"The real engine of European integration is going to be the Eurozone. In the coming years we are going to take measures to achieve greater integration, and those who will make most progress will be the countries of the Eurozone". This was stated by Iñigo Méndez de Vigo, Secretary of State for the European Union of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who gave a lecture at lecture in the first session of the European Dialogues of the Economics, Leadership and Governance program of the School of Economics of the University of Navarra.

In the session, the expert raised the general framework of the major European issues and addressed the relations of Spain with the European Union. In reference letter to the origin of the European Commission, Méndez de Vigo affirmed that "European construction began with politics and, from the beginning, the goal was always to achieve greater political integration". In this sense, he pointed out that "the euro is one of the great European projects, which is not only an economic but also a political project ; the euro as a factor of integration". He also explained that "the euro was on the verge of disappearing in 2012, but today it is very consolidated".

Regarding the crisis, he pointed out that in recent years "the Banking Union, supervisory authorities and a series of preventive subject indicators have been established so that the crisis of 2008-2010 does not happen again". Therefore, he indicated that "we have left behind the worst financial and economic crisis in the sixty-year history of the European Union and we are now in another stage, but still suffering many of the consequences of the crisis". "Today, Europe must face the problem of growth, the creation of jobs work and, consequently, the increase of social welfare," he concluded. 

Challenges of the new model

As the expert explained, "we have a new commission that gives stability to Europe, the result of a pact between popular, socialists and liberals, both in the European Parliament and in the European Commission. This commission has to focus on the problems that concern people and try to solve them".

Méndez de Vigo pointed out the priority projects to which the new commission should dedicate itself. Among them, he highlighted the commitment to structural reforms, migration issues, jihadist terrorism, having a single voice in foreign policy and security issues, getting the European Central Bank to play a more active role, and achieving energy union. In reference letter to this last aspect, he stated that "Europe cannot continue to depend on other countries in energy matters. At this moment we are aware of the importance of achieving independence".

In conclusion and taking stock, the Secretary warned that "thanks to the euro, we have become more integrated in Europe in these years than in the previous ten years; we have legislated in an integrationist sense and we have made more Europe".