The Spanish EU Presidency supports energy cooperation between Cyprus and Israel

The Spanish EU Presidency supports energy cooperation between Cyprus and Israel, said the Spanish Ambassador to Cyprus Gabriel Ferrán Carrión during the presentation of the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Speaking on 6 July, he also said that Spain supports the proposal by the President of the Republic for EU involvement in reinvigorating negotiations on the Cyprus issue.

Starting his presentation, Ferrán Carrión said that the Spanish EU Presidency will be the last full presidency before the European elections next year, with a large number of files needing to be concluded in the coming months before the end of the European Commission and the European Parliament’s mandate.

The programme of the Spanish presidency must be flexible, he stressed, adding that the Presidency should be in a position to respond swiftly to possible crises, anticipate the next challenges, and establish the necessary adjustment mechanisms to deal with them without neglecting the priority dossiers.

Spain will continue to support Ukraine with a view to reaching peace and to tackle economic and social consequences of the war, Ferrán Carrión said, adding that a document on possible risks of the previous presidency will be updated.

According to the Spanish ambassador, four priority lines have been established, namely reindustrialisation and open strategic autonomy, green transition and environmental adaptation, promoting social and economic justice and strengthening European unity, which focus on people, trying to solve every specific aspect of European citizens’ day-to-day lives.

On the first priority line, he said that seventy years of international openness have been greatly beneficial for the economic growth of the EU but they have also caused excessive dependency on third countries in the health, digital technologies, energy and food sectors due to strategic sectors offshoring.

“The Spanish Presidency will promote dossiers that allow the development of strategic industries in Europe and the strategic opening of supply chains through diversification with partners, such as CELAC”, said the Spanish diplomat, adding that Spain will also propose a forward-looking comprehensive strategy to ensure the economic security and global leadership of the EU.

Regarding the second priority line, Ferrán Carrión said that fighting against climate change and environmental degradation is not only a legal and moral obligation but also creates opportunities to drastically reduce energy dependencies, lower the cost of electricity, make European companies more competitive, and create new jobs.

To this end, he continued, the Spanish Presidency will promote the reform of the electricity market, aimed at accelerating the deployment of renewable energies, the reduction of electricity prices, and improving the system stability. He added that special priority will be given to the legislative files related to “Fit for 55”, such as the Gas and Hydrogen package and the energy and efficiency regulation, as well as the Ecodesign for sustainable products, so that the EU continues to lead the fight against climate change, creating wealth and opportunities throughout its territory.

Concerning the third priority line, Ferrán Carrión said that the EU needs a more competitive economy, but also a fairer and more caring one which can be achieved by strengthening the welfare state and fiscal justice, adding that the Spanish Presidency will advocate for the establishment of minimum and common standards of corporate taxation for all member states and will fight tax evasion by large multinationals which cost the EU 1.5 GDP points each year, the equivalent of what the Union spends on housing and environmental protection.

Special priority will be given to the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, the adequate reform of the fiscal rules to overcome austerity, increase transparency and combine sustainability of public finance with the proper financing of the green and digital transitions, he noted, adding that the Spanish Presidency will also push for the protection of vulnerable groups, such as children, women suffering from violence and people with disabilities.

As regards the priority of strengthening European unity, the Spanish ambassador said that the EU must remain united and member states must continue to develop tools that will allow them to face together the great challenges of our time.

He added that continuous support to Ukraine is crucial under the principles of unity and solidarity, but also to offer real perspective to those who, like Ukraine, want to join the EU.

He also said that Spain will advocate for deepening the internal market, the completion of the Banking Union, and the improvement of common instruments, such as NextGenerationEU, the optimisation of the decision-making processes, and a more efficient and coordinated management of migration and asylum procedures.

In terms of meetings and events scheduled to be held during the Spanish Presidency, he highlighted the EU-CELAC Summit in Brussels on 17 and 18 July, the Informal European Council and the European Political Community Summit in Granada on 4 and 5 October, as well as the Union for the Mediterranean and Southern Neighbourhood Summit.

“We assume the Presidency of the Council with confidence and determination and will dedicate all our efforts to continuing building the European project”, he concluded.

Asked about the Spanish presidency’s view on recent energy cooperation plans between Cyprus and Israel, he said it is a technical issue but in principle Spain views it with sympathy, adding that as a fellow Mediterranean country on the edge of the EU, Spain has good electricity connections with Morocco and Algeria. “It would be good not only for Cyprus but for the whole of Europe to be connected to its neighbours”, he noted, adding that there will be a neighbourhood policy that will cover all these issues.

On another question about the Spanish presidency’s view on the active role the EU could play in the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue and the possibility of appointing an EU envoy to facilitate the procedure, he said that the relative paragraphs in the recent European Council conclusions were very positive and Spain supports these paragraphs and views with sympathy the request of the President of the Republic for an EU involvement.

Regarding the EU envoy, he said that it is a technical detail, adding that the EU should have an agreed role on this issue. “The way in which this has to be done will have to be agreed not only among EU member states but also with all the actors involved in the Cyprus issue”, he noted, adding that the Spanish presidency will pay attention to this issue and they will try to help in any way that they can.

Asked whether the upcoming general elections in Spain later this month will affect the Spanish presidency’s priorities, he said that there is great consensus in the country about the four priorities and European policy as a whole, adding that in his view the elections’ result should not affect much the presidency’s priorities.

Responding to a question about whether Spain’s economic relations and arms deals with Turkey affect its relations with Cyprus and efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem, the Spanish diplomat said he doesn’t think the two are incompatible, adding that although Spain’s relations with Turkey are based on common problems and sensibilities as Mediterranean countries, they are very clear that the EU and Spain have a problem with Turkey regarding the Cyprus issue and that Spain advocates for a solution based on UN resolutions. He added that Spain has open channels with Ankara and can pass and has indeed passed this message in the past at the request of the Cypriot government.

(Source: CNA)