Spain holds the Presidency of the Council until December 2023 included.
Committee on Culture and Education
On 7 September, acting Minister for Education and Vocational Training Pilar Alegría said the presidency will focus on educational responses to support Ukraine, ambitious implementation of the European Education area, promoting STEM professions among women and the contribution of education to European values.
Joan Subirats, acting Minister for Universities, told MEPs that the priorities are the “European Universities” initiative, sexist violence and sexual harassment in higher education, as well as improving access to education for vulnerable groups. Miquel Iceta, acting Minister of Culture and Sport, mentioned the sustainable management of cultural heritage, improving living conditions for artists and cultural workers, the videogames sector and finding an agreement on the European Media Freedom Act by December 2023.
MEPs stressed the importance of mutual recognition of qualifications also in vocational training, such as the skills acquired in volunteering, while others insisted on reversing the Commission’s proposed cuts to the 2024 Erasmus+, Creative Europe and European Solidarity Corps programmes. They called for EU minority languages to be included in EU education and culture programmes.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
On 7 September, MEPs asked José Luis Escrivá, acting Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration to make progress on the coordination of social security systems, currently stuck in the Council. MEPs also quizzed the minister on the presidency’s plans on migration, particularly on migrants’ social and employment rights.
Yolanda Diaz, acting Spanish Vice-President and Minister for Work and Social Economy, outlined three priorities: social dialogue, decent work, and social economy. MEPs demanded progress on the Platform Workers’ Directive, currently being negotiated. They also asked about the presidency's plans on quality traineeships as well as on mental health at work.
Internal Market and Consumer Protection
On 18 September, Secretary of State for European Affairs, Pascual Navarro, outlined as priorities reindustrialisation, greater social and economic justice and adapting to the green transition. On the 30th anniversary of the Single Market, Mr Navarro stressed the need to make the market stronger, more robust and competitive - with EU citizens at its core.
The Secretary General for Consumer Affairs and Gambling, Rafael Escudero, said that the Presidency plans to conclude negotiations on the Single Market Emergency Instrument (SMEI), Ecodesign, empowering consumers for the green transition, the ban on products made with forced labour, construction products and short-term rentals.
MEPs asked about the progress on other important files ahead of the 2024 EU elections, namely on the transparency of political advertising, the Artificial Intelligence Act, right to repair and the reform of the energy market. The implementation of the Digital Services Act, the Toy Safety regulation and Green claims were also discussed.
Security and Defence
On 18 September, Defence Minister Margarita Robles said the Presidency will work on strengthening the EU’s capacity to protect its citizens and its values, following up on the Strategic Compass. While stressing the need of complementarity with NATO, she called for more balance in the division of burden in the alliance. The minister stressed that Europe has to stand united in support of Ukraine and that the situation in Sahel needs to be addressed with a unified response.
MEPs inquired about the implementation of the Strategic Compass and how to support the EU’s rapid reaction capacity. They also expressed concern about the situation in Africa, particularly Sahel region, suggesting a rethink of the EU’s strategy towards its African partners. They also asked if there are ways “to pressure” reluctant member states to provide supplies to Ukraine.
Agriculture and Rural Development
The coordination of EU and member states’ actions in relation to the war in Ukraine will be a priority, according to Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas on 19 September. Ukraine should be supported by strengthening the EU Solidarity Lanes and helping with their export, he said. In relation to trade of agricultural products with third countries, the Presidency will defend the so-called “mirror clauses” to ensure fair treatment for EU farmers.
In their reactions, MEPs called for more financial resources to tackle the consequences of the Russian war in Ukraine. A number of MEPs called for clear criteria on how the CAP crisis reserve should be allocated, while others called for more actions in implementing the Farm to Fork Strategy. MEPs also asked whether the Presidency supports controlling the EU wolf population using legislation.
Transport and Tourism
On 19 September, Raquel Sánchez, acting Minister for Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, stressed that the Presidency will focus on paving the way for green and digital mobility, advancing work on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and the Single European Sky (SES), as well as on the Maritime safety and Road safety packages. Héctor Gómez, acting Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, promised MEPs to pay special attention to ensuring the digitalisation, sustainability and accessibility of tourism and to advance work on new EU rules on exchange of data on short-term rentals.
MEPs welcomed the focus on TEN-T and SES and asked for all files in the new Road and Maritime safety packages to be treated equally. Some MEPs asked about measures to address the labour shortage in the tourism sector, while others recalled Parliament’s demand to set up an EU tourism agency.
International Trade
On 19 September, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Héctor Gómez said they will prioritise enhancing Europe's access to key raw materials, increasing the diversification of supply chains, and supporting trade openness. The Presidency also aims to sign the free trade agreement with Chile, finalise the one with Mexico and to conclude talks on the additional instrument (aimed at maintaining environmental and labour standards) to pave the way for a deal with Mercosur countries.
MEPs quizzed the minister on how to move forward with the trade agreements with the Mercosur countries, Mexico and Chile. Some MEPs urged the Presidency to push harder for the Mercosur agreement, and to make sure the Parliament’s position not to link readmission to trade issues is respected during the negotiations on the new generalised scheme of preferences (GSP).
Ref.: 20230904IPR04608
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