Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the European defence industry were the focus of the discussions at the meeting of State Secretaries and Secretaries-General of the European Union held today in Zaragoza as part of preparations for the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which Spain assumes on 1 July.
The State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs, Ángeles Moreno Bau, chaired the meetings with her counterparts from the 27 Member States of the European Union and with the Secretary-General of the European External Action Service, Stefano Sannino, which took place in the Aljafería Palace (headquarters of the Cortes of Aragón, regional parliament). The debates on qualified majority voting in the Council and open strategic autonomy were also raised during the meetings.
The authorities held a working lunch with the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Luis Manuel Cuesta Civis, where they discussed issues such as gender equality in the European diplomatic services.
Given the presence of the Secretary-General of the European External Action Service, Cuesta also raised the question of efforts for joint and coordinated action by European legations in crisis situations (Sudan, Afghanistan), conciliation and the European Diplomatic Academy project, which begins its second edition next September.
This encounter marks the traditional informal meeting organised by the country about to assume the presidency in the month prior to its start, in order to set out the priority lines of action in foreign policy.
The meeting began the previous day, with a sightseeing tour of the historic centre of Zaragoza followed by an opening dinner chaired by Ángeles Moreno Bau, at the Mobility City site, built inside the bridge designed by Zaha Hadid.