GEN – 1495.00. On 15 June 2023, the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, presented the four priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Spain will be leading the Council of the EU from 1 July 2023 till 31 December 2023.
On 15 June 2023, The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, presented the four priorities of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU, which he will assume from 1 July: promoting the reindustrialisation of Europe, moving towards ecological transition, consolidating the social pillar and strengthening European unity.
The four priorities of the Spanish presidency
According to the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, the four priorities of the Spanish presidency are “very much in line with the main concerns and demands of our fellow citizens”.
Reindustrialise the EU and ensure its open strategic autonomy
The Spanish Presidency will work on two fronts. On the one hand, it will promote those dossiers which foster the development of strategic industries and technologies in Europe, the expansion and diversification of its trade relations, and the strengthening of its supply chains, giving special attention to Latin America and the EU-CELAC Summit. On the other hand, it will propose a forward-looking, comprehensive strategy to ensure the economic security and global leadership of the EU by 2030, providing continuity and depth to the work of the European institutions and the roadmap agreed in Versailles by the 27 Member States.
Advance in the green transition and the environmental adaptation
Curbing climate change and environmental degradation is not only a legal and moral obligation, but also a huge opportunity. If Europe executes it well, the green transition will allow to drastically reduce the EU dependence on energy and raw materials, lower the electricity bill, make the EU companies more competitive, and create nearly one million jobs in this decade alone.
The Spanish Presidency will do its utmost to foster this transition. It will promote a reform of the electricity market aimed at accelerating the deployment of renewable energies, the reduction of electricity prices, and the improvement of the system’s stability. It will work to accelerate the legislative files related to Fit for 55, such as the Gas and Hydrogen package, and the energy efficiency regulations. Furthermore, the Spanish presidency will promote measures for the reduction of waste and microplastics, the design of sustainable products and the generation of green fuels. All these, so that the EU continues to lead the global fight against climate change and does so by creating wealth and new opportunities throughout its territory.
Promoting greater social and economic justice
The Spanish Presidency will advocate for the establishment of minimum and common standards on corporate taxation in all Member States and will fight tax evasion by large multinationals. It will also work for a proper revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 and for the adequate reform of the fiscal rules to overcome austerity, increase transparency and combine the sustainability of public finances with the proper financing of the green and digital transitions. Finally, it will push for the extension of workers’ rights in several areas and for vulnerable groups such as children, women suffering from violence, and people with disabilities.
Strengthening European unity
Member States must continue to make progress in integration and develop tools that will allow them to face, together, the great challenges of our time.
The Spanish Presidency will advocate for a greater deepening of the internal market, the completion of the banking union and the capital markets union, the consolidation and improvement of common instruments such as the NextGenerationEU funds, a more efficient and coordinated management of migration and asylum processes, and a coordinated support for Ukraine and other neighbouring states. We will also work for the development of our common identity and values, and to foster a new phase of the development of the European project.
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