Spain and Portugal strengthen their bilateral relationship with a broad common agenda

Bilateral meeting between the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Spain, José Manuel Albares, and Portugal, Paulo Rangel

The Spanish and Portuguese ministers for foreign affairs, José Manuel Albares and Paulo Rangel, have held the first bilateral meeting in Madrid since the formation of the new Portuguese government. Albares and Rangel met briefly at the NATO Ministerial meeting in Brussels and at the Foreign Affairs Council in April.

The two ministers noted the excellent state of bilateral relations between the two countries, structured through annual bilateral summits, the Spanish-Portuguese Parliamentary Forum and the follow-up meetings to the Valencia Treaty on Cross-Border Cooperation.

Albares and Rangel have agreed to begin preparations for the 35th Bilateral Summit, to be held in October, as well as to identify projects of mutual interest on which to move forward. This is the case of the bridge over the Sever river between Cedillo (Cáceres) and Nisa (Alentejo); high-speed rail connections; and road connections. There are also two important energy interconnection projects: the electricity connection between Fontefría, in Ourense, and Vila Fría, in northern Portugal; and the connection of the Iberian Market with the rest of the European Union via France.

At the meeting, the two ministers discussed current issues. On the Middle East, Albares and Rangel agree on the need to achieve an immediate ceasefire, the need for the unconditional release of hostages and the opening of new border crossings to facilitate humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation has asked the Portuguese government to renew its support for the international consensus on the convening of the international peace conference that will allow progress to be made in the implementation of the two-state solution. The Spanish initiative is already supported by more than 80 states, including the 27 EU member states, the League of Arab States and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Albares and Rangel also agree on the need to maintain support for Ukraine and President Zelenskyy's peace formula in the face of Russian aggression. The two ministers note with concern the increase in Russian interference in Africa, which translates into more instability in countries such as Mozambique, where Portugal is leading the European military assistance mission, and the Sahel, where new formulas for security cooperation need to be sought.

Cultural relations

The Spanish and Portuguese foreign ministers took advantage of the meeting to analyse cooperation in cultural matters. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, the Council of Ministers declassified three telegrams from 1974 that reflect the Franco regime's reaction to the peaceful end of the dictatorship in the neighbouring country.

Spain and Portugal are also preparing to host the 2030 World Cup, which will have three venues: Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Non official translation