Spain took over the Presidency of the EU Council on Saturday 1 July for the next six months, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez vowing it will be a “useful instrument to improve the lives of citizens.”
Under the slogan, “Europe, closer”, Spain has identified reindustrialisation, the green transition, promoting social and economic justice and strengthening European unity as its key priorities for the presidency.
“The time has come for Spain to show the world how much we can do for Europe. Our country assumes the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union with humility and gratitude. But also with ambition,” Sanchez stated.
As part of its social and economic justice agenda, Spain says the EU needs a competitive but also "a fairer and more caring" economy. Central to this will be the fight against tax evasion by multinational corporations – a black hole in the EU budget which costs the bloc as much as is spent on housing and environmental protection.
Fighting austerity through fiscal reform, strengthening workers' rights with a particular focus on vulnerable groups, establishing a more efficient asylum and migration management, and sustaining EU support for Ukraine are all featured on the Spanish agenda.
During each presidency, the façade of the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels is decorated with a banner with the logo of the rotating country. Credit: EU Council
Spain also aims to create thousands of jobs by developing strategic industries and technologies, as well as a renewed push for the green transition. The European Green Deal in recent weeks has been stalled by the European People's Party (EPP) sustained efforts to block the flagship EU nature restoration law.
Taking over from the Swedish Presidency, Spain will be leading the Council in the midst of national elections scheduled for 23 July, which were called early by Prime Minister Sanchez following disappointing municipal election results. The ruling Socialist Party (PSOE) is currently trailing in the polls behind the right-wing Popular Party (PP).
Belgium is scheduled to take the reins for the next EU Council Presidency in January 2024.
