The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, received this Monday in Madrid the College of Commissioners of the European Union.
The visit is usual at the beginning of each rotating Presidency and its purpose is to prepare the work of the coming months.
“The responsibility that falls into our hands is immense. Europe faces great challenges inside and outside its borders. And, to overcome them, inaction is not an option”, Sánchez pointed out in an appearance before the press together with the president of the Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, after the meeting.
The President of the Spanish Government has emphasized that “the EU needs to make changes, make decisions, adopt measures”.
“And it must do so under our Presidency, which will be the last fully operational one of the legislative cycle, since the elections to the European Parliament will take place in June of next year,” he added.
The EU, united in solving global crises
Sánchez recalled the crises that the EU has recently faced, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine or the fall of the Afghan government in 2021.
In all of them, Spain has worked in solidarity and responsibility with the other members of the EU and, with that “same spirit”, it will work during the Presidency of the Council, he stressed.
In the meeting with the commissioners, the present and future of Ukraine was addressed, first of all.
“Russian aggression has shaken the foundations of the West and has returned to us worries and ghosts that we thought were overcome. But the whole world must be clear that we are not going to go back a single step, that the EU is going to support Ukraine for the duration of the war”, said Sánchez.
For her part, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has remarked that Spain is taking the helm of the Presidency of the Council at a decisive moment in which, as she has commented, efforts to support Ukraine must be redoubled.
“We have been suffering for 500 days from the Ukrainian population but also from the resistance of the Ukrainian population who are fighting for their freedom. Our duty is to live up to that capacity for resistance. We need regular and sufficient financial support”, remarked the President of the Commission.
In this sense, he stated that the European Union needs the Spanish Presidency to reach a quick agreement to supply more ammunition to Ukraine and at the same time reinforce its own arms reserves.
Von der Leyen has assured that it is impossible for Europe to exist in the future without Ukraine, Moldova, the Western Balkans and all the European countries that are currently under the influence of Russia or China.
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