Pedro Sánchez and Emmanuel Macron sign two joint Declarations on Migration, and on the Economic and Monetary Union

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The two leaders signed a joint declaration on immigration and asylum on Thursday afternoon at Moncloa Palace, based on solidarity and respect for human rights, to provide an effective response to the arrival of refugees and migrants in Europe.

Spain and France agree that the migratory situation is "a global challenge that requires a European response", which is why the two countries share a common strategy for addressing the migratory challenge that provides for the creation of central controls within the European Union managed together with the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Pool Moncloa / Fernando CalvoThe joint strategy provides for FRONTEX - the European border control system - to be strengthened with greater human, material and legal resources, and for support and cooperation to be stepped up with countries of origin, transit and destination, particularly with Morocco, through such mechanisms as the framework of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, the European Neighbourhood Instrument, the European Development Fund and the Sahel Alliance. The migratory phenomenon must be tackled from a humanitarian dimension and not only from a security and border control perspective.

Joint commitment to structural reform of Eurozone

The two leaders expressed their agreement on the need to reform the architecture of the Economic and Monetary Union in order to tackle future crises. This involves completing the Banking Union, reforming the European Stability Mechanism and establishing a central Budget for the Eurozone as from 2021. They both see this as an issue of "top political priority".Pool Moncloa / Fernando Calvo

Emmanuel Macron and Pedro Sánchez back the need to develop the social dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union with such overriding goals as the sustainability of the Welfare State, high levels of employment and social justice with equal opportunities, all based on the European pillar of social rights.

"ETA files"

The meeting with the French President also served to officially announce that the ceremony will take place on 1 October to handover the "ETA files", thousands of documents, assets and weapon seized by the French police forces from the ETA over the last 20 years, which will help contribute to clear up unresolved crimes perpetrated by the terrorist group. This action, the result of the close cooperation between Spain and France in the fight against terrorism, provides for an event to be held attended by victims and which will serve to portray the definitive end of ETA.

Non official translation