Press conference by the President of the Government after the G-20 Summit

Antalya (Turkey)

President of the Government: Ladies and gentlemen, a very good afternoon and thank you very much for being here.

My aim is to briefly report on the agreements adopted at the G-20 meeting, which was held yesterday and today here in Antalya and on Spain's contribution to the debates.

On the economy, the members of the G-20 have recognised that some of the risks for the global economy remain, among them the slowdown taking place in certain emerging economies, as well as the volatility of the markets and some risks that remain with respect to the financial systems. For these reasons, the members of the G-20 have reaffirmed our commitment to increasingly strong, sustainable and balanced growth.

The G-20 recognises that a solid and credible fiscal policy must be applied, which maintains price stability and allows a sustainable ratio of public debt to GDP; but in addition, we must try to promote more investment to achieve improved competitiveness.

In Spain, once the economic situation has stabilised, our forecasts suggest that public debt to GDP will begin to lower starting next year. At the same time, we have supported investment and competitiveness with structural reforms and tax cuts when we have a margin in the budget. This is also the basis for the sound growth of the Spanish economy today, which as you know is far above the average of Europe.

Spain has met the targets set in the G-20 Action Plan and we maintain our commitment to policies we consider essential to achieve an additional increase in global growth of at least 2% until 2018.

In the area of employment, the G-20 accepts it must increase the amount and quality of jobs to reduce inequality. For this, policies have to be applied that promote growth. This is also a priority for the Government of Spain. In 2014 and 2015 we have created one million jobs in Spain and we are working with the target of achieving a rate of creation of half a million new jobs over the next four years; half a million new jobs in 2016, and also in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Perhaps the newest aspect with practical effects at this G-20 was the debate on measures to strengthen the economy; a debate at which I was invited to present the Spanish experience. I was able to explain how the situation of Spanish banks has changed from being damaged and with problems of solvency to the achievement of very good results in the stress tests applied for Banking Union. This restructuring process has been passed on quickly to the volume of finance available for private agents, as well as interest rates. Today credit is increasing in Spain and the interest rates are, fortunately, falling, which as is easy to understand, is very positive for the economy, for investment and thus for job creation.

I was also invited to explain the Spanish position on the fight against tax evasion and erosion, an issue on which our country has played a leading role at a European level. For example, we will be among the first countries in the world to adopt the automatic and standardised exchange of tax information at a global scale, planned for 2017.

In addition, all the progress made in the fight against fraud and tax evasion allows us to extend the margins for continuing with the policy of tax cuts that have so many benefits in terms of growth, welfare and jobs. In this government's term in office to June 2015, the measures in the fight against fraud have been very effective; they have allowed us to increase tax revenues by 40 billion euros, nearly twice the amount we will spend next year on the fight against unemployment, and to bring to light hidden taxable income of 120 billion euros.

On another point, and although they are not the normal issues for discussion within the G-20, in Antalya we discussed two additional subjects of importance. First, we tried to deal with the issue of climate change, in which Spain agrees with the European position that we have to reach a good agreement in the Paris Conference on Climate Change starting on November 30. At the meeting we supported the French Government as host and as President of the Paris Conference, to ensure the conference is a success; in other words, to achieve a high level of commitment and ambition by all countries. I am referring to everything involving reducing emissions, but also financing the policies necessary to do so.

A few weeks ago in Lima we reaffirmed the commitment to mobilise 100 billion dollars per year starting in 2020 from developed countries to developing and emerging countries. These funds will be allocated to mitigation and adaptation actions designed to achieve the Climate Goals.

In this Government's term in office, Spain has contributed 1.4 billion euros to the fight against climate change, twice the figure of the previous government, and in programmes in less developed countries. And at the last Council of Ministers we committed 120 million euros to the Green Climate Fund. For the Paris Summit, I think that we will be able to announce shortly that we are going to commit a bigger volume of aid starting in 2020.

In addition, as I told you yesterday, a statement was approved firmly condemning terrorism and offering condolences for the victims of the attacks in Paris; a text in which all the countries have shown our determination to fight this scourge with a united front.
I would like to highlight the mention of the victims in the text. I would also like to note that the statement clearly declares that there is no justification of any kind for terrorism. None: not ideology, not religion, not ethnicity; no justification whatsoever. No-one can support the atrocities we have seen these days in Paris and before them in other parts of the world.

All means of international cooperation are important: to tackle terrorist networks of funding, to fight against the phenomenon of radicalisation in each of our countries, paying particular attention to the phenomenon of foreign fighters and maintaining a fluid and constant exchange of information between friendly countries and partners. All these are aspects on which Spain has been working for years, as you know. We have been supporting them in the European Union and in all the forums where we debate this issue, which is one of the biggest challenges that we have to face anywhere in the world.

