COLLOQUIUM “SPAIN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION: CHALLENGES AND CHALLENGES”

On February 29, Javier Zarzalejos, MEP, participated in the colloquium “Spain and the European Union: challenges and challenges” together with Maite Pagazaurtundúa, member of the Renew Europe Group and the European Citizens Delegation, and Hermann Tertsch, MEP for Vox and vice-president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, held at the Universidad Villanueva de Madrid and promoted by Alumni Villanueva.

Villanueva University of Madrid and promoted by Alumni Villanueva. This meeting is part of an initiative of the institution called Dialogues at the University, which aims to establish the necessary conversation between social representatives and professionals from different fields, the university and future leaders.

During the meeting, issues such as how they see Spain in European institutions, the amnesty for Catalan independence supporters or Russian interference in the Catalan conflict and in other countries were discussed.

Asked about the perception of the EU institutions on the image of Spain, with the amnesty as the main issue, Zarzalejos stressed that, although “Spain continues to have a good perception as a country, that perception has nothing to do with the perception of Spanish politics and the Spanish Government”. In his opinion, “Pedro Sánchez’s appearance on December 18 in Strasbourg, when he dedicated himself to attacking the first party of the EU, has marked a turning point in his image”. He also assured that “the European socialists are not willing to accompany their Spanish colleagues beyond what the step before ridicule establishes”.

Zarzalejos stressed that “the narrative that he has wanted to impose and his new government has fallen”. “Nobody believes that the amnesty is the big step of the reunion, but a counterpart”, he asserted, adding that “there is a very evident deterioration in which only Koldo was missing, because it has European implications that will be coming out”. “There are moments when one feels ashamed,” he lamented.

The MEP also wanted to highlight the role of the European Union in the amnesty issue, stating that “if there were no European Union at this moment the amnesty would be approved”.  Likewise, he charged against those who underestimate the value of the community organization, “it is one thing to criticize EU policies and another to disqualify the EU as a whole. What we do not want is that there is no European Union, we want the EU to do other things, for this we must have majorities and reach agreements,” he explained.

In relation to the next European elections, Zarzalejos pointed out that “the Popular Party is going to win the elections and will be the first political force by far. The situation in the parliament is going to change for the better, and we all have to manage our plurality. The new majority will be able to bring a new approach to the EU and the PP will be the axis of that majority.