Speech by President of the Government at plenary session of Central American Integration System (SICA)-Spain Summit

Guatemala City (Guatemala)

A very good day to you all; Presidents, ministers, dear friends,

Firstly I would once again like to thank President Pérez Molina for his invitation to hold this SICA-Spain Summit. I also want to express my gratitude, Mr President, for the hospitality and warmth with which we have been received by Guatemala and its people. My thanks also go out to all the countries that make up the SICA and to its Secretary General for his extraordinary disposition to attend this summit. For me it is an honour to take part in this meeting with you all.

Many countries have undergone profound changes in recent decades, but in the region of Central America these changes have been extraordinary. Peace and democratic consolidation have transformed the horizon and now underlie the objectives of the member nations of SICA. That is why this summit is a wonderful opportunity for Spain to check the pulse of the region and see first-hand the main challenges and objectives. Above all I have come here to listen.

There are many areas that we could have tackled, but between us all we have identified three issues that I will refer to briefly.

As the top political leaders in our respective countries, Central American integration poses a double challenge. The first is to step up the integration process, adopting the appropriate decisions and policies, even if this may cause problems. Meanwhile, integration must lead to tangible results, respond to the problems facing our societies and facilitate the means for our citizens to overcome them more quickly and more effectively. In short, integration must be an attractive and practical process in which our citizens play the central role and are also the main beneficiaries.

The cornerstone of Central American integration is economic integration, taking steps towards the creation of a Central American common market in which the free movement of people, goods and services become a reality. The European Union-Central America Association Agreement is designed to contribute to this end. We must ensure that we harness all the opportunities offered by the trade agreement, which is already in force, and with this in mind we have organised the Spain-SICA Business Forum, as we were reminded of by President Pérez Molina in his opening speech, which is being held in parallel to this summit. This forum will also allow us to identify specific actions to step up our trade relations, both among SICA business leaders and between our two regions.

The European Union also has Central America very high in its list of projects. I would encourage you all to attend the European Union-CLACS (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Summit in June in Brussels. Spain is your leading advocate in Europe, but you are the ones best placed to explain your situation, your needs and your future projects. Maintaining a fluid relationship with the European Union, both bilaterally and regionally, can only be for everyone's benefit. And I would like to say to you that Spain will continue to enthusiastically commit to strong and fruitful relations with considerable conviction.

Progress also needs to be made on physical integration, in improving infrastructures and in Central American interconnectivity. Processes need to be harmonised and the most effective system of management studied. There are great opportunities in the region thanks to its geographic situation, as a bridge between two sub-continents and between two oceans. In this regard, I believe that it would be positive to hold a meeting of Spain-SICA Public Works Ministers, with the aim of seeking the appropriate instruments to help improve levels of efficiency and competitiveness in the region.

Thirdly, we decided to tackle - and this is a key issue - the security situation in the region. Security is an inalienable right for Central American citizens as it is for the rest of the world. If States have an obligation it is to guarantee the rights and liberties of their citizens. I believe that we must recover the spirit of the Guatemala Conference that launched the Central American Security Strategy (Spanish acronym: ESCA) in 2011 and give it a new political boost. That is why we support the initiative of the Pro-Tempore Presidency of Guatemala to shortly hold a new meeting of the Group of Friends of ESCA in this very place.

We all know that ESCA has had to face certain difficulties. It must be more operational and the international community must be more effective in its commitments to help. I sincerely believe that no more studies or diagnostics are necessary. What are needed are projects with a real impact, both in terms of prevention and in strengthening the institutional capacities regarding the fight against crime, particularly in terms of judges, prosecutors and the police.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In a globalised world, where risks and needs almost always prevail - I was going to say often, but I will say almost always - over national capabilities, we need to join forces because it this an issue that affects us all. We are seeing this in Europe right now. I will give you an example because I believe that it is very important in this regard. Does anyone think that any individual European nation will fight alone and effectively against Jihadi terrorism? That, quite simply, is not possible. They can attack anywhere, 150 kilometres away, in one country or in another. If we don't make an effort on this matter, as is necessary in all matters, and above all in the world in which we live, but above all on security issues, I believe that we will not be meeting the main obligation of a State which, as I said before, is to guarantee the rights and liberties of our citizens.

I believe that we need to look for synergies and we need to harness initiatives, such as the Action Plan of the European Union's Strategy on Citizen Security in Central America and the Caribbean, which will be presented at the aforementioned European Union-CLACS Summit in July,

Along the same lines of joining forces and harnessing all these initiatives, we support the creation of a mechanism to exchange information swiftly and effectively between the Ibero-American General Secretariat (Spanish acronym: SEGIB) and the SICA Secretariat. In this way, the actions of the two organisations will be coordinated on those policies on which they agree.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Spain wanted to be present, with your support, in the three areas I have referred to and it has done so through the tools available to us on each occasion, which have not always been the same. Even in the worst times for our own country we have been here or at least tried to be here.

This joint effort has led to tangible results and I believe that we must continue to drive these efforts forward. Relations between Spain and Central America are based on respect and on the mutual appreciation of our peoples, and on mutual support in tough times. Now, in better circumstances, these relations continue to be drawn closer. Spain is decisive in its wish to be here, to listen and to dialogue to build a prosperous future together.

I will always support any integration process, because I am convinced that in the way the world is going - I don't know when or on which issues - everyone will end up integrating. And today there are a great many battles that it is impossible to win on your own, and not even the largest countries in the world can go it alone.

Thank you very much.