​Press conference by President of the Government following European Council meeting

Brussels

President of the Government.- Ladies and gentlemen, a very good evening and thank you very much for attending this press conference.

As you are aware, we have just finished today's European Council meeting a few minutes ago. This Council meeting began in an exceptional manner, whereby we heard the first-hand testimony of the terrible situation in Syria, in the words of the Mayor of Aleppo. He told us of the tremendous suffering of the civilian population and the ongoing problems in evacuating them. It would seem that in the last few hours the population has been able to start leaving the zone, at least partially. I hope that this evacuation can be completed, this time in a safe manner and without any further upheaval.

The European Union has called for an immediate cessation in hostilities, and has called on the Syrian authorities and their allies to allow the safe operation of humanitarian corridors for the distribution of aid and the evacuation of those in the city who are sick or injured.

Full and unhindered access for United Nations personnel and those from other humanitarian organisations must urgently be guaranteed in order to supply basic necessities and urgent medical attention. It is also essential to respect international law in Eastern Aleppo and in the rest of the country, in particular in those areas where there are civilians under siege. Those responsible for the terrible violations of international law that have taken place, some of which may constitute war crimes, must be brought to account.

Moving on, and in relation to Ukraine, a declaration has been adopted which will assuredly resolve the political conflict created by the refusal by the Netherlands to ratify the European Union-Ukraine Association Agreement. This agreement also stresses the EU's commitment to the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

This European Council has paid close attention to the migratory policy of the EU. It specifically focused on the foreign aspect of this policy which, as you are aware, Spain has always considered to be the most important. We have always advocated, and will continue to do so, that the only way to tackle the migratory challenge in a responsible and effective manner is by tackling problems at source. These problems are none other than poverty, desperation and the lack of opportunities.

The High Representative, Federica Mogherini, informed us of the recent progress made in the so-called Partnership Frameworks with five African countries of origin and transit: Senegal, Mali, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Niger. These cooperation programmes between the European Union and Africa, which we actively fostered, seek to boost development, fight mafias and eradicate people trafficking.

Spain welcomes and is grateful for these efforts that have our full support and reflect the strategy we have now been following in our country for several years.

In this spirit, this morning, before the start of the European Council, I took part in a meeting between the President of Niger, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel; the French President, François Hollande, and the new Italian Prime Minister, Paolo Gentiloni. The European Union is setting up programmes to support Niger and we have agreed to continue strengthening this European cooperation, such that all parties contribute to the development of this country and to its capabilities to fight organised criminal gangs.

It is our intention to continue stepping up our cooperation with the countries of origin and transit of migratory flows, create prosperity in these countries and, by doing so, contribute to improving the quality of life of their citizens. That undoubtedly constitutes the most effective way to tackle the challenge of migration.

As regards security, we discussed the internal security of the EU. We observed significant progress in the fight against terrorism and in strengthening our internal security, but the most decisive progress has undoubtedly been made in the area of external security and defence.

I am not exaggerating when I say that we have made a truly qualitative leap in taking on greater European responsibilities in the defence of our own security. We have set the goal of achieving the strategic autonomy of the EU and we agreed to mobilise the resources and civilian capabilities necessary to achieve that. I am referring to the rapid intervention mechanisms, permanent structured cooperation and a European industrial or technological base, among other aspects.

Secondly, and for the very first time, the European Commission has undertaken to mobilise EU funds for research and development programmes in certain areas of security and defence, and to develop joint capabilities. Furthermore, the possibility will be explored of adapting the criteria for loans to be granted by the EIB (European Investment Bank) to the defence sector. This will all be done in coordination with NATO and in a complementary fashion, with which we have agreed on a broad programme of joint actions in the coming months. Henceforth, security and defence issues will also form part of the agenda of these European Councils, starting with those in March and June of 2017.

I would like to point out that these agreements come, to a large extent, as a result of the close collaboration and drive of France, Germany and Spain. These three countries also share the same ambition to achieve greater European integration in this area.

At an economic level, we have continued to boost those initiatives already under way to foster the economic and social development of the European Union. In particular, we have backed the extension of the European Fund for strategic investments until 2020 and increased its resources. This agreement must now be negotiated by the European Parliament.

We reiterated the importance of the single market strategies and placed great emphasis on two which are particularly important for Spain: Energy Union and the Digital Agenda; both of which are key in ensuring the competitiveness of our economy.

We continue to work on initiatives essentially aimed at young people: on the one hand, we strengthened the Youth Employment Initiative, which finances training measures and measures to support jobs for those under the age of 30, and which are scheduled to receive new funding; on the other hand, we support the new initiatives being undertaken by the European Commission such as the European Solidarity Corps for volunteer programmes and stepping up the Erasmus programmes, which may also encompass Vocational Training programmes.

