Spain, Netherlands say open economy key to EU strategic autonomy

By Jan Strupczewski and Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS, March 24 (Reuters) - Spain and the Netherlands on Wednesday urged the 27-country European Union to keep its economy open, as it tries to become more independent from global powers like the United States and Asia in technology, vaccine production and energy.

The joint call by the two countries, which have large exposure to trade and tourism, comes as the European Commission announced on Wednesday tougher rules on the export of COVID-19 vaccines, including clearer rights to block shipments to countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the EU to consider measures to secure key supply chains in a bid to ensure the bloc's strategic autonomy.

Keeping Europe's economy open must be a key element of this strategy, Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez and his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, said in a letter to European Council President Charles Michel.

"The EU must uphold its commitment to open economies and societies," the two countries said in a discussion paper.

"The EU's strategic autonomy does not imply isolationism or economic protectionism; rather it should be built on principles of multilateralism, cooperation and rules-based free trade, without undermining the interests of the least developed countries," they said.

They said measures taken to secure the bloc's strategic autonomy should be proportionate, rational and tailored to specific challenges.

The two countries also urged a revamp of the bloc's unanimity rules, under which EU decisions must be approved by all 27 EU countries, to break impasses on key issues.

"It could therefore be useful to explore in which areas the extension of qualified majority voting is possible, limiting - where possible and desirable - the instances where unanimity hampers the EU's capability to act," they said. (Writing by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Larry King)