Permanent Representation of Spain in the EU

On Thursday 11th July we visited the Permanent Representation of Spain in the EU. We were welcomed by Juan de Aristegui Laborde, Ambassador Deputy Representative of Spain to the EU.

What is COREPER (Committee of Permanent Representatives)?

It is made up of the permanent representatives of the Member States. It is responsible for assisting the Council of the Union by dealing with matters (proposals and draft acts submitted by the Commission) on the Council's agenda prior to negotiations. 

 COREPER prepares the Council's activities and carries out the tasks entrusted to it by the Council, acting as a filter to ensure that only the most difficult and sensitive issues are dealt with at ministerial level.

It is in fact divided into two in order to deal with all the tasks entrusted to it: COREPER I, made up of Deputy Permanent Representatives to examine technical questions (transport policy, social policy, etc.); COREPER II, made up of Permanent Ambassadors to deal with political and institutional questions, external relations and so on. 

The general representation of the state is in the hands of Mr. Pablo García-Berdoy, Ambassador Permanent Representative. 

The offices of the autonomous communities are installed here in offices of this representation.  There is a representation of all the ministries of the State (sometimes even with more than one councillor).

The COREPER I in charge of 6 formations:

- Agriculture and Fisheries (only financial issues or technical measures on veterinary, phytosanitary or food legislation)

- Competitiveness

- Education, Youth, Culture and Sport

- Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers

- Environment

- Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

While the COREPER II is in charge of 4:

- Economic and Financial Affairs

- Foreign Affairs

- General Affairs

- Justice and Home Affairs

In addition to these Departments and Horizontal Services for representation we highlight: the parliamentary affairs (European Parliament), legal advice (state lawyers) and the communication and press department.

There is direct participation of the autonomous communities in some of the Council formations. And there is also an established system that allows the participation of members of the government of some Autonomous Communities in certain formations.

We are the direct participation of Spain in the Council, in a way we are the support body of Brussels for the government in the participation of Spain.

Adoption of legislation: it is a qualified way, unlike the case of other organizations that work by unanimity and qualified majority by default. 

Spain has 9.1% of the total representation of the population.

It is necessary to reach 36% for the majority of the blockade so it is very important that 9.1% representation of the population since there are other states that only possess 0.1%.

The topics that resonate most today are:

-Appointments of senior officials to the next Commission for the next legislature.

-Annual financial framework, that of the next 7 years. Monetary policies are developed and unanimity is required. We should already have the approved framework, they are running out of time.

-Migration

-Economic Monetary Union

-Ecological transition (transformation to the long term productive model)

-Brexit 

QUESTIONS

-Our representation is an attractive destination for diplomats from Spain. Why? 

It makes it a high quality and efficient work.

They are people who already have some experience, who are already motivated and committed to what they do. You influence the issues that are decided and have a direct impact on the countries.

Since we are representing all ministries and agencies, coordination is very easy. There are always proposals that affect more than one ministry and so it seems that "The capital is in your hands".

In addition, it is known that civil servants earn more outside than inside. 

If there was a change of government in Spain that would put in the government an anti-European party, would there be a direct repercussion?

The position is clearly managed by the government, and we are very disciplined. But it is necessary to emphasize that we do not have almost anti-Europeanist parties.

What was Spain's situation like in Brussels when you started?

There have not been so many changes, we did not have the Treaty of Lisbon which was the last important change. The factor has been to modify the dynamics, to reshape institutional treaties. Enlargement also marked a before and an after. 

One of the biggest challenges is ecological transformation. What is Spain's agenda? 

We see it in the Environment Council, it is a very interesting debate that is very much on track. The main objective is to achieve a net climate economy by 2050.

Offsetting emissions 

Spain is one of the most ambitious countries 

For example, a new target is that by 2030 greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced to 40% and that the objectives of the Treaty of Paris will be met.

What is Spain's position on migration?

It is a fundamental issue that must be managed correctly, our approach: in European migration policy there are many important pillars but above all the control of external borders. 

It is necessary to have effective control and to value the effort made by some member states in this respect.

- Marta Tato