Radio Bulgaria

The Spanish rotational presidency of EU ended on 30th June. What has or hasn’t Spain achieved in its six-month mandate? Also, how will that mandate be remembered?

Spain had to preside over the European Union in six very difficult months of economic and financial crisis both for the union as well as for the country itself. At times, the economic up and downs of Spain caused suspicion over its ability to cope challenges. It is true that expectations of Spain taking EU out of the crisis haven’t materialized but at least it has managed to solve some problems. European leaders have adopted the program Europe 2020 which is in essence a strategy for economic growth in the next 10 years. The program also seeks to replace the Lisbon economic strategy from 2000. In the last day of the Spanish presidency EU and the countries from the South-American trade union resumed negotiations for setting up a common market after a six-month break. If the resumed negotiations go well, there will be a new trade zone with over 800 mln people and annual turnover of about $ 122 bln.

The Spanish presidency picked up right after the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty which stipulated that the presiding state shared responsibilities with the EU President and Foreign Affairs Representative. Some analysts saw the Spanish presidency as being overshadowed by Herman Van Rompuy and Cathrine Ashton but in fact, Madrid sought balance.

During the initial stages of the Spanish presidency, Bulgaria’s priority was to apply to the currency mechanism ERM II, also known as the waiting room for the Eurozone. Madrid supported that aspiration but it also recommended that Sofia needed not be too much in a hurry. At the end, the Bulgarian government postponed the application for better times in economic and budget terms. Madrid declined support for the cause of Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area. However, in this respect EP gave green light to Bulgaria by granting it access to the Schengen information system and this was a step forward. The Spanish presidency organized a meeting in Sarajevo and Sofia saw in it a renewal of engagement for the European perspective of the region of the Western Balkans.

There was talk of Spain’s failure to organize a high-ranking meeting between EU and US but that was because US President Obama declined to participate. There were other reproaches but in times of crisis it had to be admitted that Spain managed to carry out its mandate in a well-deserved way. 

English version: Delian Zahariev