​Mariano Rajoy claims that "by the end of this decade, employment levels in Spain" will be "comparable with those of our peer countries"

Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid

The President of the Government claimed that "Spain is a great project", with "an entrepreneurial vocation that is nurturing the future day-after-day". He asserted that "we have the best assets": a well-formed and competitive society, the best infrastructures, a culture that guarantees "our social capital" and "legal certainty such as prevails in the most developed countries".

The President of the Government added that, "We even have the formula that has taken us from the worst crisis in our recent history to a sound recovery in just a few short years".

The main national goals

Mariano Rajoy also defended the reforms carried out in recent years. He pointed out that "a reformist spirit implies not falling into the temptation of going back on one's policies", because "what we have in our hands is as serious as the very future and prosperity of our country". And he stressed that it would be incomprehensible to "sever the roots of our success".

The President of the Government listed what, in his opinion, are the main national goals: to maintain international credibility, reaching levels of wealth last seen before the crisis hit (by 2017, Spanish GDP will return to the levels of 2009) and to recover employment (a great deal of progress has been made since 2014, but "there is still a very long way to go", he added).

Important economic decisions

Pool Moncloa/Diego CrespoAs regards employment, Mariano Rajoy stressed that this remains our "primordial goal", since it is not only a "political and economic" goal, but also a "human and social" goal. He also announced that "if we are capable of doing things well", then by the end of the decade, the employment figures in Spain will be "comparable with those of our peer countries".

The President of the Government announced that the government will present to the Lower House of Parliament some "important" economic decisions in the near future, which "will set the course for this legislature": the ceiling on spending, the budget stability targets and the document that will be submitted to Brussels to explain "how we are going to continue meeting our commitments with our partners". In his opinion, "it would be very positive for the people of Spain as a whole" for these decisions to be endorsed "by a majority of MPs in the Lower House".

Recognition to entrepreneurs

After underlining that "an entrepreneurial spirit builds a country", Mariano Rajoy stressed that this is what "must inspire our policies every day".

He recalled the complicated situation of small- and medium-sized enterprises back in 2011 and added that "the situation now is very different", thanks, among other things, to the "comprehensive policy to support SMEs, independent contractors and entrepreneurs", which unfolded in the last term of office. He explained that this was "a key priority" for the government.

The President of the Government put a high value on "innovative Spain" and praised the values that SMEs, independent contractors and entrepreneurs symbolise - effort, a will to succeed and faith in a project - because these are "the same values we aspire to when it comes to changing the image of Spain that we see reflected in the mirror".

In this regard, Mariano Rajoy also stated that "the recovery we are enjoying cannot be comprehended without the determination and drive of entrepreneurs such as yourselves, nor would it have been possible".

CEPYME 2016 Prizes

Pool Moncloa/Diego CrespoAccording to Mariano Rajoy, the award of the CEPYME Prizes is "an extraordinary event" due to "the category and reputation of the organisation", because "it rewards talent and innovation" and because it acknowledges "the outstanding value" of "the most noteworthy business talent in our country", he stressed.

The award-winners of this year's edition are as follows:

• Recognition of Business Trajectory: Enrique Cornejo
• Independent Contractor of the Year: Laura Salgado Sereno
• SME Technological Innovation: NextLimit
• SME International Development: Libelum Comunicaciones Distribuidas
• SME Job Creation: Habitissimo
• SME Entrepreneurial Project: Eccofreight Transport Services
• SME for Equality: J.P. Media Consultoría y Análisis
• SME for job inclusion of persons with disabilities: Dans Le Noir
• SME of the Year: Idai Nature