The logo of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU 2023.
Spain commences its Presidency with the determination to improve the lives of all Europeans and the commitment to reindustrialize the EU, promote the ecological transition, equality and guarantee its Open Strategic Autonomy.
This is the fifth time that Spain has the responsibility of presiding over the Council of the EU and it assumes it with enthusiasm and firmness. “Determined to make it a useful instrument that improves the lives of citizens”, said the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez.
During the semester that runs until December 31, the Spanish Presidency will work to carry out a large number of open administrative files in the area of health, electricity market reform, review of tax governance rules, responsible digitisation and a greater deployment of renewable energies.
We want to vindicate the Europe of the people, the one that meets their needs, their demands, the one that offers opportunities and also answers to the challenges of the citizenry and also of its environment, the one that anticipates, in short, the future
At a time of global uncertainty and tension, and with an open war in Ukraine with economic and social consequences for the entire Union, the Spanish Presidency will defend unity as a transversal priority so that the EU can give the best of itself as a political model.
“Europe, closer”; is the motto with which the Spanish Presidency wants to send a message of unity and enthusiasm towards a better future.
And Spain’s commitment to a closer Europe will materialize through the four priorities set for the semester: the reindustrialization of the EU, advancing in the ecological transition, social and economic justice; and the strengthening of European unity.
The priorities of the fifth Presidency
In his speech presenting the priorities on June 15, the President of the Government explained that all of them are aligned with the main concerns and demands of Spanish and European citizens.
With the aim of reindustrializing the EU and guaranteeing Open Strategic Autonomy, the Spanish Presidency will work to attract new companies and jobs to European territory, in a context of geopolitical, technological and environmental changes that are an opportunity to reduce excessive dependence on third countries in areas such as energy, health, digital technologies and food. In addition, a common strategy will be designed to guarantee the economic security and global leadership of the EU by 2030.
“Europe is beginning to emerge in the eyes of the world as a safe, friendly space, which has all the necessary ingredients to lead the economy of the future”, Sanchez says.
The Spanish Presidency also considers that halting climate change and environmental degradation is a legal and moral obligation for Europeans, as well as an opportunity to reduce dependency on energy and raw materials. To this end, it will promote a reform of the electricity market that accelerates the deployment of renewables and expedites the processing of the pending legislative files of the “Fit for 55”.
Europe is beginning to emerge in the eyes of the world as a safe, friendly space, which has all the necessary ingredients to lead the economy of the future
In addition, the EU needs a more competitive economy, but also one that is fairer and more supportive. To advance in this line, the Spanish Presidency will promote the establishment of minimum and common standards for business taxation and combat tax evasion by large multinationals, as well as an adequate review of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and a reform of tax rules.
On the other hand, to reinforce the necessary European unity, the Spanish Presidency will seek a greater deepening of the internal market, the culmination of the banking union, consolidate and improve common instruments such as the NextGenerationEU funds, a more efficient and coordinated management of migration processes and asylum, and coordinated support for Ukraine and other neighbouring states.
A sustainable plan and an integrating logo
For the semester of the Presidency of the Council of the EU, Spain has adopted a Sustainability Plan, in line with the 2030 Agenda, which includes six commitments to take into account in the different meetings and meetings that are held.
The first three are the promotion of sustainable transport and low emissions; rational use of energy resources; and sustainable, healthy and local catering services.
The other three contemplate the reduction of waste to favour the circular economy; the commitment to inclusion, equality and universal accessibility; and the transparency and publicity of the plan itself.
The transparency to which the European project aspires and the full identification of Spain with the Union are also present in the logo of the Presidency.
At the same time, the integration into the logo of the colours of the Spanish flag in the initials of the EU reflects that it is part of its structure and dialogues with the motto “Europe, closer”, which underlines the concept of closeness as an aspiration shared.
The logo is stamped on the two-euro coin with which Spain wants to commemorate its Presidency. The Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre began issuing these coins on June 1. It is estimated that 1.5 million units will leave Spain to tour Europe.
The four previous Presidencies
The first Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU was in 1989, three years after the country’s entry into the Union.
One of its main achievements was the decision, at the Madrid Summit, to initiate the first phase of the creation of the Economic and Monetary Union, a fundamental step that would end up leading, twelve years later, to the establishment of a common currency.
The second Presidency was in 1995 and in that semester the Schengen Area was launched, it was decided to baptize the single currency with the name “euro” and the relationship with the Mediterranean countries was promoted.
In 2002 the third Presidency arrived, in which the largest enlargement of the EU was authorized (it went from 15 to 27), the euro was put into circulation in 12 countries and there was progress against transnational terrorism after the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States.
The fourth Presidency arrived in 2010 preceded by a global economic crisis and the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty made it the responsibility of Spain to apply many of its provisions, some of them linked to the development of a Common Foreign and Security Policy, which enables the Union to assert its voice and amplify its values and interests on the international stage.