Pedro Sánchez and Charles Michel commit to strong European Union with greater role on world stage

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

Following the meeting, Pedro Sánchez and Charles Michel offered a joint press conference and shared a working lunch. They both agreed on the need to work towards a strong European Union that plays a greater role on the world stage.

During the course of this meeting, they addressed the new multiannual financial framework and agreed that "now is not the time to reduce the European Budget". They also highlighted the need for the European Union to have sufficient provision in the Budget to address traditional policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the cohesion programmes, but also to face the new challenges and needs of a more social Europe, such as digitalisation and the fight against the climate emergency.

Pedro Sánchez and Charles Michel underlined the need to set in motion a European Climate Strategy at a level corresponding to the threat and for Europe to play a leading role in the upcoming COP25, which will be held in Madrid from 2 to 13 December, at which "the more committed European countries will adopt a declaration that reflects the priority we assign in our own national governments to this challenge", said Pedro Sánchez.

As regards the CAP, they acknowledged that it is an essential pillar for Europe and for Spain, which reconciles regions and avoids the gap between prosperous urban areas and increasingly more depopulated rural areas becoming even wider. Along this line, they both consider that over the coming years the CAP must support the ecological transition of agricultural holdings towards a more sustainable and competitive model.

For Pedro Sánchez and Charles Michel, the cohesion policy is another priority to the extent that it provides direct support to the regions, contributes to convergence and reduces inequalities between Europeans.

Pool Moncloa/Fernando CalvoAs regards migration, the two leaders stressed the destabilising potential of migration for the European project, as well as the urgent need to manage illegal migratory flows.

The Acting President of the Government conveyed to Charles Michel the importance of allocating resources to Morocco, a fundamental partner for Spain and for Europe in terms of migration, "with whose collaboration we have been able to reduce the number of illegal arrivals in Spain in 2019 by 50%", stated Pedro Sánchez.

As regards Brexit, they declared their interest that the new British Parliament that comes out of the ballot box is one that ratifies the Withdrawal Agreement, thus guaranteeing an orderly withdrawal and safeguarding the interests of our citizens and our companies. They also agreed that there must be no delay in the new European Commission taking office, and addressed the upcoming Euro Summit, to be held on 13 December, which will be important for further consolidating the Economic and Monetary Union, and, in particular, the Banking Union.

Non official translation