In the presence of the Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, the ministers had the opportunity to discuss the European Commission’s recent 2023 Strategic Foresight Report (see EUROPE 13217/1) over lunch in the margins of the EU ‘General Affairs’ Council on Monday 10 July.
For the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council, Pascual Ignacio Navarro Ríos, Spanish Secretary of State for European Affairs, said that after a more theoretical discussion, the ministers had managed to render things more concrete. They sought to identify the main ideas to be submitted to the heads of state or government during the work that will lead them from the informal summit in Granada in October to the approval of the ‘EU Strategic Agenda’.
The ministers reviewed the Commission’s entire series of foresight reports and addressed other current issues, such as economic security and competitiveness.
Mr Šefčovič, for his part, thanked the Spanish Presidency for allowing a discussion at ministerial level just a few days after the adoption of the report.
He indicated that the ministers had placed particular emphasis on the actions to be taken, notably to make a success of the green and digital transitions, to improve competitiveness and European resilience, and to better measure economic growth.
The ministers focused in particular on transforming Europe into a Europe of investment, mobilising public and private funding and channelling investment towards the most strategic sectors and new technologies.
The Commission’s report should also contribute to the EU Council’s reflections on the future of Europe. This work is expected to continue throughout the six months of the Spanish Presidency, said Navarro Ríos. The minister added that this work will conclude with an analysis of the ‘Strategic Agenda’ by the Spanish Presidency, which should be adopted under the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council.
Spain is set to contribute to European foresight work by publishing a report this week on the resilience of the EU. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)