A few minutes after the planned start, around 16:00, European leaders from the nine nations taking part in the Alicante summit arrived at Ciudad de la Luz. This first session, the first of two meetings that afternoon, aimed to align positions on the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine. The schedule called for a second gathering at 18:30 to discuss new rules shaping European financial policy. Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, was the first to arrive under tight security and a flurry of media attention.
Pedro Sanchez
The head of the Spanish government hosted fellow heads of state and government, along with other participants at this Mediterranean summit. After Sánchez arrived, and in the absence of their prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, who canceled at the last moment due to the flu, Italian representatives stepped in. Antonio Tajani, serving as vice president and foreign minister, attended in his place. Following the Italians, other leaders appeared, including Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who paused to address his country’s media. Attendees included representatives from Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, and Cyprus, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel. The setting reflected the latest in Mediterranean diplomacy and security planning.
Euro summit in Alicante, with a focus on energy and tax policy
Prior to the afternoon discussions, the leaders shared a working lunch at Casa Mediterráneo. Officials used the gathering to review and sign off on a working dinner agenda that showcased products from the province. Local manufacturers contributed printed materials, table settings, and other accessories—signaling a notable collaboration between policymakers and regional industry.
Energy autonomy
The discussions during the summit address fiscal reforms, strategic energy autonomy, and governance mechanisms as Europe seeks resilience amid market volatility and migration pressures. The gathering underscored how energy policy and economic governance are being recalibrated to reduce dependence on uncertain external factors and to support a stable, decarbonized transition.
The Alicante summit is poised to be remembered as a milestone in Europe’s energy transition. Leaders from Spain, France, and Portugal, along with the European Commission and the European Council, prepared to close a landmark agreement on Europe’s first major green hydrogen corridor. The plan envisions hydrogen as a central pillar of the next phase toward a decarbonized energy system, signaling a wider push to diversify energy sources and accelerate decarbonization across the continent.