The work of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU continues despite the internal political context. Although the Government has decided to postpone the appearance of the president, Pedro Sánchez, before the plenary session of the European Parliament to present the priorities of the semester out of respect for the investiture process of the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, it has given the green light to the appearance of the acting ministers in their respective parliamentary committees to address the common legislative agenda, as different European sources have confirmed to La Vanguardia.
This rite of the presidency is traditionally celebrated at the beginning of the semester but the coincidence with the electoral campaign advised to extend the appointment. The Government’s decision to sit down and speak with the European Parliament as soon as possible is seen with good eyes in the institution: while the appearance of the Head of Government before the plenary session has a purely institutional character and has been assumed with full understanding given the political context, Coordination between the rotating presidency of the Council and the MEPs is essential to carry out the busy work program that is coming, as Spain will hold the last full six-month presidency before the dissolution of the European Parliament for the holding of elections in June 2024.
The appearances have been organized in two batches, in accordance with the schedule of visits, to which this newspaper has had access. Thus, on Thursday morning, October 7, the second vice president, Yolanda Díaz; the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations, José Luis Escrivá; the Minister of Social Rights and the 2030 Agenda, Ione Belarra; the Minister of Culture, Miquel Iceta; the Minister of Education, Pilar Alegría, and the Minister of Universities, Joan Subirats, among others.
The next appearance of Spanish ministers, on behalf of the rotating presidency of the Council, will take place after the week of the plenary session that begins on September 11. Thus, on the 18th, 19th and 20th of that month, the vice president and head of the Ministry of Economy, Nadia Calviño, will appear; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares; the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Luis Plas; the Minister of Justice, Pilar Llop, and the Minister of Equality, Irene Montero, among others. Finally, the third vice president and head of the Ministry for Energy Transition, Teresa Ribera, and the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, will meet with the MEPs of their respective committees throughout the month of October.
Once the investiture vote of the leader of the PP is resolved, which will take place during the last week of September, the European Parliament is open to seeking a date for the speech on the priorities of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU, either with Feijóo or with Sánchez himself if the leader of the PP fails in his attempt and he and he continue in office, either until he manages to form a government or because there will be electoral repetition. Before the summer, parliamentary sources were skeptical about the possibility of holding the debate with MEPs with the presidency well advanced, but the institution is now open to organizing it on a date that is necessary, perhaps changing the approach depending on when takes place, if it finally takes place.
