Spain and France seal a commitment to cooperate in joint projects

USPA NEWS - The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, have signed a Treaty in Barcelona, within the framework of the XXVII Spanish-French Summit. The text consolidates a close bilateral relationship and protects the link between both countries with a political and legal framework in line with the challenges of the 21st century.

This Treaty, the first of these characteristics signed between the two countries, thus becomes an unprecedented roadmap in terms of coordination between France and Spain within the European Union and provides efficiency and agility to the development of joint projects and institutionalizes both the annual celebration of bilateral summits and the reciprocal participation in councils of ministers. Likewise, the signing of this agreement will facilitate consultations between the two countries at all levels and will promote the creation of bilateral coordination forums, such as the Franco-Spanish Defense and Security Council.

During the summit, President Sánchez and President Macron have addressed issues of a diverse nature. Pedro Sánchez has defined the bilateral relationship with France as a "broad and deep neighborly" bond, and has ensured that both leaders have agreed on the importance of defining a cross-border strategy that results in the well-being of the populations on both sides of the border and to reinforce energy interconnections and the transport network between the two countries.

Likewise, the President of the Spanish Government has explained that together with President Macron they have addressed issues on the European agenda such as progress in economic governance, the migration and asylum pact, or the reform of the CAP, areas in which Spain will delve into the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

During the summit, Sánchez and Macron analyzed the current evolution of the war in Ukraine and shared their condemnation of the Russian attacks on the civilian population. "We have continued to study the ways in which we can support Ukrainian men and women in the fight for their freedom and territorial integrity," and this without neglecting "other common challenges to our security, especially those coming from the southern flank," he added.

A community of values

The signing of this Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, the president reiterated, offers both countries a new framework to deepen their collaboration "as neighbours, European partners and allied countries" at a time of complexity in the international context. "Russian aggression against Ukraine and its consequences in Europe and in the rest of the world demand a common response more than ever," Sánchez assured. He also stressed that this Treaty is, in turn, a declaration of intent between the two countries, as it makes clear the determination of Spain and France to put into practice "an increasingly intense economic, scientific, digital, industrial and cultural cooperation." Lastly, Pedro Sánchez reiterated the joint effort for a "more sovereign, more integrated and more resilient" Europe, stressing that all these objectives will be priorities during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

"Europe is, above all, a community of values", stated the President of the Spanish Government; "values such as those that inspire this historic Treaty of Friendship that we are signing today, testimony to the success of a Summit that unites our two countries even more in this Barcelona open to a future full of opportunities and hope."

In the year in which France and Spain jointly celebrate the 50th anniversary of the death of Pablo Picasso, the Ministers of Culture of both countries, Miquel Iceta and Rima Abdul Malak, have reaffirmed their desire to continue strengthening their ties and have ratified the framework from this summit a Declaration of Intentions that will allow the digitization of important documentary collections on Spanish Republican exiles in France.

In terms of Education, Spain is committed to the promotion and modernization of Vocational Training as a priority of educational policy, and in this sense, the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with France includes the creation of Franco-Spanish training campuses that will allow broaden the horizon of both Vocational Training systems. The agreement will thus promote exchanges between its students and teachers and will favor the employability of young people from the two countries.

This Treaty also seals the relationship between two allies that share security challenges and that during the last four years have cooperated in a special way in matters of Defense. France and Spain have very twin Security Forces. In this sense, the agreement reflects friendship and trust and frames a synchronization between both countries and the common commitment to a strong Europe. In this way, France and Spain complement each other in capacity projects and defense industries, as important as the Future Air Combat System or the space field.

Regarding Transport, after meeting with her French counterpart, the Spanish Minister Raquel Sánchez celebrated France's commitment to promoting cross-border connections between Spain and France along the Atlantic and Mediterranean Corridors, "vital" infrastructures to make the Single Market between two central partners of the EU such as Spain and France.

Likewise, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has transferred to his counterpart, Gérald Darmanin, Spanish priorities in matters of the Interior with a view to the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Cooperation between Spain and France remains at a high level and in this regard, Minister Marlaska has highlighted cooperation in the fight against terrorism, radicalization, organized crime and serious crime, among other matters.

In the field of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, this Treaty reflects the relevance that common agricultural and fisheries policies have for both countries, due to their fundamental influence on food security in the European Union and globally. In this sense, France and Spain have agreed to cooperate to achieve the development of sustainable agriculture and fishing, which guarantee the productive fabric necessary to feed consumers.