In short, I am very satisfied with this summit. I believe that it has been an intense and productive meeting. Spain has presented a track record backed by results, a commitment to economic policies that allow a consolidation of the recovery in our country and the rest of the world, and a more inclusive model of development, based on strong job creation. I believe that this has also been a very interesting forum for making clear the enormous task that Spanish society has undertaken over recent years, and that today everyone praises and recognises.

I am now available for any questions you may have.

Q: Mr President of the Government, we understand that at yesterday's dinner there were also contacts between the various world leaders. They talked about the need or appropriateness of stepping up air strikes on the enclaves of the Islamic State in Syria. I don't know if you were asked to state your position, to support this action at a key moment. If that is so, under what conditions? What is Spain's position?

President of the Government: At yesterday's dinner no-one talked about stepping up air strikes on Syria, and I was there for the whole dinner.

Really, the situation in Syria, as you know, is very complex and the first thing you need is an agreement between the whole international community, an agreement that has not taken place yet, and that is what I asked at yesterday's dinner. I said that in my opinion, as of today, the key priority in the fight against terrorism is to resolve the problem of Syria and the first priority for resolving the problem of refugees is also to solve the issue of Syria.

Then there are many other priorities, there are many problems with terrorism in other parts of the world and there are problems with refugees in Eritrea as well; but today, both the problem of DAESH and the problem of refugees - and it's enough to see what we are seeing every day across Europe - need the issue of Syria to be resolved. The other day there was also a meeting in Vienna and I believe that some steps were taken in the right direction, but the important thing is that work continues to be done.

The priority is that today we are all united against the real enemy, which is DAESH terrorism; and then at the same time or later, we will resolve the other problems that Syria or any other country has. But the basic priority - and in life if we can't set priorities we're going to have problems - is to fight DAESH, and fundamentally in Syria.

Q: Mr President of the Government, so far under this Government, 171 Jihadi terrorists have been arrested by the police in Spain, nearly 70 so far this year; in some cases, according to the police, there may have been an imminent attack in our country. Following the Paris attacks, have the French police asked for any specific information from the records of those on whom information is kept by the Spanish police? That's one question.

Then, second, will the security level be increased? We are now at level 4 in Spain; has the possibility been discussed of increasing this to level 5, the maximum security level in Spain?

President of the Government: Yes, in Spain we have arrested many Jihadis over recent years, particularly in this last year. And the fact is that the Spanish Police, the Guardia Civil and the intelligence services are something that we have to feel very proud of in our country. Sometimes we don't value what we have while we value other different things.

I believe that Spain has a proven track-record in the fight against terrorism, although no-one can be sure that things such as we have seen recently will not occur, and we have professionals we should support with all our might, as we do.

With respect to if there were records, there weren't records, if they had talked... I won't go into this, because it's not right that the President of the Government is saying what is happening with the police records, or what is the relationship between the information services of one country and another. The only thing that I can tell you about this issue at this time is that a coordinating committee meets every day in Spain to monitor the situation, that we have direct and constant contact with the French authorities and that we have been dealing with everything that the French authorities have asked of us, and that at the request of France, border controls have been tightened and these controls are being carried out with mixed Spanish-French patrols.

This is what I can tell you at this point in time and you have to understand that I can't say much more because the fight against terrorism is not something that should be broadcast every minute, because that goes against the effectiveness of the fight against terrorism.

Q: Mr President of the Government, I'd like to know if when you return to Spain today, you will call the political leaders for a meeting again to try to extend the anti-Jihadi Pact. Some political leaders have already announced themselves prepared to join the Pact. Would you like the Pact formed by the government, the PP and PSOE to be more extensive? Are you going to try to add new parties over the next few days?

President of the Government: I am prepared for anyone who wants to join the anti-Jihadi pact; it would be absurd if we weren't prepared. If the Government of Spain, the People's Party and the Socialist Party have signed a pact against Jihadism it is because we believed it was right. At the time no-one else wanted to join; now, we will be delighted for anyone who wants to join to do so.

What is important is that we act prudently in these issues. I believe that things are being done as they have to be but I believe that this is not the time to propose something every day, then make the contrary proposal and one more for luck. Things are being done well. I have promised to inform the various political parties, but I think that we have to deal with the fundamental issue and not what is less fundamental; and what is fundamental is to fight terrorism effectively, and at this present time to be with those who have been hit so hard and dramatically, as has happened to the French.

Q: The British Prime Minister has said that over the last six months there have been at least half a dozen attacks that the United Kingdom has foiled with arrests. I would like to ask you about the arrests in Spain, and if as far as you are aware from the information you have available, attacks of the same nature as those in Paris were being planned.

A second question is how to explain to the citizens that if the priority is Syria at the moment, both in terms of terrorism and the refugees, how is it possible that you have not reached an agreement in these two days. Where do you see the differences? How is it that France does consider it necessary to attack, but other countries in the European Union do not, Russia...? Could you explain how things stand in this respect?

