Spain's European crisis: The failure of the European Commission's ruling body in the Eurogroup adds to Ribera's isolation in the Commission and the "anger" with Sánchez in NATO.

Carlos Cuerpo will not be the president of the Eurogroup. He didn't even show up for the vote that took place yesterday. " We didn't have the necessary support guaranteed to push forward with the candidacy," the Minister of Economy himself acknowledged before the body's meeting.

"In the current context of major challenges for the eurozone, it is necessary to promote unity and avoid fragmentation within the Eurogroup, a key body for economic decision-making in the union. Therefore, in an exercise of responsibility, the minister has decided to step aside to favor an election based on consensus," insisted the department he heads. He thus avoided a resounding defeat in the vote, a process from which Lithuanian Rimantas Sadzius also withdrew and which has allowed Irishman Pascal Donohoe to remain at the helm of the organization for at least two and a half more years after his arrival in 2020.

The Spanish minister's failure was predictable, given that Donohoe enjoyed the support of the European People's Party, and virtually no one in Brussels gave the Economy Minister a chance. The precedents were also not encouraging, given that both Luis de Guindos and Nadia Calviño lost in the same process, although in their case, at least, they made it to the vote.

But the government insisted on presenting Cuerpo, stating that his candidacy had been well received and that there were possibilities. And it did so in the midst of a national crisis , with corruption cases stalking the Prime Minister himself, and also internationally after the "anger" of allies and partners at Sánchez's refusal to invest more in defense.

The defeat of the Nationalist Party (Corps), therefore, only deepens this situation, Spain's loss of influence in the face of Europe's shift to the right and, also, the change in priorities. The green transition has clearly taken a backseat to the need to prepare Europe for a possible attack from Russia. It's not that decarbonization isn't important, but it's no longer the priority it once was. And this connects directly with another form of Spanish loss of influence: the isolated situation facing the Executive Vice President for a Clean, Fair, and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera.

Change of priorities and lack of harmony

At the time of her appointment, it was considered that she would be the second-in-command to the President of the European Commission, and that she would lead one of the key areas of the European Executive. That she would have a significant role in Brussels, in short. But the reality in the EU capital is not exactly like that . For several reasons. First, because Ursula von der Leyen's presidential administration leaves very little room and leeway for the members of the College of Commissioners.

The aforementioned changes in priorities and the political shift in the EU are also important. Members of the European People's Party (EPP) hold a majority in the Commission, and their relationship with the few Socialists is also not the best. In Brussels, many point out that she has had several disagreements with Dan Jorgensen , who is not only a Social Democrat but also holds the Energy portfolio. Although it is true that Danish Social Democracy is not exactly the same as Spain's.

In Denmark, they are convinced that more spending on the military is essential. In fact, the country's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, was one of the leaders who had " disagreements " with Sánchez at the NATO summit following Spain's refusal to reach 5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in military investment. They are also very active in advocating for the need to completely cut Europe's dependence on Russian gas as soon as possible.

This, as Politico reported a few weeks ago, sparked a clash between Ribera and Jorgensen because the vice president wanted to smooth out the process, and the Dane refused. The former vice president's team completely denied this, as well as the idea that the move was the result of pressure from Sánchez. But the breeding ground is not positive.

The influence of Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra doesn't help either. It hasn't gone unnoticed in the EU capital that the press conference held last week by the two to announce the 2024 climate goals was entirely led by the Dutchman. Clearer and more direct messages should serve as a showcase for Ribera.

And one last, very significant example of the solitude Ribera finds herself in. Last week, after the gala dinner marking the official start of the Danish presidency of the European Council, all the commissioners were either surrounded by journalists or chatting with other members of the College. All except the Spaniard, who barely spoke with the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, also a Socialist. But when the Portuguese was called away for an obligation, the former vice president of the government was left alone. With no one around her .