Sanchez and Costa commit to strengthening the European Union's Atlantic link with Latin America and the Southern Neighbourhood

Jameos del Agua, Lanzarote

This annual meeting has once again demonstrated the degree of harmony and cooperation in bilateral relations between Spain and Portugal.

This summit comes just four months after the meeting between the two countries in Viana do Castelo in November 2022, as proof of their joint commitment to maintain the annual frequency of the summit, and with the unequivocal vocation of continuing to strengthen bilateral relations in a year that will be marked by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

A triple membership: European, Ibero-American and Mediterranean

Bilateral relations between Spain and Portugal are very close, and the harmony between the two governments has enabled cross-border cooperation to be strengthened, especially since the 2020 signing of the Joint Cross-Border Development Strategy of the Guarda Summit.

Pedro Sánchez emphasised that relations between the two countries are fruitful, are covered by an Atlantic perspective, and are underpinned by a common geography and history. In this respect, he pointed out that Spain and Portugal are characterised by a triple European, Ibero-American and Mediterranean belonging.

Trade relations between the two countries are also in excellent health, exceeded €48 billion in 2022. It should also be recalled that the two executives jointly defend positions on issues of great importance on the European stage. One such example is the Iberian mechanism and the agreement reached between President Sánchez, Prime Minister Costa and President Macron on H2Med, which was later joined by Germany. Pedro Sánchez said of this project that "it will place the Iberian nations at the forefront of renewable hydrogen, contributing to the fight against climate change and to the leadership of clean energies".

In step on the eve of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU

Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

Pedro Sánchez has discussed with António Costa the main possible lines of action for the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, within the framework of the preparatory meetings he is holding to hear the positions of the Member States on the issues that will be at the centre of the debate. In this respect, he alluded to the context in which this presidency will be held, a complex scenario as a result of Russia's aggression in Ukraine.

President Sánchez reiterated his support for the Ukrainian people, "who are heroically defending their unity, freedom and independence". In this regard, he recalled that the response to the consequences of the conflict, such as economic instability, legal insecurity and the energy crisis, must be a joint one.

The president recalled the harmony there is between Spain and Portugal on issues that will continue to be central during the Spanish Presidency, such as the Pact on Migration and Asylum, and the new EU tax rules. Sánchez stressed that the two countries also share a common vision on the need to tackle high energy prices with a new regulatory framework for the electricity market, boosting the competitiveness of the European economy and its reindustrialisation. "We are both committed to an energy and digital transition that puts the EU at the forefront of the fight against decarbonisation and climate change," underlined President Sánchez. "This will foster economic growth and the creation of quality jobs for our citizens".

Pedro Sánchez reiterated that Europe must continue to weave alliances that enable the continent to deepen its open strategic autonomy to reduce dependencies in areas such as energy, semiconductors, health, critical raw materials and food security. In addition, the president stressed the importance that will be given during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU to strengthening relations between the EU and the Global South.

"Today we are working to ensure that the Iberian raft of stone that Saramago imagined is, as the Portuguese Prime Minister has said, in fact a bridge," said President Sánchez, stressing that this nexus of union should serve Europe in its rapprochement with other Atlantic peoples. "May this ocean represent, above all, a window to progress, democracy and prosperity," he continued.

During the summit, the two countries signed a Joint Declaration and 11 agreements in various areas, such as infrastructure, digitisation of justice, border schools, higher education, training in social economy, antimicrobial resistance and the development of cross-cultural programming.

President Sánchez was accompanied today by the Second Vice-President and Minister for Work and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz; the Third Vice-President and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera; the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares; the Minister for Justice, Pilar Llop; the Minister for Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sánchez; the Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Pilar Alegría; the Minister for Culture and Sport, Miquel Iceta; the Minister for Health, Carolina Darias, and the Minister for Universities, Joan Subirats.

Non official translation