Spain has officially assumed the presidency of the EU Council, outlining its focus on the green transition and social justice. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed European Council president Charles Michel to Madrid on July 2 to discuss the presidency's key priorities, including reindustrialization, strategic autonomy, ecological transition, social and economic justice, and the strengthening of European unity.
The meeting between Sánchez and Michel took place at La Moncloa Palace, following the Spanish Prime Minister's visit to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian president Volodimir Zelenskyy. During the visit, Sánchez reiterated Spain's commitment to supporting Ukraine and expressed willingness to provide assistance for as long as necessary, regardless of the cost.
Apart from the Ukraine situation, Spain aims to make significant progress on several important legislative files during its six-month presidency. These include an overhaul of the electricity market in the post-crisis period, a pioneering attempt to regulate artificial intelligence, an unprecedented scheme to confiscate frozen Russian assets, and a long-awaited review of the EU's fiscal rules.
Migration will also be a crucial issue during Spain's presidency. Last month, member states reached a preliminary agreement on a new framework for managing the reception and relocation of asylum seekers, marking a significant breakthrough in migration reform. However, the agreement has faced strong opposition from Poland and Hungary, who resist burden-sharing measures. This opposition led to the failure of joint conclusions at the recent meeting of the European Council, which Sánchez criticized as a display of narrow-mindedness.
Spain's assumption of the rotating presidency comes at a time when the country faces a snap general election scheduled for July 23. Polls indicate a potential shift in government from the current left-wing coalition to a conservative administration or even a coalition involving far-right elements, mirroring trends seen in other parts of Europe. Despite the upcoming election and the resulting uncertainty, Spanish officials assure that the presidency will proceed as planned without disruption.
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