Spaans voorzitterschap tevreden met aanpak crisis en successen in buitenlands beleid in afgelopen zes maanden (en)

Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Ángel Moratinos. EFE

Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, speaking on Thursday, said the "great success" of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union had been in its ability to navigate in "stormy waters" and bring about the birth of the European economic government.

Over the six months of its Presidency, Spain has managed to weather "stormy waters", such as the bailout of Greece and the speculative attacks against other countries, the minister pointed out.

"We were able to sail this ship” through a “brutal crisis” and “the European captain had the ability to bring the European Union to safe harbour", concluding with the creation of a new economic government, he added.

Moratinos also praised the agreement on the new European External Action Service (EEAS), which will enable EU diplomacy to expand its influence around the world.

He also mentioned the “total success” of relations with Latin America, with various summits held, including those between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, which ended with "historic agreements" in May.

Relations with Cuba

In terms of relations with Cuba, the minister stressed that these too would be a "great success" of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union, but that this would be celebrated "a little later, when we have time to rest".

The EU's General Affairs Council agreed to delay the review of the common position towards this Caribbean country until September, "to allow time for open dialogue between the Church and Government of Cuba".

On another subject, the foreign affairs minister highlighted the "fragile" political situation in the Middle East, which meant the summit scheduled during the Spanish Presidency had to be postponed.

On relations with the United States, the minister spoke of the "pleasure" felt by both North America and Europe that the Presidency was ending with an agreement on transferring data and "improving the battle against terrorism, while respecting people's dignity, identity and privacy".

Spain's Secretary of State for the EU, Diego López Garrido, also spoke at the event, a forum at the headquarters of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist party), saying that when Spain joined the Union, "it (the Union) turned towards Latin America", and that this change of perspective had now been consolidated.