The Diplomat
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, received yesterday at the Moncloa Palace the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, to discuss the transition between the current Swedish Presidency and the next Spanish Presidency of the EU and to analyze “the vulnerabilities of the European Union” highlighted by Russia’s war against Ukraine, such as foreign dependence, competitiveness or energy.
Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU until June 30 and will be relieved the following day, July 1, by Spain. For this reason, according to Moncloa, Pedro Sánchez showed special interest in “Sweden’s concerns and priorities” in view of the Spanish Presidency and conveyed to Ulf Kristersson Spain’s intention to promote during its European semester the search for consensus in order to avoid bloc policies among the Member States. Kristersson, a conservative, received on April 12 in Stockholm the President of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who will head the PP lists in the early general elections on July 23, in the middle of the Spanish Presidency.
Likewise, both leaders agreed on the impact that the war of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has had during the Swedish Presidency and stressed that, during the European Councils and the Councils of Ministers of the EU, all countries have continued to show a common determination to continue providing Ukraine with all the help it needs, whether in the political, economic, humanitarian or military fields.
“As I had the opportunity to convey last Thursday to the President (of Ukraine, Volodimir) Zelenski in Moldova, Spain will continue to work, as Sweden has done, to help Ukraine on the road to the European Union,” said Sánchez at the press conference. The President of the Government also reiterated Spain’s support for Sweden’s integration into NATO and conveyed to his Swedish counterpart the wish that this accession should take place as soon as possible, since “it will contribute to making this organization stronger, more cohesive and better prepared to face the challenges we are facing”.
In the same vein, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, said last May 26 in Stockholm that Spain will work “at all levels and in a constructive way” to get Turkey and Hungary to lift their veto on Sweden’s entry into NATO so that it can take place before the next NATO Summit in Vilnius (Lithuania).
On the other hand, Sánchez stressed yesterday that “this unjust and unjustified war” has led the European Union to become aware of the need to continue promoting reforms that “will be at the center of the European debate during the Spanish Presidency of the Council”. In this sense, the President of the Government and the Prime Minister of Sweden addressed yesterday the importance of studying the “vulnerabilities of the European Union” in terms of external dependence or competitiveness.
In this regard, both agreed on the importance of continuing to focus on reindustrialization and advancing in the green and digital transitions, as well as the need to ensure the diversification of supply chains for Europe, an aspect in which, according to Sánchez, Latin America can play an important role. “It is a region with which we share culture and values,” stated the president, who reiterated the need to make progress on trade agreements with Chile, Mexico and Mercosur.
The two leaders also discussed the reform of the electricity market and President Sánchez warned that energy is “another of the vulnerabilities” that the war in Ukraine has brought to light, for which reason he announced his intention to reach, before the end of this year, an agreement that guarantees EU consumers and companies a secure supply, at reasonable prices and in line with the objectives of climate neutrality.
During the meeting, the two leaders analyzed other issues that will be dealt with during the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council, such as the reform of fiscal rules, the review of the multiannual budget and the conclusion of the Migration and Asylum Pact.
