communities, cultures, and languages, demonstrating how cooperation can thrive across major religious and regional divides.
In this context, Perelló spoke about the Mediterranean as an area of peace and cooperation, envisioned as a living example of coexistence among different religions, continents, and languages. The emphasis remained on building a durable framework for dialogue that can guide future EU actions in the region.