All of these initiatives help foster growth and job creation, and hence, they are very positive in ensuring that the EU is a source of prosperity and economic well-being for all our citizens.

I also believe that now, and I said this to my colleagues, we can go a step further and gradually move towards greater integration of the Economic and Monetary Union. To this end, , at the Council meeting, we underlined the need to complete Banking Union, complying with the roadmap agreed in June; that is, to adopt measures to reduce risks in the financial sector while simultaneously working to establish a European deposit guarantee system.

And once the European Council was over, we met, this time the 27 of us, without the presence of the British Prime Minister, to coordinate our position on the process to negotiate the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. We focused on the procedure and the institutional structure we will adopt in the negotiations. This structure must reflect the unity of the 27 Member States, the fundamental principles that we adopted after the European Council in June and defend the European integration project.

We will not talk about the content of the negotiations until the United Kingdom formally notifies its intention to withdraw from the European Union, which will take place, as reiterated by the British Prime Minister today, in the first quarter of next year. When that takes place, the European Council will adopt some general guidelines that will serve as a roadmap for negotiations that the Commission will undertake through its negotiator, Michael Barnier, who was in Madrid not long ago, although always under the supervision of the European Council.

Allow me to make another remark, although not related to today's European Council. I wish to congratulate the Spanish negotiators who this week managed to reach a wonderful agreement on the distribution of fishing quotas for next year. They have managed to improve the initial proposal made by the European Commission by more than 40,000 tonnes, with an economic value of 44 million euros. The agreement improves, above all, catches of horse mackerel, anchovy and Gran Sol hake, the latter with a 10% rise on last year's figures. And to mark this achievement we have had, as you are well aware, a wonderful hake lunch cooked by a magnificent chef from Galicia.

I am ready to take questions. Fire away.

Q.- President of the Government, I wanted to ask you about two domestic issues. First, today in the Lower House…

President of the Government.- Those were domestic as well, weren't they!

Q.- Even more domestic then!. A major obstacle was overcome in the Lower House today: the ceiling on spending was approved. I wanted to know whether you will be counting on these same groups, including the PSOE [Spanish Socialist Workers' Party], to try to push through the Budget.

And yesterday we heard you, at the PP dinner in Madrid, animate your party members for the upcoming elections. Is this a real possibility? Do you envisage holding elections in 2017?

President of the Government.- No; quite frankly, I don't. As I have said on many occasions, what I want is for this legislature to last for the period it is scheduled to, which is four years, unless undesirable events take place. I will work to that end. I believe it is fundamental for Spain to have stability, security and certainty at this time, and hence, I will do whatever is in my hands, whatever is possible and whatever is not, to ensure that this legislature lasts for four years. That is what is serious, what is reasonable and what makes sense. We had quite enough problems after spending 10 months in the complicated situation of operating under a caretaker government. Hence, we don't want that at all.

As regards the vote that took place today, it was indeed on the ceiling on spending, it was the Royal Decree Law on revenue and also the distribution of the budget stability and public debt targets for the next few years. That is important, because we already have the most important issue approved, which is the budget framework: the maximum limit on spending, the revenue we will have available to us and then, what the deficit targets will be, distributed between the different Spanish public authorities.

This was a complex and difficult negotiation. It is normal for it to have been complex and difficult, because this is no mean issue, it is one of the truly important issues, but I believe that it is very positive because, the European institutions, investors and the markets can see that there is an ability in Spain to reach agreements on issues that are truly important , and hence, there is also an ability to meet our commitments with the European institutions.

That is positive. The future, as I said in the Investiture Debate, will need to be won every day. I know that it will not be an easy legislature, but the numbers are what they are, the Spanish people have decided what they have decided , and hence, we all have to bow to their will and try to govern to the benefit of the interests of everyone.

In addition to this agreement approved today, we have set up certain forums - really, they are committees or sub-committees - to tackle important issues that are of concern to the Spanish people, such as pensions, education and gender-based violence. If we are able to reach an agreement, which will last for many years, on these key issues, we will undoubtedly have done a great service to our country as a whole.

Q.- President of the Government, I would like to ask you whether, after everything you have heard from the Mayor of Aleppo at this European Council, the dramatic situation unfolding in his city, you feel that the response offered by the European Council today is sufficiently strong, above all, on the role being played by Russia in this conflict as a whole.

A second question. I would like to know whether today, finally, you can say that you have eaten well at a European Council in Brussels.

President of the Government.- Well… I must say on this matter that today we have truly eaten very well. In reality this was an idea, a very good idea, by the Portuguese Prime Minister, who proposed it to me not long ago and I seized upon it immediately. Spain and Portugal joined the European Union, as you all know, 30 years ago. That is a good date. I believe these have been good years for our country - I will fundamentally talk about for Spain, but they have also been good for Portugal.

