Government promotes Spain's candidature to host banks and other institutions following Brexit

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The Council of Ministers analysed a report on some of the economic consequences of the United Kingdom's exit from the EU (Brexit) and, in particular, on the effects this may have on the location of financial institutions and certain EU institutions that currently have their headquarters in that country.

As a result of this, a work group has been set up that will cover all ministerial departments, which will be coordinated by the Vice-Presidency of the Government. According to the explanation offered by the acting Vice-President of the Government, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, its aim will be twofold.

The work group will firstly promote Spain's candidature to host the European Banking Authority and the European Medicines Agency. "These are two areas in which Spain is greatly interested and we will work on the possibility of at least one of them being located in Spanish territory", she pointed out. With this aim in mind, it will study how to boost our ability to receive these institutions and their senior staff from the perspective of such issues as employment, tax, home affairs, visas, etc.

Secondly, the work group will seek to strengthen Spain's competitiveness to receive international banks located in the City of London that require secondary headquarters within the territory of the European Union.

The Government Spokesperson stressed that several countries are already vying to host these institutions and "Spain is in an optimum condition" to do so, thanks to the re-structuring of its financial sector and the quality of its healthcare system, "acknowledged as one of the best in the world". The question, she added, is "to begin work now, with time on our side and a horizon to offer the best possible conditions to host these institutions".

Guardia Civil accommodation

Pool Moncloa / J.M.CuadradoThe government has regulated the inclusion of subsidies to refurbish Guardia Civil accommodation in Andalusia and Extremadura and in other depressed rural areas in the Programme to Boost Agricultural Employment (Spanish acronym: PROFEA).

The Vice-President of the Government recalled that PROFEA seeks to carry out general interest works and services in collaboration with local corporations, subsidising the costs of hiring unemployed workers to participate in this.

Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría underlined that "the work that the Guardia Civil carry out throughout national territory and particularly in rural locations is commendable and of vital importance in their specific missions of prevention and the maintenance of public security", In order to carry out these tasks, she added, their accommodation must be located in rural areas and they should have facilities adapted in line with their missions.

Government Representation in Catalonia

The Council of Ministers authorised the signing of a partnership agreement between the Ministry of the Treasury and Public Administration Services and the Ministry of Public Works for the financing and execution of works to refurbish the headquarters of the Government Representation in Catalonia, the well-known Customs House.

Pool Moncloa / J.M.CuadradoSoraya Sáenz de Santamaría pointed out that the aim of these works is to have a suitable infrastructure for the Government Representation in Catalonia, the second most important in Spain due to its administrative significance and the direct impact of its services in all areas. The maximum total budget amounts to 12.36 million euros.

The Vice-President of the Government highlighted the historic-artistic value of this building, which was subject to a reform a few years ago, during which certain pictorial elements that had previously been concealed in its interior were uncovered.

With the scheduled actions, the government is thus meeting its plan to concentrate headquarters, reduce leases and optimise spaces for services that directly attend to the public's needs, which will be incorporated into this building.

Technological development

The government agreed to contribute 7.5 million euros and take part in the round of calls made by the joint venture ECSEL to execute the "Joint technological initiative on electronic components and systems for European leadership" (ECSEL Initiative), co-financed by the European Union

The Vice-President of the Government highlighted that this initiative is a European Commission project in place until the year 2024. Its goal is "to strengthen industrial research and innovation". To carry this out, the joint venture ECSEL was set up, which grants subsidies to R&D projects chosen through open rounds of calls awarded on a competitive basis.

Current affairs

Pool Moncloa / J.M.CuadradoWhen asked about the round of contacts and talks to form a government following the elections held on 26 June, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría stressed that it is the government's intention to form "a stable government, with broad parliamentary support", "as soon as possible", "made up of the People's Party and headed up by Mariano Rajoy".

To that end, she added, the acting President of the Government will propose negotiations with "all the political groups", and hold these "on a serious basis and with maximum rigour, within the constitutional framework and with clear national goals". Among these, she mentioned European policy, growth, job creation, institutional strength and terrorism.