Pedro Sánchez attends the European Council meeting

Brussels, Belgium

Sánchez, speaking on his arrival at the meeting, said that the Government of Spain welcomes the European Commission's recommendations to grant candidate status to these three countries, and is also in favour of reactivating the enlargement process towards the countries of the Western Balkans, with whom the European Union held a summit this morning. The president pointed out that Spain "looks favourably" on the possibility of Bosnia-Herzegovina also becoming a candidate country.

Sánchez explained that the European Council will also address the economic and social consequences of the war in Ukraine, "which are issues that have an impact on national policy and on the day-to-day lives of citizens", for example regarding measures to alleviate the increase in the cost of living and energy prices. In this regard, Sánchez has shown himself to be in favour of intervening and reforming the European electricity market and extending the Iberian exception, which caps the price of gas, to the whole of the European Union.

European and NATO unity against Putin and for Ukraine

Sánchez recalled that this Council, which he described as "historic", will be followed next week by the NATO Summit, which will be held in Madrid. He also highlighted its importance as an expression of the "the unity of Europe and of the allies against Putin and in favour of Ukraine, its national sovereignty and its territorial integrity".

Non official translation