The leaders of Spain and Germany held talks in Spain Wednesday, two days before both participate in an European Union summit to discuss Europe’s energy crisis derived from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, fifth left, stands with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, sixth left, during a group photo at a summit in A Coruna, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. Leaders of Spain and Germany are meeting in northwestern Spain for a one-day summit focusing on Europe’s energy crisis and consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (M.Dylan/Europa Press via AP)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, left, speaks alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a summit in A Coruna, Spain, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2022. Leaders of Spain and Germany are meeting in northwestern Spain for a one-day summit focusing on Europe’s energy crisis and consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (M.Dylan/Europa Press via AP)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, centre left, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz walk together before the start of a summit in A Coruna, Spain, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2022. Leaders of Spain and Germany are meeting in northwestern Spain for a one-day summit focusing on Europe’s energy crisis and consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (M.Dylan/Europa Press via AP)
Sánchez said that he “empathizes” with Germany due to its pressing need to find alternatives to Russian gas and oil, while adding that the EU should find common solutions. Both Sánchez and Scholz support reforming the EU’s energy market.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez leave after a news conference at a summit in A Coruna, Spain, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2022. Leaders of Spain and Germany are meeting in northwestern Spain for a one-day summit centering on Europe’s energy crisis and consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (M.Dylan/Europa Press via AP)
“The consequences of the war in Ukraine impact us all, but clearly it has a greater impact on the countries with a higher dependency on Russian carbon-based fuels … so we empathize with the situation that Germany is in,” Sánchez said. “(And) Germany is Europe’s leading economy, so it is in all our interests that Germany does well.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, shakes hands with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez after a news conference at a summit in the northwestern city of A Coruna, Spain, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2022. The leaders of Spain and Germany Wednesday began a brief summit centering on the Europe’s energy crisis and the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (M.Dylan/Europa Press via AP)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, speaks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez before a news conference at a summit in A Coruna, Spain, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2022. Leaders of Spain and Germany are meeting in northwestern Spain for a one-day summit focusing on Europe’s energy crisis and consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (M.Dylan/Europa Press via AP)
Scholz said that they did not discuss Germany’s suggested European anti-missile defense shield as some local media had anticipated.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speak during a meeting at a summit in A Coruna, Spain, Wednesday Oct. 5, 2022. Leaders of Spain and Germany are meeting in northwestern Spain for a one-day summit focusing on Europe’s energy crisis and consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (M.Dylan/Europa Press via AP)
On Thursday, leaders of over 40 EU and non-EU countries will meet in Prague to launch a “European Political Community” championed by Macron and aimed at boosting security and prosperity across the continent. The next day the leaders of the 27 EU members will gather to talk about energy and the war in Ukraine.
