The Diplomat
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, defended yesterday in Brussels that the “Iberian exception” that allows the implementation of a “cap on the price of natural gas” for the generation of electricity be extended to the whole of the EU, because “it could be very beneficial for industry, families and companies in the European economy”.
“We have the Iberian exception but we would like to extend it to the whole of the European Union,” said the head of the Executive on his arrival at the European Council in Brussels, which on its second day this Friday will focus on the economic and social consequences of the conflict in Ukraine, consequences that, according to Sanchez, have caused “a higher cost of living, rising energy prices and the price of light.” He also assured that Spain will continue to defend the need to “intervene in the electricity market and propose reforms, as well as the cap on gas prices”.
On the other hand, Pedro Sánchez welcomed the decision of the European leaders, adopted yesterday in Brussels, to accept the candidatures of Ukraine and Moldova to join the European Union. “The European Council, in a historic session, has just confirmed the recognition of candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova,” he said via Twitter. “The Ukrainian people are fighting for the same values that the European Union stands for. Congratulations to both countries,” he concluded.
Speaking upon his arrival in Brussels (where the Western Balkans Summit was also held yesterday), the head of the Executive assured that Spain “sees with good eyes” that also Bosnia and Herzegovina can be a candidate country, because “the European perspective of the Western Balkans cannot be lost either”.