President of the Government: Well, it's difficult to explain, because the situation in Syria is not a situation that arose last week. We have been in a situation of enormous complexity for a long time, one of great difficulty. DAESH controls part of the territory and there is another type of problem that is different there, although as I said before, I repeat, the most important thing and the main enemy, one on which everyone agrees, is DAESH. Starting now, what has to be done is to make a diplomatic effort to resolve this problem as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, there are many examples in the history of humanity, even now, of problems that begin to fester, and there are some that have been on everyone's mind for some time. I hope that this one does not begin to fester, because I repeat - and this is the basic idea that I presented at the dinner yesterday - if we want to resolve these problems, we have to prioritise. That's where the key lies.

With respect to the other problem, there have been many arrests in Spain. On the question of terrorism, there's no point in issuing grandiloquent declarations or saying what we have avoided, what we can't avoid and what will or will not happen. The only thing I can say is what I said before to your colleague: the effectiveness of the State law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism, and of the intelligence services, is tried and tested, and I have total, absolute and full confidence in them.

Q: Returning to the subject of Syria, Mr President of the Government, which as you yourself say is key, today the Minister, Jorge Fernández, said in Barcelona - and I'm not sure what the context was; perhaps it was in answer to a question, but I would like to ask you - that Spain would act in Syria under the conditions that we already know, with the mandate of the UN and with the backing of the Lower House of Parliament. What I wanted to ask is: if there were an agreement, as we are talking about now, among the countries that are fundamental to this conflict, would Spain participate under these conditions?

And I would like to know if there is anything new about the subject of the identities, which we asked about yesterday; the identities of the Spanish victims.

President of the Government: I have no news with respect to the identities.

Yes, I've heard many things this morning. Some people say we should participate with NATO in the operations in Syria, some have said the opposite, there are those who want to create a Council for Peace... The only thing that I ask for regarding this issue is that we should be aware that this is a very serious issue, that things have to be thought through, that they have to be coordinated, and very well, with the allies, and that the fewer opinions we give on this matter, the better.

I would also like to say that we are a member of the international coalition against DAESH; and I would like to say that we are present in Iraq with 300 soldiers who are helping to train the Iraqi army; and that we are acting against DAESH there; and I would like to say that as you could see yesterday, we are part of a NATO mission to defend a partner, Turkey, who may be attacked by DAESH. That is why we are present in Adana, where all of you were yesterday.

So we are participating in the coalition; in some places we are more involved, in others less so, but this has to be coordinated. France, obviously, is now in Syria but there are many other countries that are not. We are present in Mali, and we are, as I said, in Iraq, and we are in Djibouti, while there are other countries that are not present there.

What is important here is to think things through well, not to say things for the sake of saying them, and to keep in mind the opinion of our allies and coordinate with them. This is what we have to do, and terrorism is not an issue for creating major public debate about whether we are going to do such a thing in such a situation... No, what we have to be is effective, we have to be serious, and I insist: things must be considered, decisions must be taken and both in Turkey against DAESH and in Iraq against DAESH, we have the support and backing of the immense majority of the national Parliament. So let's do these things well and let's try to move forward together.

Q: Mr President of the Government, forgive me for going into more detail about this. I would like to ask whether you miss greater cooperation between the United States and Russia, precisely for this global agreement that you are all asking for, all the leaders are asking for, but it appears it's not going to emerge.

And if you will allow me a domestic policy question on Catalonia, we haven't heard you speak about the Catalan issue for some days, after the elections. How do you see the whole negotiation process for the investiture of Artur Mas and the real possibility that there may be more elections now in Catalonia?

President of the Government: I don't know if there's much sense in me repeating what I've said ad nauseam. Today we have learned the opinion of a member of the Regional Government of Catalonia who said that it was impossible to reach an understanding with certain political parties.

What I mean to say is that everything that is happening there makes no sense, that I expect things to return to normal, and that really, any decision adopted, a coalition with the CUP or new elections; all of them are bad decisions. A Government between Convergència i Unió, which is a right-wing party, and CUP makes no sense. But to hold elections again, the fourth in five years, I wonder if it makes even less sense.

Really, what I say is that as President of the Government, in no case am I going to accept, as no Spanish person is going to accept, because it's our duty, that we abolish unilaterally or aim to abolish the unity of Spain and aim to take away from the Spanish people their right to an opinion about what they want their country to be, or try to oblige the Catalans to choose between being Catalan or being Spanish and European. All this is a situation that we should never have arrived at and those responsible are, basically, those who took the steps that led us here.

With respect to the other issue, it's nothing new that in international relations we don't always agree; what's more, what would be news is if we did.

International relations have been constructed little by little, with a great deal of difficulty, with a great many problems. I believe that the world is better now, despite all these difficulties, than it was a few years ago; but it is clear that here we have a problem that should unite us all, because you have to deal with the major issues above any other consideration.

In other words, the basic priority is defence of life, liberty and the fundamental rights of the citizens, and this must unite all decent people. So what we cannot do is distract ourselves with things that are important, but less so.

Thank you very much.