Pedro Sánchez at the Granada summit reiterates the importance of strengthening, modernising and revitalising all multilateral institutions

Congress Palace, Granada

Today, Granada hosted the third summit of the European Political Community (EPC), Spain being the member state currently holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. The opening plenary was attended by the acting President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, the President of the Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenski.

Pedro Sánchez stressed the importance of this summit, which managed to bring together 50 European leaders (46 Heads of State or Government and the four leaders of the European institutions) in the city of Granada during the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU.

The acting president welcomed the fact that this forum continues to be consolidated as a space for open debate among all European states, stressing the principle of equality, the climate of mutual trust and the awareness of a community of interests that this meeting brings to Europe as a whole. "This forum is an expression of a shared desire: to work together to build the Europe of the future, whatever our position on the continent," he underlined, emphasising that this Europe can only be built on the foundations of security, stability and prosperity.

In this context, Pedro Sánchez expressed his hope that this forum would give impetus to the necessary reflection on how the continent should consolidate itself in the current situation. He also recalled that the great challenges facing the continent know no borders.

During the plenary session and as host of this third summit of the European Political Community, President Sánchez shared with the other leaders the main strategic areas around which the day was structured in the form of round tables.

To this effect, the session started with the impact of digitalisation on our societies. The president highlighted the disruptive potential of the technological revolution, recalling that advances such as artificial intelligence perfectly exemplify both the opportunities and the potential risks they could entail for our societies.

Europe's energy sovereignty was another important issue on which leaders had the opportunity to focus the debate. "The war in Ukraine may have had a catalytic effect on the strengthening of energy cooperation on the continent," the president recalled, warning that Europe cannot rely on specific geopolitical situations for its future.

The acting President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, along with other leaders, at the meeting of the European Political Community | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

Third, the summit focused on leaders' commitment to a rules-based multilateral order and multilateralism. President Sánchez stressed during the plenary that Europe today has the chance to speak with the moral authority afforded by its history, recalling that the continent's leadership in this area cannot turn its back on the emergence of new geopolitical realities.

Pedro Sánchez took part in this round table, during which he had the opportunity to state that today multilateralism is the answer to the great challenges facing the world. He also underlined the seriousness of a permanent member of the UN Security Council like Russia waging an illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, a reality that threatens the multilateral system the world has enjoyed for the past fifty years.

The acting President, Pedro Sánchez, stressed the need to strengthen, modernise and revitalise all multilateral institutions, and in this regard, he stressed that Europe should play a key role in this process, speaking with a single voice.

Bilaterals on the margins of the summit

The acting President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, at the meeting of the European Political Community | Foto: Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

The acting President, Pedro Sánchez, held a bilateral meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenski, to whom he conveyed Spain's support for his country on the road to peace. Both leaders had the opportunity to address the current status of the conflict.

During the afternoon, Pedro Sánchez held a meeting with Petteri Orpo, the Prime Minister of Finland. This is the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders, during which they addressed some of the two countries' common challenges, such as depopulation and all the issues linked to the demographic challenge. They also discussed security issues, such as the conflict in Ukraine and Finland's recent accession to NATO.

He also held a meeting with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovačevski, with whom he discussed the process of the country's accession to the EU, a candidate since 2005. At the bilateral level, next year will mark 30 years of diplomatic relations between Spain and North Macedonia.

The acting President, Pedro Sánchez, also addressed the issue of EU enlargement during his bilateral meeting with Jakov Milatovic, President of Montenegro, an EU candidate country since 2010.

Furthermore, he met with the leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, to whom he conveyed his support and concern regarding the situation the country has been experiencing since August 2020.

Non official translation