From July to December, first of a trio

Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

1 July – 31 December 2023

Council of the European Union Website: https://spanish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu

Presidency trio:

• Spain
• Belgium
• Hungary

← 2023 Sweden

2024 Belgium  →

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez (left), European Council president Charles Michel (center left), Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (center right), and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen (right) at the 3rd EU–CELAC summit in Brussels , 17 July 2023

From the first of July to the thirty-first of December in 2023, Spain rather predictably assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union . This wasn’t some novel experiment; it marked the fifth occasion Spain had taken on this rotating administrative burden. The role, for those who haven’t been paying attention, involves setting the agenda for the Council ’s work, facilitating legislative negotiations, and representing the Council in relations with other EU institutions. It’s less about grand pronouncements and more about the tedious work of consensus-building, a task that often feels as futile as trying to herd cats.

This particular six-month stint was notable for being the inaugural act in a larger “presidency trio.” This mechanism, designed to provide greater continuity in the Council ’s work program over an eighteen-month period, saw Spain laying the groundwork for its successors: Belgium , which would take the helm in early 2024, and then Hungary in the latter half of the same year. One can only imagine the optimism, or perhaps the sheer exhaustion, that accompanied these long-term planning sessions. Spain ’s term followed the 2023 Swedish Presidency , which had concluded its own demanding period just hours before Spain began its turn.

In a move that was, if nothing else, highly theatrical, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez commenced his country’s presidency with an immediate trip to Kyiv on the very first day. Eschewing more conventional modes of transport, he opted for the train —a deliberate choice to underscore solidarity and perhaps to avoid the usual diplomatic pomp. There, he engaged in discussions with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and delivered an address to the Verkhovna Rada , Ukraine ’s parliament. This gesture was more than mere symbolism; Sánchez explicitly stated his desire for this visit to be the inaugural act of the presidency, a clear signal of the European Union ’s “unwavering support for Ukraine in all areas: military, humanitarian and economic.” During this visit, Sánchez underscored that a primary objective for the Spanish presidency would be to actively support Ukraine in its bid to accede to the European Union , a process that, much like watching paint dry, demands patience and an almost masochistic appreciation for bureaucracy.

One of the more tangible, if less dramatic, achievements of this presidency was the significant progress made towards the full integration of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area . This breakthrough, often stalled by political wrangling and what some might call ‘healthy skepticism,’ led to the initial opening of air and sea borders between these two nations and the existing Schengen member states. The more complex abolition of land border controls, which involves a greater logistical and political headache, is optimistically slated for 2024. A small victory, perhaps, but one that actually impacts ordinary citizens, which is more than can be said for many diplomatic endeavors.

Meetings

The Spanish presidency, like all its predecessors, was punctuated by a relentless schedule of meetings, summits, and informal gatherings, each designed to move the gargantuan machinery of the European Union forward, or at least to give the appearance of movement.

The traditional opening gambit, the meeting of the College of Commissioners that officially inaugurates the rotating presidency, was hosted at the impressive Royal Collections Gallery in Madrid on 3 July 2023. It’s always good to start with a bit of culture, if only to distract from the impending bureaucratic onslaught.

Mid-July brought the 3rd EU–CELAC summit , which convened in Brussels from 17 to 18 July. This significant inter-regional gathering focused on strengthening ties between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States , covering topics from trade to climate change and, of course, the perennial promise of investment—specifically, a pledge of €45 billion for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Later in the year, the focus shifted back to broader European cooperation with the 3rd European Political Community Summit . This assembly, bringing together leaders from across the European Political Community , took place in the historic city of Granada on 5 October. The very next day, 6 October, Granada again played host, this time for an informal meeting of the European Council . These informal gatherings of heads of state and government are often where the real strategic discussions, free from the usual formal constraints, are supposed to happen—or at least where leaders can enjoy a nice meal and pretend they’re solving everything.

Informal ministerial meetings

Beyond the high-profile summits, the presidency was characterized by a seemingly endless series of informal ministerial meetings. These gatherings, spread across various Spanish cities, allowed ministers from specific policy areas to delve into technical discussions, negotiate finer points of legislation, and generally ensure that the wheels of European governance, however slowly, continued to turn. It’s a logistical marvel, or perhaps a bureaucratic nightmare, to coordinate so many distinct meetings, each with its own agenda and set of expectations. The list below, while exhaustive, barely scratches the surface of the paperwork involved.

Notes

• ^ Sánchez explicitly mentioned that he wanted the first act of the presidency to be in Ukraine . [6] The Spanish government also stated that the visit symbolized “the European Union ’s unwavering support for Ukraine in all areas: military, humanitarian and economic”. [4]