Pedro Sánchez: "Promoting open strategic autonomy will be one of the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union"

Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Madrid

However, it is undeniable that the advance of globalisation, both in the exchange of goods and capital, has led the EU to acquire several strategic dependencies with third countries which, in recent years, have become a severe risk to the welfare of our citizens. International shocks such as the Covid pandemic or the Russian invasion of Ukraine have affected the proper functioning of the Single Market and disrupted supply chains for healthcare, semiconductors, energy and food, causing shortages, a price crisis and social pain.

The EU institutions and Member States have launched a number of initiatives that seek to address this problem following the "Open Strategic Autonomy" framework suggested by the European Commission.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his speech at the event 'Open strategic autonomy: Towards a new European welfare pillar' | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Today, the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, announced to a large audience of government representatives from the 27 European states and fifty companies that the future Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union will continue this work and will place among its main priorities the search for greater strategic autonomy that is both socially just and environmentally sustainable.

In particular, the Spanish Presidency will promote:

• An intergovernmental research project that will use a multidisciplinary, empirical and forward-looking approach to analyse what the EU's main strategic vulnerabilities are in four key areas (energy, food, health, and digital technologies), the most effective ways to address them, and the effects that doing so could have on citizens and businesses. The project will involve 25 Member States and more than 50 ministries, in collaboration with the Foresight Network of the European Commission's Vice-Presidency for Inter-institutional Relations and Foresight, and with the support of the Council of the European Union.
• Informal meeting of the European Council. In October, the Heads of State or Government of the 27 Member States will meet in the city of Granada to discuss the future of Open Strategic Autonomy and other strategic priorities of the EU.
• Working meetings and high-level fora. Throughout the year, several working meetings and high-level fora will be held to discuss the European strategic agenda. They will bring together senior public officials, business leaders from around the world, academics, trade unionists and representatives of civil society.

These activities will be led by the National Office of Foresight and Strategy of the Government of Spainwhich will work in collaboration with the Office of Coordination for the Spanish Presidency of the European Union, the Member States, the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his speech at the event 'Open strategic autonomy: Towards a new European welfare pillar' | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Ultimately, Spain's goal will be to support the creation of a stronger and more resilient EU that can guarantee the prosperity and well-being of its citizens in the new global order. President Sánchez stated that "the international order is changing" and that "the European Union must change with it". "We must respond to this challenge and we must do so with forcefulness and confidence. Knowing that, while we have serious vulnerabilities, we Europeans also occupy a geopolitical position of great strength". However, Sánchez warned against the danger of "overreacting" and recalled that "international fragmentation would benefit no one", and therefore encouraged member states to ensure that the EU responds to the current challenge with the recovery of strategic industrial capacities, but also with "more integration", "more multilateralism" and "greater international leadership".

Non official translation