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"Europe must become the moral leader of the planet"/ Sanchez calls for the creation of a European army

2026-04-10 21:22:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

"Europe must become the moral leader of the planet"/ Sanchez calls for

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed, during a summit in Barcelona, ??the need for the European Union to take a leading role on the international stage, not only militarily, but also "morally".

Sanchez called on Brussels to act more courageously in a period of heightened geopolitical tensions, while also calling for the strengthening of European defense and saying that he considers it necessary for the EU to participate in critical global decisions.

Sanchez further added that Europe should not limit itself to defending its interests, but should develop into a leading force that will contribute to stability and peace at a global level.

"The challenge for Europe is not only to rearm itself to face security and defense problems, but also to strengthen itself morally, to contribute to a sustainable and peaceful global development ," he noted.

Sanchez presented Spain as an example to follow, noting that it can combine economic growth, job creation, wealth redistribution and environmental protection. He referred to the country's progress in the energy sector, highlighting that almost 60% of electricity production comes from renewable sources, a fact that, he said, has protected it from energy price increases linked to the war in the Middle East.

The Spanish prime minister reiterated the need to strengthen European defense through joint initiatives, such as the creation of a European army. At the same time, he called on the EU to take a clear stance on international affairs, proposing the suspension of the cooperation agreement with Israel, in response to what he called a "flagrant violation of international law".

Sanchez has repeatedly criticized Israel's military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, and has also expressed his opposition to the US-Israeli war with Iran. As he said, European citizens expect their leaders to take action and contribute to solving international challenges.

"European citizens do not want their leaders to look elsewhere or be absorbed in their own affairs. They want to participate in finding solutions to global challenges ," he said.

Sanchez defended the European Union, responding to criticism from eurosceptic and far-right forces that the EU is losing momentum. He argued that Europe has the best quality of life in the world, the highest life expectancy, strong democratic institutions and high environmental standards.

"You just have to travel outside Europe to understand this. It's good to be European ," he noted.

However, his stances have drawn criticism within Spain. The leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, criticized the government's plan to legalize more than 500,000 undocumented immigrants, arguing that the country is "exporting the problem to the rest of Europe."

For his part, Sanchez defended "legal, safe and organized immigration", stressing that it is a key tool for addressing challenges and seizing opportunities. Concluding his speech at the summit, the Spanish prime minister called on Europe to move forward with more confidence and ambition.

"We have the resources, the institutions, the talent, the values. What we lack is the courage to imagine how far we can go together," he said, stressing that the EU must increase spending on social policies and remain open to trade, talent and ideas. /CNA