Sánchez says that Spain "will rise to the occasion" in the presidency of the EU and reiterates its support for Ukraine

Bet on raising taxes against large fortunes and multinationals for "social justice"

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has set reindustrialisation, ecological transition, social justice and the unity of the Twenty-seven as priorities throughout the recently inaugurated Spanish presidency of the EU, while stressing that the institutions and Spanish citizenship "will rise to the occasion" during the six months of the EU's rotating mandate.

This is how Sánchez expressed himself this Sunday during his appearance with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, after the work meeting that both held at the Moncloa Palace. An act that has marked the beginning of Spain's mandate at the head of the European Union just one day after Sánchez's visit to Ukraine.

As he has indicated, the Spanish presidency of the EU intends to be one of the stages of great progress "that Europe needs" in order to improve the lives of citizens throughout the six months that he will hold this position and in which they will receive meetings "of the highest level". "Key decisions are going to be made for the present and for the future of Europe and I would also say that of the world," she said.

In line, the head of the Executive has reiterated the "symbolic" support and also "concrete measures" by the Twenty-seven to the Ukrainian people and has added that Spain will work "hard" so that progress can be made on all fronts.

During the institutional declaration with no room for questions from the media, Sánchez reviewed the four priorities that will mark the agenda of the Spanish European presidency, such as the reindustrialization of the continent and the diversification of foreign trade relations and the ecological and economic transition circular.

It has also opted for greater social and economic justice, for which reason it will promote those files that allow the establishment of "fairer taxation" in large fortunes and multinationals as well, so that "they pay taxes like the rest of the citizens and companies". , has remarked.

Finally, he has defended the strengthening of European unity around common values ​​that "today are more threatened than ever" in relation to the war in Ukraine.

With all this, Sánchez has indicated that both the institutions and the Spanish citizenry will be "up to the task" while expressing his "honour", "pride" and "responsibility" regarding the advances that need to be implemented in Europe during this semester.

"We are going to work with gratitude and above all with a deep European feeling, which is the feeling that the social majority of our country has so that this presidency is a success, not only for Spain, but especially for the Union," he stressed.

SPAIN "LEADER"

For his part, Michel highlighted the role of our country with Ukraine and assured that he has no doubt that Spain is "up to the task". "I am sure that this presidency has prepared very well", he remarked.

On this point, the President of the European Council has praised the work of Spain as a "leading" country in addressing the problems of the pandemic, the war in Europe and the energy crisis. "I have no doubt that they will rise to the occasion. The priorities for your presidency are perfectly clear priorities and that they are also on the same wavelength as what interests the citizens of the European Union," he said. indicated.

Tomorrow the visit to Madrid of the EU College of Commissioners will take place, chaired by the German Ursula Von der Leyen, who will also be received by Sánchez. The place chosen for the meeting is the new Royal Collections Gallery, located next to the Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace, which will house the meetings with the members of the Community Executive. Later it is expected that Sánchez and Von der Leyen will offer a joint press conference.

The visit of the College of Commissioners was scheduled for July 7, but Von der Leyen and Sánchez agreed at the beginning of last month to bring it forward to avoid it coinciding with the start of the electoral campaign for the July 23 elections.

The European leaders will address various issues such as the war between Russia and Ukraine, marked by the latest events and the attempted rebellion of the Wagner group paramilitaries against the Russian government, according to sources from Moncloa.

They will also address the migration issue, with the underlying objective of approving the Migration and Asylum Pact at the end of this year; EU relations with China or security and defense policies, among other issues.