EM GERMANY'S EXPECTATION TO THE SPANISH PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL

BY LINN SELLE President of European Movement Germany

On 1 July 2023, Spain will take over the presidency in the Council of the European Union Just a few months ahead of the European elections and at times of severe political and economic insecurity, Spain will chair the Council meetings at a critical moment.

Because, holding the presidency just a few months ahead of the European elections, Spain will be entrusted with the important task of concluding negotiations on key EU dossiers and deliver on political promises on climate, social and migration policy that were made at the start of the European Parliament’s term At the same time, Russia’s aggression and brutal war against the free and democratic Europe shows the necessity for an active shaping of as we call it a European integration landscape of democracies

Spain seems to be well prepared for this task: A large member state with the needed administrative capabilities, the experience of four presidencies in the back and most important an unwavering pro European stance in the population that has outlasted the severe economic and health crises of the past 15 years. Spain's Minister for Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares sums up this special European spirit best when he said “We have it clear; in order for Spain to do well, Europe needs to do well and Spain needs to do well in Europe" at the announcement of the pillars of the Spanish Presidency in September 2022 and it is this spirit that is required to take over the Council's chair at this moment

Whilst in times of accelerating climate change, the end of European peace and still rising inflation, there are many challenges, we, the European Movement Germany, would like to see progress on three priority areas.

First, Spain should push forward the enlargement process with the Western Balkan countries, Moldova and Ukraine. Clear progress is needed to guarantee stability in our immediate neighbourhood and to counter the influence of autocracies in the countries Of course, it will take years, especially for Ukraine and Moldova, but further progress can create reform momentum in the candidate countries It is important that compliance with the Copenhagen criteria guides progress in the pre accession talks and that achieving the political milestones, meaning strengthening democracy and the rule of law takes at least the same priority as the economic accession.

Closely linked to the question of EU enlargement is the need for institutional and democratic renewal at EU stage. With new members to join the EU, consensus building does not become easier. Therefore and second, Spain should also focus on the urgent matter of the constitutional reform of the EU in order to ensure a Union that is capable of acting in an ever faster and unsecure political environment. The 49 proposals that came out of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) in May 2022 provide many good reform impulses. However, the Council has hardly pushed ahead with implementation while the Heads of State and Government refused to reply to the European Parliament's call to initiate a European Convention. While such a dialogue seems to be less and less likely, it is more important that Spain follows up on at least two CoFoE key proposals

First, there is a need to reduce unanimity voting in the Council to a very few exceptions, especially when it comes to foreign and security policy. Moreover, it is time to strengthen the role of the European Parliament and - after years of discussion - grant the EU’s only directly elected institution the right of initiative.

Third and finally, we expect the Spanish EU Presidency to push for bold action on the field of migration On the one hand we see the Spanish Presidency as the last chance to have the proposed Pact on Migration and Asylum passed before the European election in 2024 and therefore deliver on one key demand of the European citizens On the other hand, Spain could use its diplomatic knowhow and its special relations to our Southern neighbours to build strong partnerships with an emphasis on migration. Good relations to our Southern neighbours are required as to hold the key to building a more humane migration and asylum mechanism

The challenges that face our Union have never been more numerous and have certainly never been as complex. Against this background, we look forward to working together with European Movement Spain in the context of the presidency in the second half of 2023

Linn SELLE