In the coming days, Spain’s political scene will be in the European spotlight. People’s Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo is preparing to meet Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to discuss the possible involvement of Spanish troops in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. While Feijóo’s stance on the issue remains unclear, his recent statements at the European People’s Party congress in Valladolid sounded an alarm for the entire continent.
Feijóo did not explicitly advocate military intervention, but emphasized that Europe is facing an unprecedentedly complex and dangerous international environment. According to him, there has never been a more important time to be prepared to defend democratic values and freedoms. He stressed that security must become an absolute priority for all European nations, hinting at the need for unity in the face of new threats.
Unanswered questions
While other leaders of European conservatives openly support the idea of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, Feijóo prefers to remain silent. His caution has raised questions not only among his political opponents but also within his own party. Government representatives, particularly the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, have openly expressed doubts about the opposition’s stance. According to Saiz, the country now needs a responsible and mature opposition capable of making decisions in the public interest rather than avoiding tough issues.
At the same time, Feijóo emphasizes his commitment to European values and describes himself as a staunch supporter of integration. He is convinced that only a strong and united European Union can withstand the current geopolitical instability. In his view, expanding alliances and seeking new partners is the only way to strengthen Europe’s position on the global stage.
Economy and borders
In his speech, Feijóo addressed not only security concerns but also economic prospects. He called the agreement between the EU and Mercosur a unique opportunity for the European economy, but stressed that success is possible only with tough measures to protect the interests of European producers. According to him, it is necessary to introduce automatic safeguard mechanisms and to lift excessive requirements from the agricultural sector.
Feijóo paid special attention to border control. He insists on strengthening customs enforcement and inspections to protect the domestic market from unfair competition and the illegal import of goods. In his view, these measures should be part of a sweeping plan to restore the competitiveness of the European economy. Among the priorities are youth support, demographic reforms, and industrial development.
Energy sector under threat
One of the most pressing topics of his speech was the future of the energy sector. Feijóo sharply criticized the decision to gradually shut down nuclear power plants in Spain, calling it a strategic mistake. According to him, abandoning nuclear power will only deepen dependence on Russian gas and threaten the country’s energy security. This issue is particularly sensitive amid ongoing debates about the future of the Almaraz nuclear plant, whose fate is still undecided.
Feijóo’s stance on energy sparked a heated reaction among forum participants. Many supported his criticism, arguing that abandoning nuclear energy is not just an economic miscalculation but a step that could cost the entire country dearly. At a time when Europe is seeking ways to achieve energy independence, such decisions seem, to say the least, questionable.
A test for Europe
The situation Europe finds itself in demands swift and decisive action. Feijóo insists that only unity, readiness for change, and the defense of our own interests will preserve stability and security. His call for reforms and for strengthening the European Union’s position sounds like a warning—there is no time left to hesitate, and at stake is not only economic well-being, but democracy itself.
In the coming days, it will become clear whether the Spanish opposition is prepared to take responsibility and support initiatives that could shift the balance of power in Europe. For now, Feijóo maintains the suspense, while political tensions continue to rise.
