Government sets staff numbers for generals, other officers and non-commissioned officers in the Armed Forces for the period 2017-2021

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The Minister for Education, Culture and Sport and Government Spokesperson, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, reported that the Council of Ministers has set the statutory staff numbers for generals, other officers and non-commissioned officers for the Armed Forces for the period 2017-2021.

Over the course of the four cycles of this four-year period, the number of officers will be gradually reduced to stand at 22,287, made up of 200 generals, 7,970 other officers and 14,117 non-commissioned officers.

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo explained that the Royal Decree approved on Friday represents a reduction in the total number of authorised commanding officers on the current staff and guarantees that the maximum number of generals, other officers and non-commissioned officers will be maintained well below the figure of 50,000 authorised under the Military Career Act.

Comprehensive Strategy on Culture for Everyone

Pool Moncloa/J.M. CuadradoThe Council of Ministers studied a report on the Spanish Comprehensive Strategy on Culture for Everyone, which collates the figures on the activities and services implemented by public bodies and authorities between 2012 and 2014 with the aim of improving access to culture by persons with disabilities.

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo highlighted that the strategy has resulted in the application of 552,433 specific measures at an approximate cost of 47 million euros. Some 2.35 million people have benefitted from this amount.

EU-Canada Agreement

The government approved the Global Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada, on the one hand, and the European Union and its Member States, on the other hand, to be sent for ratification by Parliament.

The Government Spokesperson pointed out that "the aim of this agreement is to increase bilateral trade and investment flows to contribute to economic growth within the Europa 2020 economic strategy, and to improve competitiveness through participation in external, free and fair markets".

The agreement, underlined the minister, "provides for a very significant reduction in customs tariffs, one of the most ambitious seen in this type of agreement: 98.6% of Canadian customs tariffs and 98.7% of European Union tariffs will be eliminated".

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo recalled that the government called for "the steps to reach a similar agreement with MERCOSUR to be speeded up" at the latest European Council, as well as the renewal of the agreement signed with Mexico.

Other agreements

Pool Moncloa/J.M. CuadradoThe government regulated the Annual Regulatory Plan and the Annual Report on Regulatory Evaluation of the General State Administration and set up the board of regulatory planning and evaluation.
Íñigo Méndez de Vigo pointed out that this measure is in line with the recommendations from the European Commission to improve the quality of regulations. "It seeks to avoid regulatory inflation, excessive costs and excessive bureaucracy, which goes hand-in-hand with excessive litigation".

On another note, the government modified the regulation of the Institute of Spain so that the Royal Academy of Economic and Financial Sciences can become a member.

It also set up an inter-administrative committee for the celebration of the 525th anniversary of the discovery of America in Palos de la Frontera (Huelva).

The government also appointed Lieutenant-General Fernando Alejandre Martínez of the army as Chief of the Defence Staff.

General State Budget

The Council of Ministers analysed a report from the Minister for the Treasury and Public Function, Cristóbal Montoro, on the General State Budget for 2017.

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo reiterated that the government intends to present it on Friday, 31 March and is open to "dialogue with the rest of the parliamentary forces" on the various budgetary items.

The minister claimed that the draft complied with the public deficit forecast and ceiling on spending agreed with the European Union and contained in the Stability Programme. He pointed out that the accounts estimate a public deficit of 3.1% of Gross Domestic Product in 2017, real growth of 2.5% and a reduction in the unemployment rate from 19.6% to 17.6% over the course of 2017.

Pool Moncloa/J.M. CuadradoThe Government Spokesperson asserted that "these are prudent estimates" that will allow us to continue down the path of positive economic growth. "We have left the crisis behind, we are on the path of growth and the only thing that could ensure that this continues is a good Budget".

He also highlighted that this year's public accounts provide for a "very significant" Public Employment Offer, which will enable the percentage of temporary workers in the education sector to be lowered. The goal is to drop from 20% at present to 8% within a period of three years. He also highlighted that those regional governments that so wish may call public entry exams for teachers this year.

Terrorism

At the start of his speech at the press briefing following the Council of Ministers, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo expressed the dismay of the government and of Spanish society at the terrorist attack carried out in London on Wednesday. "This is not an isolated incident. The threat of terrorism is global and is directed at society as a whole, at a way of life based on the exercise of individual liberties and democracy".

According to the minister, all the people of Europe "must work together on the fight against terrorism, by stepping up international cooperation and collaboration between the intelligence services".

The Government Spokesperson specified that in Spain, since the counter-terrorism alert level was raised in 2015, 220 Jihadists have been arrested, and stressed that preventive measures are activated and under continual review to adapt to the changing circumstances.

Current affairs

Pool Moncloa/J.M. CuadradoWhen asked about the investigation opened by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Catalonia into the preparations for a referendum in the region, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo argued that "not respecting the law equates to undermining democracy", as has recently been pointed out in a document by "200 leading jurists in Catalonia". The Government Spokesperson insisted that the government's offer to "talk has no deadline, provided it is within the law", something that "we all understand in Spain and beyond our borders".

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo also announced the government's decision to lodge an appeal against the unconstitutional nature of the Budget of the Regional Government of Catalonia, once it has been officially published and after requesting the opinion of the Council of State, for including the funding of a referendum on independence.

As regards the draft Management Plan for the Catalonia River Basin District, drafted by the Regional Government of Catalonia, the minister stressed that it does not include any transfer of water. "At any event, transfers of water cannot be authorised, now or in the future, between different river basins without the approval of Parliament", he pointed out.

In respect of the increase in military spending mentioned on Thursday by the Minister for Defence, María Dolores de Cospedal, on her visit to the United States, the Government Spokesperson recalled Spain's commitment and that of the rest of its European partners to gradually increase their defence budgets until they reach 2% of GDP by the year 2024. Íñigo Méndez de Vigo argued that "liberty requires security", particularly "at this time in which Europe is under the threat of Jihadi terrorism".

The minister reiterated the government's position on the situation of the President of the Regional Government of Murcia, after the PSOE [Spanish Socialist Workers' Party] announced a motion of censure in this region on Friday. "We must act with caution and prudence and must not get ahead of ourselves or rush to make judgements". Íñigo Méndez de Vigo underlined that the President of the Regional Government of Murcia already declared before the investigating judge in an "administrative" case, not a corruption case, and announced that if he is formally charged, then he will resign his post.

The Government Spokesperson pointed out that the Minister for Public Works, Íñigo de la Serna, and the Minister for Employment and Social Security, Fátima Báñez, are continuing to talk with the parliamentary forces to search for an agreement on the reform of the stevedore regime that complies with the ruling handed down by the Court of Justice of the European Union on this matter. Íñigo Méndez de Vigo called for responsibility from the political groups in order to reach this agreement.