Eduardo González
The acting President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, yesterday gave a positive assessment of this week’s European Council, whose conclusions include the international peace conference for the Middle East proposed by Spain and the goal of the 27 to reach “before the end of year” an agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and on the new fiscal rules of the Union.
The strong point on the agenda of the European Council, held on Thursday and Friday, was the serious security crisis in the Middle East following the Hamas terrorist attack and Israel’s military response in the Gaza Strip. As Sánchez explained in the press conference after the Council, “Spain concentrated its efforts in a constructive manner” on achieving the “double objective” of agreeing on “a clear message” from the European Union “to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza as soon as possible” and “offering a perspective of peace to the conflict.”
“Humanitarian aid must urgently reach the Strip, establishing humanitarian corridors and humanitarian pauses that allow aid to arrive continuously and quickly, meeting the basic needs of the civilian population,” declared the President of the Government, referring to the “humanitarian pauses” (plural) finally accepted by the 27.
Spain had asked for a “humanitarian pause”, but the final conclusions of the Council opted for “humanitarian pauses” (a difference that goes beyond language) to satisfy countries more inclined to Israel, such as Germany or Austria. “In Spain we have always defended a cessation or a humanitarian ceasefire,” but, for the sake of consensus, “we lowered that towards a terminology that would probably enjoy greater consensus, which is the humanitarian pause,” he explained.
Likewise, Sánchez insisted on the need to move forward in the search for political solutions that put an end to this conflict. “The time has come to offer a concrete horizon by holding an early international peace conference in which the entire international community, and especially the European Union, is involved, to find a definitive solution that allows the coexistence of two States, Israel and Palestine, in peace and security,” he declared. In this sense, he highlighted the agreement reached on Thursday between the 27, who have “endorsed the Spanish proposal to hold an international peace conference.” “I am particularly pleased to have achieved this and I believe it is the best contribution we can make in these very tragic times,” he added.
Financial Framework and economic governance
Another of the Council’s strong points was the economic one, specifically the debate on the review of the Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union, which provides for the financing of programs and actions in all policy areas in line with the long-term priorities of the EU. Since its adoption in 2020, the EU has faced unexpected and unprecedented challenges, from the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine to an acceleration of inflation and interest rates.
In this context, on 20 June 2023 the Commission presented three legislative proposals to strengthen the EU budget in a limited number of areas. Finally, the European leaders did not adopt any decision yesterday and limited themselves to indicating, in the conclusions, that, “after their in-depth exchange of views”, they invite the Council “to continue with its work, with a view to reaching a general agreement before at the end of the year.” “This is an objective shared by all and I assure you that the Spanish Presidency will make every effort to achieve it,” said Pedro Sánchez.
Likewise, and closely related to the Multiannual Financial Framework, European leaders discussed the economic governance of the Union, with special attention to the relaxation of the new fiscal discipline rules. In the text of the conclusions, the 27 invite the Council “to move forward with the review of economic governance, with a view to concluding the legislative work in 2023.” In this sense, the acting president assured that the commitment of the Government of Spain is that, under the Spanish Presidency, this file “also concludes before the end of the year.”
The Economic and Financial Affairs Council on 17 October concluded without an agreement on the review of the EU economic governance framework, the set of common rules for national fiscal and economic policies that apply to all Member States and that They serve to ensure the sustainability of public finances and promote convergence, while addressing macroeconomic imbalances.
In 2024, the four-year suspension of fiscal rules ends, which will imply the recovery of the Stability and Growth Pact, which sets the reduction of the deficit and public debt of the States at 3% and 60% of the Domestic Product Gross (GDP), respectively. The objective of Spain, France and Italy is for the rules to be more flexible and more adapted to the situation of each country in order to avoid the systematic non-compliance that occurred with the previous framework. To do this, they will have to convince Germany, the current leader of the “frugal” countries, which defends strict rules regarding deficits and public debt. Therefore, everything depends on the two giants of the EU, France and Germany, agreeing.
Ukraine
Regarding the other strong point of the Council, Ukraine, the 27 were attended, by videoconference, by President Volodimir Zelensky. “We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine, something that we believe is especially appropriate to reiterate at a time when the international focus is shifting to the Middle East,” Sánchez declared. To date, the EU and its Member States have made more than €82 billion available to Ukraine and “will continue to firmly support Ukraine for as long as necessary, including through economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic means,” declared the European Council.
Furthermore, the EU and Member States commit, in the final conclusions, to continue providing sustainable military support to Ukraine through the European Peace Fund and the EU Military Assistance Mission, as well as bilateral assistance from States, but it makes it clear that “military support and security commitments will be provided in full respect of the security and defense policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defense interests of all Member States.”
