Pedro Sánchez: 'Europe wants a world based on clear rules and respect for international law, not on vassalage'

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, attended the informal meeting of the European Council to address transatlantic relations in light of the situation in Greenland and its implications for the European Union.

Brussels (Belgium)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his speech to the media after the European Council meeting (Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

The meeting reaffirmed the EU's support for Denmark and the people of Greenland, as well as their shared position of a strong Europe committed to the international order.

President Pedro Sánchez stressed that Europe must address the current international situation with realism. He defended the need for the European Union to strengthen itself internally in the economic, technological, political, social, and military spheres.

"Europe wants a world based on clear rules and respect for international law, not on vassalage", he said. He also affirmed that Europe must prepare itself and will take the necessary measures to protect itself against any threat or attempt at coercion.

The president highlighted the unequivocal support for Denmark and the people of Greenland at this European Council meeting, as well as the rejection of any attempt to commodify territories or the fate of their people. Secondly, he emphasised the unity and resolve of the European Union, which has the instruments to respond to situations of coercion and has forced the US administration to reconsider its position.

He also underscored the European Union's determination to strengthen its sovereignty and deepen its integration. For Spain, it is important to accelerate economic integration by completing the single market, expanding trade alliances-starting with the immediate provisional application of the agreement with Mercosur-strengthening social cohesion and European defence, while moving towards a European armed forces.

Finally, he affirmed that Spain continues to consider a positive agenda between the European Union and the United States, based on dialogue and mutual respect, to be "possible and desirable".

Spain will not join the so-called "Board of Peace"

With regard to the "Board of Peace" for Gaza, the head of the Executive conveyed the Government of Spain's decision not to participate. This decision, he explained, reflects Spain's consistent commitment to the multilateral order, international law, and the United Nations system.

"Let us not forget, the future of Palestine as a whole must be decided by the Palestinians, and the future of their peaceful and secure existence with Israel must also be decided primarily by Israel and Palestine, in a dialogue process that implements the two-state solution," he emphasised.

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