Council of the EU provides structure for vital issues

That same day, The Times published an article entitled “Meltdown? Why Rishi Sunak feels his deal with the universe isn’t working out”.

Two different governments. Two different systems. One focused on delivering for a continent of 440 million people. The other lacking focus on any of the multiple crises faced by it.

Before getting into what Spain’s presidency means, it would perhaps be helpful to refresh our memories of how the EU works briefly.

The Council of the EU is one of four institutions that help govern the structure of the EU, alongside the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament. Each has its own function and purpose within the wider EU structure.

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The European Council defines the political direction and priorities of the EU and brings together the heads of state or government of each member state at least four times a year.

The parliament is currently composed of 705 members, elected every five years by the citizens of the EU, while the Council of the EU is composed of national government ministers from each member state, grouped by policy area.

The European Commission puts forward proposals for new laws to both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The Council of the EU and parliament then negotiate, agree and jointly adopt European laws alongside the commission.

In sum, the European Council sets the general direction of the EU, the European Commission proposes laws which fit within these objectives and the Council of the EU and European Parliament provide legislative scrutiny and democratic accountability to ensure laws are made with the consent of EU citizens and member states.

Presidencies (of the Council of the EU) are held for six months on a rotational basis.

This means that every member state will have the opportunity to guide the EU’s priorities, regardless of their size.

Since the Lisbon Treaty of 2009, member states holding the presidency work together in groups of three (trios) which helps set long-term goals and prepares a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the council over an 18-month period.

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Based on this programme, each of the three countries will prepare its own more detailed six-month programme.

Spain’s presidency kicks off the next 18-month trio, with Belgium and Hungary following afterwards. The Spanish presidency has outlined four priorities for its work: reindustrialisation of the EU; advancing the green transition; promoting social and economic justice; and strengthening European unity.

With more than 350 events lined up over the next 184 days, it certainly won’t be quiet over in Brussels!

And why should it?

The scale of the challenges we are facing across Europe is unprecedented in recent years.

Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to drive inflation and push up energy costs. Climate change has impacted crop yields leading to rising food prices. New technology, such as artificial intelligence, proves that existing regulation needs to be updated.

Yet by working together with mutual respect for the needs and wishes of each member state, the EU is, slowly but surely, proposing viable solutions which work for its citizens across its continent.

Spain has already outlined what it hopes to do. Under its presidency, it hopes to foster the development of strategic industries and technologies in Europe, as well as expand and diversify trade relations (particularly with Latin America).

It will look to promote a reform of the electricity market aimed at accelerating the deployment of renewable energies, the reduction of electricity prices, and the improvement of the system’s stability.

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The Spanish presidency will also advocate for the establishment of minimum and common standards on corporate taxation in all member states and will fight tax evasion by large multinationals. It will strive for a deepening of the internal market as well as completion of the banking union and the capital markets union.

Contrast this level of co-operation and ambition with what we have in the UK: the UK Government focused on hoovering up more powers to here-today, gone-tomorrow ministers, with no real agenda for positive change or the huge challenges we face as a society.

The Retained EU Law Bill has now received royal assent and so begins the process of repealing laws based on where they came from, rather than whether they are actually effective.

Combined with the UK’s Internal Market Act, the centralisation of power to Whitehall has led the UK to blatantly disregard the concerns of the devolved nations and ride roughshod over their legislatures.

Meanwhile, inflation remains sticky and the cost of living crisis continues to bite further and further into people’s incomes and livelihoods.

As the crises in Downing Street continue to mount, we must remember there is an alternative. Spain holds the presidency now but an independent Scotland back in the EU will also get its chance to set the agenda and drive forward ideas which help not only those in our country but across our shared continent.

EU membership is not some fuzzy, utopian goal. It’s a shared idea, a shared vision and a shared reality of what we as Europeans want to build together, united in our diversity.

It’s real, it exists and for all EU member states, EU membership is driving forward their economies, societies and ambitions.

Scotland has much to offer, and I very much look forward to the day when we’ll see Scotland assume our role in the presidency structure.