"Europe must speak with one clear voice, committed to the values of the European project", says Mariano Rajoy

Valletta (Malta)

During his appearance at the press briefing following the first working session, the President of the Government explained that this session focused on identifying the main areas in which steps should be taken on the European integration process and on pushing through specific measures to the benefit of European citizens.

The leaders reiterated their support for the immigration policy advocated by Spain agreed in November 2015 at another summit also held in Malta. The President of the Government recalled that "the question was to resolve the problem at source", cooperate with those countries that immigrants are leaving behind, jointly fight the mafias that control the borders and facilitate return policies.

Relations with the new United States Administration

The EU leaders reviewed the situation in Ukraine and the way to structure relations between the European Union and the United States. In relation to Ukraine, Mariano Rajoy reported that the leaders maintain that "the Minsk Accords should constitute the basis for a political solution that respects the territorial sovereignty and integrity" of the country.

As regards the United States, the President of the Government stressed that the "European Union wishes to maintain the best possible relations" with the US Administration. "We share principles, values, democracy, liberty, respect for human rights; we have been strategic partners for a long time, and we must continue to be so in the future".

Mariano Rajoy added that the EU proposes identifying areas of common interest on which we can work closely together, such as, for example, the fight against DAESH terrorism.

The President of the Government also underlined that the EU will defend European identity and cohesion at all times. "Europe must speak with one clear voice, committed to the values enshrined in the European project. We have a policy on immigration and on taking in refugees. That is our policy and we are clearly going to apply it in the future because we are committed to these values".

Mariano Rajoy also stressed that "the European Union believes in free trade" and is committed to pushing through the agreement we have now been negotiating for some time with the United States, but we will also push through and update agreements with other countries, such as with MERCOSUR and with Chile.

Future of Europe

Pool Moncloa / Diego CrespoThe President of the Government declared that in response to those who criticise and vilify the European Union, he will argue that "Europe has achieved the longest period of unity and of peace and prosperity in the history of the continent through this integration process". Furthermore, it is the most democratic region of the world, with the highest degree of respect for human rights and the rule of law. "We have the most extensive Welfare State that provides public systems of social protection: education, healthcare and pensions, that are simply unimaginable in other parts of the world. We are the leading trading power and the largest marketplace in the world, and we are also the leading economic power", he highlighted.

Mariano Rajoy reported that he will propose to his European partners that the European institutions must continue to occupy themselves with those issues that truly concern citizens and do so as effectively as possible. Among these issues, he considers the situation of refugees and immigration on economic grounds, internal security, external security and economic growth and job creation to be priorities.

The President of the Government also underlined that Spain will remain committed to greater integration in the European Union and to further enhancing the digital single market and the single energy market. The EU must also continue working on strengthening its defence policy and on integrating the positions of different countries on the issue of security. "Nowadays, no-one would seriously consider fighting terrorism by themselves. This is a battle that all of us who are likeminded and defend the same values must fight together", he said.

In short, he added, "we must convey the idea that Europe is united", it will remain so and that "we want greater integration", because "that is the best thing for us, it has proved useful and there is no better alternative for the future".

Swift and constructive negotiations with the United Kingdom

Pool Moncloa/Diego CrespoThe President of the Government also mentioned the meeting he held on Friday morning with the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, at her request. At the meeting, Mariano Rajoy proposed the need for the process of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU to be swift because "there is nothing worse than being in limbo, and this is only exacerbated if accompanied by uncertainty".

He also advocated parties adopting a "constructive approach" and stated to Theresa May that for Spain it will be a priority to "maintain the level of human and trading relations" between the two countries. In this regard, he recalled that the United Kingdom is Spain's third largest trading partner and the leading country in the world in terms of Spanish investment, and that just over than 100,000 Spaniards live there, while there are more than 300,000 British citizens permanently residing in Spain.

When asked about the role Spain may play in the 'Brexit' negotiations, he underlined that this will not be carried out on a bilateral basis, but rather "Europe will negotiate this as a bloc" and that the 27 Member States will be represented by Michel Barnier, the chief European Commission negotiator for this process.

As regards the issue of Gibraltar, Mariano Rajoy said that this was not the subject of conversation during his meeting with Theresa May. "Gibraltar will leave the European Union and the EU acquis will not be applied to Gibraltar when the United Kingdom leaves the EU", he added.

Current affairs

In relation to the measures to avoid a future referendum in Catalonia, Mariano Rajoy pointed out that the government has two priorities: "To talk and to ensure the law is upheld".

Pool Moncloa / Diego CrespoIn his opinion, those who are proposing an illegal referendum know that the government cannot violate the law. The opposite, he added, would be equivalent to us being outside of the "European space" and ignoring the will of the majority. "And hence it would be impossible to foster reasonable co-existence", he stated.

Mariano Rajoy backed dialogue with regional governments on issues that interest our citizens, such as financing and the Welfare State. "And I would like to see the Regional Government of Catalonia participating in this", claimed the President of the Government, who added that a date has not been set for his meeting with the President of the Regional Government of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, although there have been "some talks" on this matter.

Mariano Rajoy explained that during the course of the informal summit, there was talk about Mexico, fundamentally of the need to strengthen the Free Trade Agreement with this country. "We support Mexico for a wide variety of reasons", he stressed, because we have all manner of ties with Mexico, as is the case with other countries, but above all, personal ties, which at the end of the day are the most important".