After the 25th intergovernmental summit between the two countries after 9 years, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a joint press conference.
"We talked about the energy issue and it worries us a lot." said Sanchez, wanted to develop energy interconnections between EU countries and for all EU members to be in solidarity.
Pointing out that the economic consequences of the Ukraine war affected all countries, Sanchez said:
"Spain has a difference in the purchase of natural gas with its historical and geographical location. Germany's situation is different, but it also reduced its dependence on Russian gas in a record time. In order not to increase the difference with the big economies in Europe, the EU should be a single market and a common market against the energy crisis. "There should be a discussion about the electricity market in Europe," he said.
Stating that according to the energy projects envisaged in Europe, gas interconnections between EU countries should be 10 percent in 2020 and 15 percent in 2030, Sanchez said, "However, we are even below 5 percent at the moment. We are behind the times and we need to respond quickly." used the phrase.
"Spain will never recognize the 4 regions of Ukraine joining Russia through an illegal referendum," Sanchez said. said.
According to Scholz, global energy prices should be lowered further
German Chancellor Scholz also said, "Oil and gas prices in global markets must fall at the same time and they have not fallen sufficiently yet. We are in close cooperation with Spain to reduce energy prices." made the statement.
Noting that Europe needs much more interconnection in energy, Scholz said, re-activating the MidCat Project (the delivery of gas from Algeria to Central Europe via Spain and France), which Spain insisted on but France opposed. He said that they gave "open support" to their initiatives and that the need for interconnection in Europe would come to the agenda of every country sooner or later.
Stating that despite the differences in the energy situation of Germany and Spain, they took a joint and quick decision, Scholz said that Germany currently has a 90 percent occupancy rate in natural gas and continues to use coal and nuclear power plants.
Scholz emphasized that Germany and Spain will continue to support Ukraine against the Russia-Ukraine War, which he calls "the greatest struggle of our time".
"We want to leave behind the dark hours of the 20th century and the era of empires," said the German Chancellor. said.
Although Scholz stated that the "European missile defense shield" project put forward by Germany was not on the agenda during the bilateral summit with Spain, he argued that it is a very effective project in the defense of both Ukraine and Europe.
On the other hand, in the joint text published on the summit, which was held for the first time in 9 years, the two countries, emphasizing their commitment to the EU and NATO, made cooperation agreements on the main themes of energy, defense, education and sustainability.
"Spain and Germany are determined to encourage initiatives to increase the European Union's capacity for action and strengthen its resilience, in addition to NATO and in a way that reinforces each other," the text said. expression was used.
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