The Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, Diego López Garrido, taking stock of the first month of Spain's Presidency of the EU Council, underscored the support that his Government has received from European institutions and Member States for the work priorities it has set for the coming six-month period.
The Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, Diego López Garrido, taking stock of the first month of Spain's Presidency of the EU Council, underscored the support that his Government has received from European institutions and Member States for the work priorities it has set for the coming six-month period.
This support has been made clear during the informal meeting of European ministers, held at La Granja in Segovia from 12-14 January, and during the General Affairs Council held on 25 January, as well as during the speeches given to the European Parliament by the President of the Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and his ministers.
“The institutions and our partners have given their full and unconditional backing for the fundamental objectives of our Presidency. It's been a good start”, the Secretary of State said during a press conference.
Among these objectives, he emphasised economic recovery and the creation of quality employment, the strengthening of Europe's role in the world, further development of citizens' rights - above all in terms of equality between men and women - and security.
The Secretary of State hailed a second important achievement as being the “absolute co-ordination” between the Presidency, the European Commission and the new institutions created by the Treaty of Lisbon: the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy and Security, Catherine Ashton.
Thirdly, he referred to the capacity for political initiative that the Presidency had shown in the face of unexpected and dramatic events such as the earthquake in Haiti, with the EU's response having been “immediate and well-coordinated”. He also mentioned the agreement with Van Rompuy and the President of the Commission, José Manuel Durao Barroso, to announce an informal meeting of heads of state or government on 11 February in order to discuss “the issue that is most important right now” - emergence from the crisis and job creation.
Some of the specific results of this first month of the Presidency highlighted by the Secretary of State include:
- The agreement that will see the EU having its own permanent humanitarian action force.
- The formal communication to the United Nations expressing the EU's wish to sign up to the Copenhagen Accord and restating its emissions reductions commitments.
- The joint EU, United States and European Commission declaration on aviation security.