<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The President of the Government Pedro Sánchez held a working meeting in Brussels this Wednesday with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, with whom he discussed, among other issues, the tariff war with the US, the Iberian Peninsula's electrical interconnections with the rest of the EU, and pressure on Israel to end its offensive in Gaza.</strong></h4> During the meeting, the first bilateral meeting between the two since Von der Leyen's mandate was renewed, both leaders discussed the tariff war, and Pedro Sánchez conveyed to the EU president his support for the ongoing negotiations and reiterated the need for the EU-27 to maintain a response based on unity and reciprocity, according to a press release from Moncloa. Sánchez and Von der Leyen also discussed the need to expand the Iberian Peninsula's electrical interconnections with the rest of Europe, the urgency of completing the trade agreement with Mercosur, and the need to implement an ambitious housing policy from the Commission. Regarding defense, the two reviewed EU initiatives to strengthen the continent's security and global stability, and the the President of the Government emphasized Spain's commitment to the defense of Ukraine and Europe's eastern flank and the need to achieve spending targets that are compatible with the Member States' social, environmental, and multilateral commitments. Finally, the President of the Government and the European President discussed the Middle East crisis. On the anniversary of Spain's recognition of Palestine as a state, Sánchez shared with Von der Leyen his extreme concern over the humanitarian catastrophe suffered by the population of Gaza and reiterated the importance of increasing pressure on Israel to halt its illegal invasion by suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement and implementing sanctions, including an arms embargo.