We have joined up to an area where there is democracy, liberty, human rights and where we all know where we came from. We have joined Europe, we have opened up to the world and we have probably lived through the longest period of greatest progress ever, in terms of wealth and well-being, in our country, although we have had a crisis to deal with and many other things. But, with all that, our membership of the European Union has undoubtedly been one of the best periods for our country.

Hence, it was very important, so then we decided that we should do something that is purely symbolic, which consisted of organising a lunch and inviting a Portuguese chef and a Spanish chef because, as you know, we have first-class chefs and I believe that it is important that people in Europe can see this as well. Aside from that, you can eat well all over the place.

In relation to your first question, it is a good one. In reality, the situation we are seeing in Syria, and more specifically in Aleppo, recently, is mortifying. It is more than enough just to see the images being shown on our televisions every day. This is truly one of the most dramatic things we have seen in recent times, first, because even children are dying, because the civilian population is being bombed and because, then, obstacles and impediments are raised to stop aid or medical help reaching them. That is mortifying.

The problem of what you are asking is, as always, the alternative to what is proposed. At this time, almost all of the humanitarian aid that reaches Syria, I will not say 100%, because that is perhaps not exactly correct ,but practically all of the humanitarian aid comes from the European Union and I believe that the statement made today is a sufficiently strong statement.

We have demanded that all civilians be evacuated under the scrutiny of the United Nations, and for no-one to prevent this. We have stated that international aid and the immediate and unconditional protection of all of the inhabitants is a demand under the minimum standards of decency and humanity. We have demanded protection for all medical staff and installations throughout the country. We have demanded the application of international law. We have said that those responsible for violations of international law, some of which may constitute war crimes, must be held accountable and, of course, the European Union will not desist from using any option available, although it seems to us at this time that the most sensible and best option is to hold political talks and, prior to that, and indeed even more urgently, a ceasefire and to provide care for all those people - these innocent victims - medical care, humanitarian aid, food, clothing, etc. That is the priority and then to start political negotiations.

Q.- President of the Government, the last legislature was marked, firstly, by the economic situation, and then, by the year in which we saw a caretaker Government of Spain which here, in Brussels, in some way was interpreted as a lack of a certain weight within Europe. I would like to know if you wanted, in some way, to try and ensure that Spain returned to this forefront of Europe in the next few years, recovering, for example, a significant position from among the European institutions.

A second question, on a domestic front. I would like to know what consideration the criticism aimed at your Vice-President of the Government, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, from FAES [Foundation for Analysis and Social Foundation] deserves.

President of the Government.- No comment on this second issue.

In relation to this first issue, it is true that the last term of office was extremely complicated for us. We went through the worst economic crisis that Spain has suffered in decades. Just look, we had five years of negative economic growth. That had never happened before. We had seen a loss of growth in isolated years, but the following year this growth was recovered. On this occasion we suffered five years of negative growth and during that time we lost 10% of the Spanish Gross Domestic Product, that is, of our wealth and well-being, which is easy enough to say. It was a tough, difficult and complicated term of office, but the upside is that it was effective, and by 2014, there was growth and in 2015 and 2016 we saw more growth than any other country in Europe.

I am now going to mention just two issues that are very important. The first, immigration policy on economic grounds, which, as you know, is one of the issues that deserves the greatest attention from the European Union at this time, is exactly what Spain has been proposing for a long time now, proposing and indeed putting into practice. Everything that was done in Malta to set up a fund for the African Union and all those agreements being reached by Federica Mogherini, which I obviously applaud and welcome, are the consequence of the tenacity of many people, of many Spanish citizens, who tried to convey that this was the best procedure for resolving the problem, that the problem was at source and that the key was to help those countries where people hailed from because there is no other solution except their development and ensuring that they have certain reasonable levels of well-being and wealth. Once that is done, we will be able to avoid problems.

This is a difficult and complicated battle, we duly waged this battle, and steps are being taken in the right direction and we have agreed, by the way, that in Malta, in February 2017, we will talk about this issue once again.

And there is another very important issue which is economic policy. We have fought to undertake structural reforms; we have made significant contributions to the document drafted by the Five Presidents; we have been at the very forefront of the matter of the Banking Union; we have now made proposals about the Fiscal Union and we have even spoken about Political Union. We are going to see how this develops in the future. But I would like to stress that many of the proposals made by the Government of Spain have indeed been taken on in the end.

