Pedro Sánchez: "We have a moral duty to save lives in Gaza and the West Bank, and to make the two-state solution a reality"

Brussels (Belgium)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, at the press conference following the European Council (Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has taken part in the European Council meeting, in which the Heads of State and Government of the 27 Member States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission have discussed the European Union's political priorities.

On this occasion, the meeting focused on the escalation of violence in the Middle East, the state of play in the war in Ukraine, the prospects for European security and defence in the light of the results of the NATO Summit held on Wednesday 25 June and the other geo-economic challenges facing the Union, such as competitiveness and Europe's position in the world.

On the Middle East, the president of the Government of Spain stressed the "enormous concern" he shares with many European leaders over the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine: "What is happening in Gaza is tantamount to an open-air hell, and we cannot allow the situation to deteriorate further."

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, at the press conference following the European Council | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

In the light of the report by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, which states that Israel is violating the human rights article of its agreement with the EU, he has advocated suspending the pact and continuing to act diplomatically: "We have mechanisms, there are levers to put pressure on the Israeli government to stop this catastrophe we are experiencing. We have a moral duty to save lives in Gaza and the West Bank, and to realise the two-state solution, which is the only viable way to ensure peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine," he stressed.

In terms of strengthening the European defence industry, Pedro Sánchez highlighted the promotion of the SAFE mechanism and the EDIP regulation, which are committed to European preference in defence procurement. "Spain has always argued that security and defence are European public goods, and therefore we need to finance them on a Community basis, with European resources," he said.

Unwavering support for Ukraine

The European Council, added Pedro Sánchez, reiterated its unwavering support for the Ukrainian people and President Zelenskyy, and agreed to continue to exert pressure on Vladimir Putin in order to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.

Spain also placed the situation in the Sahel on the agenda of the European Council, "one of the most unstable areas in the world", where Russia's growing presence and effective control by armed groups could affect neighbouring countries and Europe.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, addresses the media upon his arrival at the European Council meeting | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo y Pool UE

Lastly, the president of the Government of Spain moved on to the debate that the leaders held on geo-economics, in which he stressed that World Bank data points to the current tariff war reducing global growth considerably, especially in developing countries. To ensure prosperity, he added, "we need a rules-based international order. Defending global governance and trade order is therefore a strategic and economic imperative."

In this respect, the president of the Government of Spain underlined Spain's fundamental role on the international stage: "Spain will remain an essential part of the architecture of the European Union and NATO. And it is also the United Nations, as we will reflect from Sunday at the International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, where we will continue to promote multilateralism, cooperation and peace."

Non official translation