Spain and France agree on a common front in the EU, intensify contacts and exchange in the Councils of Ministers

There will be a working group for migration issues and the creation of binational operational units will be considered

BARCELONA, 19 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed this Thursday by Spain and France contemplates intensifying contacts between the two countries to seek a "common front" in the European Union and international relations, with constant relations between both governments and even periodic 'exchanges' in the respective Councils of Ministers.

The document has been signed by the presidents Pedro Sánchez and Emmanuel Macron during the XVIII Spanish-French Summit in Barcelona, ​​who have valued the "historic" of the moment, since it is the first treaty of this type despite the intensity of the bilateral relationship. According to Macron, this "anomaly" had to be solved.

The treaty includes various mechanisms to strengthen cooperation, such as the annual holding of bilateral summits or contacts between the different ministries. Also, the Treaty establishes that a member of the Government of one of the parties will be invited to the Council of Ministers of the other party, at least once every three months and by rotation.

An important part is focused on the European Union, where both countries agree to maintain "close consultation" on community issues and the enlargement process of the European Union.

"Both at the political level and among senior officials, the parties will consult regularly before major European decisions on issues of common interest, in order to try to establish common positions and promote them jointly," the document reads.

In foreign policy, Spain and France agree that their diplomacy network share analyzes to promote common interests in regions such as the Mediterranean and Africa; in addition to the need to deepen ties with Latin America and the Caribbean. The Treaty thus contemplates periodic consultations between the ministers of Foreign Affairs and the reciprocal exchange of diplomats between both departments.

In the defense section, they confirm their commitment to NATO at the same time that they are committed to a "stronger" European defense, and point to cooperation also in the industrial field to achieve the interoperability of their Armed Forces, with common projects. For all this, there will be annual meetings of the Defense and Security Council, in which the heads of Foreign Affairs and Defense participate.

On the other hand, the treaty provides for the creation of a working group on migration issues in which "the services responsible for border management, migration, asylum, integration and the fight against illegal immigration networks" will participate, and which may be expanded in if necessary.

Likewise, both governments are committed to promoting "legal channels of migration, integration and social inclusion of regular migrants" and have agreed that their foreign and interior ministers meet periodically to "address the external dimension" of migration.

On the other hand, the text also contemplates "the deployment, where appropriate, of binational operational units" as well as "the carrying out of common or joint operations to combat human trafficking networks."

In matters of justice and the interior, it also highlights "the high degree of cooperation" between the security forces and bodies and the judicial and penal authorities of both countries and expresses the will to continue on this path, particularly through the anti-terrorist working groups and the existing anti-drug liaison.

With regard to the economy, the treaty provides that a bilateral economic and business forum be organized annually in collaboration with the CEOE and the French employers' association, as well as greater cooperation in the field of tourism, given the importance that this sector has for the economies of the two countries.

Spain and France have also agreed to give priority to energy interconnections and specifically reaffirm their commitment to develop the electrical interconnection projects and the H2Med hydrogen transport corridor "in an equitable manner and in accordance with European standards", according to the text.

They also indicate that they will collaborate with energy regulators and the European Commission to obtain the maximum amount of European financing -a maximum of 50% of the total cost- and facilitate its evaluation and deployment.

Both countries also consider transport and telecommunications interconnections a priority "including 5G corridors", and assure that they will promote projects to promote "safe, easy and sustainable" mobility of passengers and goods "within the framework of the Trans-European Transport Networks".

On the other hand, Spain and France are going to create a Cross-Border Cooperation Committee of a consultative nature, made up of representatives of both administrations, with the aim of monitoring the implementation of the Cross-Border Cooperation Strategy provided for in this treaty.

The agreement also mentions that they undertake to facilitate the recognition of health and medical titles in both countries and will encourage learning the neighbor's language and its use in daily life in cross-border spaces.

Likewise, there is an explicit commitment to reinforce cooperation in the educational and cultural field, which includes the promotion of Spanish and French on the other side of the Pyrenees, greater equivalence in university degrees and double obtaining of the French and Spanish baccalaureate. or the promotion of joint cultural projects, among others.

Lastly, in environmental matters, the two countries will support the recognition by the International Maritime Organization of a Particularly Sensitive Marine Area (ZMES) in the northwestern Mediterranean.

Also the formulation of proposals for new Sulfur Emission Control Zones (SECA) in the Atlantic and Nitrogen Emissions (NECA) in the Mediterranean for presentation to the International Maritime Organization.

They will also continue to cooperate to monitor and protect endangered species, especially the capercaillie and the bear population in the Pyrenees, promoting their coexistence with human activities.