Mariano Rajoy states that Spain will maintain a "constructive and positive" approach towards refugees in the EU

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

At the press briefing offered by Mariano Rajoy and David Cameron following their meeting, the President of the Spanish Government explained that asylum and immigration were among the main issues of their meeting, the second they have held at Moncloa Palace.

Mariano Rajoy underlined that more than 10% of those working in Spain are foreigners - without including those with dual nationality - and that the vast majority of them are integrated and contribute to the country's progress. "Hence, we are well aware of this issue", he said.

The President of the Government added that in this area Spain has also suffered from "tragic situations and events", such as those we are seeing at this time across the European Union", with images "that are bound to affect any human being and that force us to take decisions and do so as effectively as possible". In his opinion, this is the most important challenge that will face Europe in the coming years.

Asylum, a moral duty

Pool MoncloaAs regards asylum, he stressed that "Europe cannot renounce any of the methods of granting asylum to those people that are entitled to this under international law", since this forms part of "our acquis as Europeans", and it is "a moral duty". Spain's position in this area will be "constructive and positive", and all those who ask for asylum and are entitled to this will be attended to, and we will work with other European Union countries to resolve this problem", he declared.

Mariano Rajoy distinguished between asylum and unlawful immigration on economic grounds, in which people trafficking mafias are often involved. This phenomenon must be handled "on a global basis, and the European Union must take decisions". This response must include an economic cooperation plan with the both the countries of origin and those of transit, the fight against these mafias and a return programme such as Spain already has with several countries, he specified,. The goal, he pointed out, is for immigration to be voluntary and legal and "never out of desperation".

The President of the Government also mentioned the creation of an Inter-ministerial Committee, "with the aim of treating asylum and immigration from a global approach and as related problems", and the convening of the Sectoral Commission on Migration to seek a common position prior to the meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the EU on 14 September.

Create half a million jobs per year

Pool MoncloaThe two leaders also tackled the economic situation in their respective countries and in the European Union.

As regards the Spanish economy, Mariano Rajoy summarised the change that has taken place since 2011 and pointed out that just three years ago jobs were being shed at a rate of 9% per annum, whereas now they are being created at a rate of 8%. He also mentioned certain positive figures announced recently, such as the increase in tax revenues, retail trade sales and inbound tourist numbers.

The President of the Government advocated the need to persevere with reformist policies so that the recovery can filter down to "all Spaniards" and so that 500,000 jobs can be created each year. "If we achieve this objective, it will greatly improve the level of well-being and wealth in our country, because more people working means more resources for the State and hence, more public services", he declared.

Reform of the European Union

On another note, the meeting was used to discuss David Cameron's proposals to reform the European Union, as well as his wish to call a referendum on the United Kingdom remaining in the European Union. Mariano Rajoy claimed that it would be "a step backwards" and "something unthinkable" for the United Kingdom not to form part of the EU, and expressed his wish for "this process that has been initiated to culminate with the reaffirmation of the United Kingdom's commitment to the European Union".

Furthermore, the President of the Spanish Government highlighted that David Cameron and he agreed to respect "what must be the main objectives for Europe in the near future", such as improving economic competitiveness, extending the internal market and reaching an agreement on the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

Current affairs

Pool MoncloaWhen asked by journalists about the number of refugees that Spain will take in, Mariano Rajoy highlighted that asylum requests have tripled, that "there are many Syrians who have already been granted or are in the process of being granted the right to asylum in our country" and that "we will meet our commitments with the European Union".

At the upcoming meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council on 14 September, "we will find out exactly what is asked of us", added Mariano Rajoy, who reiterated that "Neither Spain, as I understand any other EU Member State, will deny the right to asylum to anyone due to the very meaning of the right to asylum; we have not done this before and we will not do this now". According to the President of the Government, "we have a very serious problem in this regard with Syria" in this area, "but if we had been capable of resolving the situation in Syria, which is what should have been done, this situation would not have arisen".

As regards the situation in Catalonia, Mariano Rajoy rejected taking part in dialogue on the unity of Spain or national sovereignty because "whatever Spain will be in the future must not and cannot be decided by Mr Mas or by the President of the Government of Spain", but only by the people of Spain as a whole. "I am prepared to talk, and always have been, but for two parties to talk there must be a willingness from both sides to do so", he argued.