The heads of state and government of the twenty-seven will meet this Friday in Granada (southern Spain) to discuss key issues for the future of the European Union (EU), including enlargement, the problem of migration and strategic autonomy.
After the third meeting of the European Political Community took place the day before, which was attended by the EU countries and the majority of Europeans who do not belong to this group, the heads of state and government of the Community Club met to advance their reflections on the common challenges before us.
This is an informal summit, so it has no decision-making authority on the issues to be dealt with, but it is expected that a statement on this will be signed.
Spain holds the biannual EU Council Presidency and expects that Granada will be a turning point in decisions that the EU will have to make later on the topics at the talks.
Enlargement is one of them, and although nothing concrete is expected in this regard, there is hope that an impetus will be given so that the desire of several countries to join the EU becomes a reality.
These countries include Ukraine, which continues to support the European Union and Spain in the face of Russian aggression and hopes to become more partners in the future.
However, for this they emphasize that both Ukraine and the rest of the candidates must meet all the requirements and carry out the reforms they demand.
With regard to migration, the summit will take place after an agreement was reached on Wednesday on the Crisis Regulation, the last piece of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum that has yet to be put together.
However, Poland and Hungary rejected the pact, and Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia abstained, which could complicate the final path for the pact, even at talks that could take place this Friday between the heads of state and government in Grenada.
Another key topic of the meeting will be the strategic autonomy of the EU, and Spain will present the proposal on this subject at this summit, which it has prepared in cooperation with the other countries.
A proposal based on the reindustrialization of the EU, strengthening leadership in strategic sectors such as energy or health and focusing on goods and services where Europe is already competitive, such as artificial intelligence, wind turbines or organic fertilizers.
Spain’s goal is not to replace goods, services and raw materials currently imported from third countries, but to look for innovative and sustainable alternatives, from renewable energies to quantum computers, and has campaigned to reach the 3% investment threshold in research and development.
Following the summit, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will present a report on the progress of the meeting.