Mariano Rajoy stresses that Spain will meet deficit target

New York

In response to questions from the press, the President of the Government referred to the warnings from the European Commission about the Spanish public accounts for 2016. In this regard, Mariano Rajoy claimed that "Spain will not miss the deficit target".

The President of the Government explained that "Spain has recovered economic activity, Spain has recovered jobs and this has all led to increased revenue, and hence, we can and will meet the deficit target". For that reason, I am very calm, as indeed are the Spanish people, in knowing that we will meet the deficit target".

Mariano Rajoy recalled that, since he came to power, "we have always met the deficit target", and added that the European Commission was "probably" thinking "about other times in which we deviated by up to three points".

Spain is growing and creating jobs

Furthermore, Mariano Rajoy underlined that this year the Spanish economy will grow by "more than double" the rate of other major European economies. According to the forecasts from the International Monetary Fund, Europe as a whole will grow this year by 1.5%, whereas Spain, in contrast, will grow by 3.1%".

The President of the Government also pointed out that Spain is the EU country that is creating the most jobs. "I believe that in the next four years, unless we change economic policy, we can create some 2 million jobs at a rate of half a million a year".

UN debate on Women, Peace and Security

The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, has travelled to New York to chair the Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security that starts on Tuesday within the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the United Nations Security Council. The goal is to approve a review of Resolution 1325 (2000), which principally seeks to "protect women in situations of conflict and also offer them a role, or try to offer them a more important role, in the prevention and resolution of these conflicts". According to the President of the Government, more than 100 countries have asked to take part in the debate, and hence we hope that everything unfolds "in a reasonable manner", and that "this is approved".

Furthermore, the President of the Government indicated Spain's priorities as a member of the United Nations Security Council for the years 2015 and 2016. Firstly, the role of victims in the fight against terrorism. In this regard, he added, worthy of mention is the event that will take place in New York on 21 October, at which victims from several countries will take part including Spain and the United States and those that have suffered at the hands of DAESH and Boko Haram.

The second priority for Spain, pointed out Mariano Rajoy, focuses on humanitarian issues, particularly in relation to Syria. "We wish to pay close attention to ensuring that a humanitarian corridor is created through which help can reach people, and also on the issue of schooling children".

The Middle East is the third priority set by Spain, and fourthly, the improvement in the operation and decision-making of the UN Security Council itself.