Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, July to December 2023

Summary:

Information Guide providing an overview concerning the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), which runs from 1 July to 31 December 2023.

Further information:

During the second half of 2023, Spain holds the presidency of the Council of the EU. It is the fifth time Sweden has held the presidency since it joined the EU in 1986. This is the first of a Presidency Trio which also includes Belgium and Hungary.

The main priorities of the Spanish Presidency are as follows:

• Reindustrialise the EU and ensure its open strategic autonomy;
• Advance in the green transition and the environmental adaptation;
• Promoting greater social and economic justice;
• Strengthening European unity.

This Presidency announced its intention to work towards improving and consolidating common instruments such as the NextGenerationEU funds, and to move towards a more efficient and coordinated management of migration and asylum processes. It would also seek to ensure the continuous provision of coordinated support to Ukraine and other neighbouring countries.

The launch of the Spanish Presidency took place during an election campaign ahead of a parliamentary election in the country, adding to the narrative as published by media outlets and analysts.

Commentary and Analysis

Foundation for Research on Law and Business (Fide): Section: Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://thinkfide.com/en/seccion-presidencia-espanola-del-consejo-de-la-ue/

Digital Europe: News, 18/04/2023: 8 priorities for the Spanish EU Presidency https://www.digitaleurope.org/news/8-priorities-for-the-spanish-presidency/

Euronews: Analysis, 30/05/2023: Analysis: Pedro Sánchez's election gamble risks marring Spain's big EU moment https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/05/30/analysis-pedro-sanchezs-election-gamble-risks-marring-spains-big-eu-moment

Elcano Royal Institute: Activities: Spanish Pre-Presidency Conference, 1-2 June 2023 https://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/en/activities/spanish-pre-presidency-conference/

Trans-European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA): Recommendations from members of the TEPSA Network to the incoming Spanish Presidency http://www.tepsa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/TEPSA-Recommendations-Spain-2023-1.pdf

Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS): Analysis, 27/06/2023: What to Expect from the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://www.csis.org/analysis/what-expect-spanish-presidency-council-european-union

Deutsche Welle, 01/07/2023: Spain to lead the EU — but who is to lead Spain? https://p.dw.com/p/4TIuz

Le Monde: Le Mag, 02/07/2023: On borrowed time, Spain's Sanchez takes over Council of the EU presidency https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2023/07/02/on-borrowed-time-spain-s-sanchez-takes-over-council-of-the-eu-presidency_6041202_117.html

Euro|topics, 04/07/2023: Spain: EU Council presidency during election campaign https://www.eurotopics.net/en/303749/

European Policy Centre (EPC): Flash Analysis, 05/07/2023: Spain has the EU Presidency. But who will lead Madrid after the snap election? https://www.epc.eu/en/publications/Spain-has-the-EU-Presidency-But-who-will-lead-Madrid-after-the-snap-e~521b88

Politico: EU Confidential Podcast, 06/07/2023: From Madrid: How Spain’s election could impact its EU presidency https://www.politico.eu/podcast/from-madrid-how-spains-election-could-impact-its-eu-presidency/

Culture Action Europe: News, 10/07/2023: Priorities of the Spanish Presidency includes a new push for working conditions in the CCS https://cultureactioneurope.org/news/spain-unveils-the-priorities-for-its-council-presidency-including-a-new-push-for-working-conditions-in-the-ccs/

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News

EurActiv, 18/04/2023: Spain showing leadership ahead of EU presidency stint, says foreign minister https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/spain-showing-leadership-ahead-of-eu-presidency-stint-says-foreign-minister/

Reuters, 30/05/2023: Key EU legislation up in the air after Spain accelerates elections https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/key-eu-legislation-up-air-after-spain-accelerates-elections-2023-05-30/

Politico, 02/06/2023: Spanish PM Sánchez asks to postpone EU Council presidency speech https://www.politico.eu/article/spain-pm-pedro-sanchez-postpone-european-council-presidency-speech/

Politico, 15/06/2023: Spain’s election won’t disrupt EU presidency, PM Pedro Sánchez says https://www.politico.eu/article/spains-pedro-sanchez-denies-national-election-will-disrupt-eu-presidency/

Reuters, 29/06/2023: Pedro Sanchez to visit Ukraine as Spain takes over EU presidency https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/pedro-sanchez-visit-ukraine-spain-takes-over-eu-presidency-2023-06-29/

EUObserver, 30/06/2023: Spain's PM Sánchez travels to Kyiv to begin EU presidency https://euobserver.com/eu-political/157215

RFE/RL, 01/07/2023: Marking New EU Presidency, Spanish Prime Minister Visits Ukraine In Show Of Support https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-spanish-pm-sanchez-visits-kyiv/32484917.html

Euronews, 03/07/2023: Spain kicks off six-month presidency of the EU Council https://www.euronews.com/2023/07/03/spains-prime-minister-begins-eu-presidency

TVP World, 03/07/2023: Spanish PM hosts EC College as country takes over EU presidency https://tvpworld.com/71019808/spanish-pm-hosts-ec-college-as-country-takes-over-eu-presidency

Science Business, 04/07/2023: Spanish EU presidency to spearhead strategic direction for research and innovation policy https://sciencebusiness.net/news/international-news/spanish-eu-presidency-spearhead-strategic-direction-research-and-innovation

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Official

Official Website of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://spanish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/

Spanish Government: News: Tag: Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU 2023 https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/paginas/label.aspx?tn=Spanish+presidency+of+the+Council+of+the+EU+2023&tax=05a2c2e221f446a1b8fc4f32a3d5b44d

Spanish Presidency of the Council: Article, 15/06/2023: The president of the Government presents the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU https://spanish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/news/priorities-of-the-spanish-presidency-of-the-council-of-the-eu/

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Prime Minister Sánchez on the occasion of the College visit to the Spanish Presidency (3 July 2023) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_23_3668

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