What do we want to do over the course of this legislature? Clearly we are going to continue to tackle what remains the main national goal, which is economic growth and job creation. But, of course, Spain will be, as it is already being… I spoke to you earlier about defence policy and today, regarding immigration - we were there, four European Union countries, that are going to help Niger - and we are going to continue battling on those issues that are real for Europe.

We need to talk, on the one hand, about integration, about creating a more integrated framework within the European Union, but then you have the real problems, which remain the same as ever: growth and job creation, above all youth employment, another of the issues on which Spain gave battle and accordingly, as you are aware, the Youth Guarantee was set up. That is the line that we are going to work on to try, from Spain and from Europe, to help resolve the problems affecting everyone.

Q.- NATO is strongly insisting, more so with the new administration in the United States, on increasing military spending and now, also at this summit, there was talk about a European defence policy, about creating capabilities that possibly also require new resources. Would Spain be prepared to increase its defence resources?

President of the Government.- Spain has certain commitments that we took on at the NATO Summit in Cardiff, which took place in this Welsh city in Great Britain, two years ago. These are our commitments and hence they have not been modified subsequently.

Yes, Spain is absolutely in favour of Europe stepping up its defence policy; it is also in favour of Europe having, because this is absolutely compatible, its defence policy linked to NATO and it is in favour of uniting efforts to spend funds better. One of the things that can be done, and which we are going to do, is reach agreements and pool together the resources we have in order not to all undertake the same spending. It makes no sense for all of us to have certain defence instruments, thus leading to a surplus, and yet that there are other types of instruments that none of us have. The coordination of defence policies in EU countries, uniting efforts and negotiating and deciding what each one of us must do, will undoubtedly be a very important step in improving the defence of our region by the European Union.

Q.- The Regional Government of Catalonia and its partners have insisted on a referendum being held; they want to hold this and they will roll out the ballot boxes to do so during the course of this year. I wanted to know whether you believe that dialogue makes sense in these circumstances and whether something can be achieved, or whether you can guarantee that the referendum will not be held in Catalonia.

President of the Government.- Dialogue always makes sense, provided that no-one gives way on what they must not give way on. The rulings handed down by the Constitutional Court must always be upheld and those responsible for the Regional Government of Catalonia are absolutely aware that they are under an obligation to uphold the law, and I urge them to renounce, once and for all, this ongoing strategy of defiance, because it won't lead anywhere.

The other day I clearly stated in the Upper House that there are many things that we can speak about, that we can build together, but obviously the only thing that cannot be done is what those leaders, or some of those leaders, politicians in Catalonia, have done, because they know that the Government of Spain won't accept this under any circumstance because it doesn't want to but also because it cannot, because any decision on Spain falls to the people of Spain and not to just some of them.

Q.- Still on the same subject, and since you are going to call the Conference of Regional Presidents in January, I wanted to know if you have called Mr Puigdemont in the last few days to invite him, or whether he has called you, and if you have planned to meet up with him before Christmas.

President of the Government.- Mr Puigdemont knows, because I have told him, that I am willing to sit down and talk with him

Q.- The voting that has taken place today, in the Lower House, the importance of which you have highlighted, has prospered with support from different parties. I wanted to know whether this is a situation you are comfortable with, and whether you believe that you can guarantee a stable government at any given time, by pushing through some measures with the support of one group and other measures with other groups. For example, Ciudadanos is a party that has a pact that facilitated your investiture, and yet, it hasn't backed all of the government's measures.

President of the Government.- You have answered your own question. We stood for the investiture with an agreement with Ciudadanos, an agreement with 150 measures to implement during the course of the legislature, and another with the Canary Island Coalition, as well as some pre-election pacts that we had made with other political forces such as the PAR [Party of Aragon], Unión del Pueblo Navarro [Union of the People of Navarre] and Foro Asturias [Asturias Forum].

Hence, we signed an agreement with Ciudadanos and logically, we will habitually govern with them, because there are a great many issues on which we are in agreement which is why they voted for us at the investiture session. Now, you know that, during these months as a caretaker government and since we held the first round of elections back on 20 December, I have been saying that the best thing for Spain in a situation like this, for a great many reasons, was an agreement between the three parties. I defended it after December 20, I defended it after June 26 but it has not been possible. I clearly still believe that this would have been the best option, but I also hope to be able to reach an understanding with the Socialist Party, above all on issues that are of great concern to the Spanish people, because they are important - earlier I mentioned pensions and education - and that this understanding would give rise to an agreement that would last for many years and hence we would be able to provide many of our citizens with security, certainty and tranquillity.

I am not going to renounce that. The agreement I have with Ciudadanos and with the Canary Islands Coalition, who backed me in the vote of confidence, will be respected, but this is an open government, because the circumstances so required and, moreover, because I believe that it is good to make agreements with those who wish to reach an understanding.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to go. Thank you very much.