The Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU intends to make support for Ukraine and relations with Latin America the priorities of its six-month presidency.
“The need for European unity in the face of the principal geopolitical challenges will inspire the discussions of the Informal Ministerial Meeting on Foreign Affairs to be held on 30-31 August”, states the Presidency programme.
As with previous Presidencies, Ukraine will be one of Spain’s priorities. “We will preserve the unity of the Member States in continuing to provide assistance of all kinds to Ukraine while isolating Russia”, warns the Presidency programme.
The Presidency therefore intends to redouble its efforts with third countries to obtain the necessary international support for Ukraine’s peace plan and to monitor the global consequences of the aggression.
The fight against impunity and accountability will also be priorities, in particular the question of prosecuting the crime of aggression and the possibility of using the proceeds of frozen and immobilised Russian funds to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine. The Commission is due to present a proposal on this subject by the end of July (see EUROPE 13213/5). According to an official source met in Madrid by EUROPE and a group of journalists, the priority is to deliver accountability, whatever form that may take - repurposing the proceeds of frozen assets or prosecuting the crime of aggression. Spain also wishes to strengthen the application of restrictive measures.
Spain will also have to work towards a consensus on the issue of opening EU accession negotiations with Ukraine, as well as Moldova and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Strengthening relations with Latin America
The third summit of EU-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) heads of state and government, to be held on 17 and 18 July in Brussels, is another “of the Spanish Presidency’s principal foreign policy lines of action”. “The European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean share a deep-rooted compatibility in the defence of democratic values, in addition to major economic, social and cultural ties. Our alliance with the region has strategic importance for addressing the major geopolitical challenges”, the programme emphasises.
According to Spain, the EU-CELAC summit will mark a turning point in bi-regional relations, “through renewed political commitment at all levels, strengthening its architecture and the frequency of interactions”, and will mark a new beginning in relations.
While the importance of the transatlantic link “has been made clear in the efforts of the European Union and its allies to respond to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine”, Madrid intends to continue strengthening ties between the EU and the United States, “a natural ally and privileged partner of the EU, to support Ukraine and respond to major international challenges”. The Spanish Presidency wants to continue to intensify and consolidate the various cooperation mechanisms in place, “making maximum use of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council” and wants to make progress on the agreement on critical minerals and the global agreement on sustainable steel and aluminium. According to the official source, both China and the United States need a level playing field in terms of trade.
The EU’s neighbourhood will also be a priority. “The Spanish Presidency will seek to strengthen the southern dimension of the Neighbourhood and create a truly bi-regional dynamics, to complement the bilateral relationship between the EU and each country, and continue to foster an area of shared prosperity on both shores of the Mediterranean” and tackle common challenges, the Presidency announces. To this end, Spain will promote the revision of the New Mediterranean Agenda and the strengthening of the institutional architecture of the southern neighbourhood.
At a time when the European Council has asked the European Commission for a report on the state of relations between the EU and Turkey (see EUROPE 13212/5), Spain will promote the development of a positive agenda with Turkey to improve cooperation in areas of common interest, such as the resumption of high-level dialogues.
Madrid will also pay particular attention to the Eastern Partnership, focusing on common threats and opportunities in areas such as food security, energy, cyber security and connectivity, “which are key for our mutual resilience”. The Presidency will also endeavour to consolidate the EU’s role in stabilising the Caucasus region.
Finally, the Spanish Presidency wants to encourage the implementation of the strategic partnership with the Gulf and the development of broader cooperation with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, focusing on the green transition and energy security and on a greater EU contribution to regional peace and security.
To see the Spanish Presidency programme, go to https://aeur.eu/f/7v4 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)