Libya, a major challenge for Spain and Italy

USPA NEWS - Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, José Manuel García-Margallo, inaugurated along with his Italian counterpart, Paolo Genitoloni, the XIV Forum Spain-Italy Dialogue celebrated this Thursday in Barcelona.

Ministers have used the forum for a meeting in which they emphasized the shared interests and concerns between the two countries in many areas, reflecting the undeniable closeness of the Italian and Spanish companies. The Mediterranean has been one of the central themes of the meeting, at the prospect of the next informal ministerial meeting on the future of the European Neighbourhood Policy, at its southern dimension, which will take place on April 13 in Barcelona.

The situation in Libya is a political challenge, security and immigration to the European Union, of great concern to Italy and Spain. Before the terrorist threat, both leaders reiterated the need to support the process of democratic transition and economic growth in countries like Tunisia, in search of greater stability. Both ministers agreed to remember the need to intensify the political focus of the EU's southern neighborhood policy dimension. The phenomenon of terrorism, with the emergence of DAESH, is particularly disturbing.

In addition, García-Margallo has sought to emphasize the shared interest in Latin America. The next Foreign Affairs Council will host a strategic discussion of the region. The Spanish Minister also took the opportunity to discuss the main issues discussed within the Security Council. In the matter of bilateral relations has noted with optimism increasing trade relations. Italy is the fourth largest market in Spain and the fourth supplier. Finally, García-Margallo recalled that Spain will be much on the Milan Expo 2015, which addresses a crucial issue for the global agenda: "Feeding the Planet, Energy for the Future".