Pedro Sanchez has communicated this Friday to the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, that she is renouncing to appear before the plenary session in Strasbourg on July 13 (in the midst of the electoral campaign) to present the program of the Spanish presidency of the European Union, as It planned.
The President of the Government has announced this decision after the complaint of the European People’s Party (PPE), which had requested a postponement until September to prevent Sánchez from use the plenary session of the Eurocámara as a showcase to promote yourself and campaign.
Sánchez has yielded after verifying that the PPE’s request to delay the presentation of the Spanish presidency until a new government is formed after the elections also had the support of the liberal group Renew, according to parliamentary sources. In this way, he has avoided a defeat in the conference of presidents of the European Parliament, which is the one that has the power to set the agenda.
[El adelanto de Sánchez desdibuja la presidencia española y complica el fin de legislatura en la UE]
Moncloa assures that Sánchez’s resignation is prior to the protest of the PPE. “This decision was already advanced last Tuesday, May 30, to the General Directorate of Communication of the European Parliament, 24 hours after the President of the Government announced the call for general elections,” say government sources.
“The intervention of the President of the Government before the European Parliament was scheduled for July 13, so coincides with the election campaign. The appearance is postponed until the plenary session of the European Parliament in September,” said the Moncloa statement. The Government maintains that it is an act of “institutional responsibility” and accuses the PP of manipulating.
The truth is that the formal request to postpone Sánchez’s appearance occurred this Friday, according to Moncloa’s own admission. In the Eurocámara they explain that on May 30 there was a consultation by the Government on the possibilities and background of a possible delay, but In no case was it announced that the president was giving up going to Strasbourg in July.
In any case, the triggering factor of the Moncloa announcement has been the letter sent to Metsola by the head of the popular group in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber. “Taking into account the exceptional circumstances, I ask you to consider delaying the date of presentation of the program of activities of the Spanish presidency from the July plenary session to that of September to allow the newly elected prime minister presents the council’s priorities outside of national political battles“, argued the German.
The president of the PPE, Manfred Weber, during a speech in the Eurochamber
“I believe that this slight adjustment in our institutional calendar will reinforce the legitimacy of the process. This will strengthen our ability to meet our common priorities,” says Weber.
In the letter, the president of the PPE recalls that it is a common practice for the European Parliament to receive the head of state or government of the country in question at the beginning of each presidency for the presentation and debate of its work program.
“In this context, and after the success of the Swedish presidency, we were waiting to hold the next debate on this issue in the July plenary session on the Spanish presidency,” says Weber.
Nevertheless, Sánchez’s decision to advance the elections to July 23 changes everything. “This is exactly three weeks after Spain assumes the presidency of the Council of the EU for the second half of 2023, starting on July 1,” the letter continues.
“The Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU comes at a time when the EU is facing unprecedented challenges linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine, inflation and high energy prices. In addition, the EU must work internally to solidify the rule of law, find points of agreement on the migration problem and increase competitiveness”, underlines the head of the EPP.
“With this backdrop, the priorities set by the rotating presidency play a key role. Their presentation by the Heads of State and Government before the plenary constitutes a crucial institutional moment in terms of accountability“, argues Weber to justify his rejection of Sánchez’s appearance in July.
The electoral advance of the President of the Government has caused surprise and some concern in Brussels. Early elections not only blur the Spanish presidency (as evidenced by Sánchez’s resignation to go to Strasbourg). In addition, they complicate the end of the legislature in the European Union and the resolution of difficult and vital files for our country such as the reform of the fiscal discipline rules, the European Migration Pact or the reform of the electricity market.
