The President of the Government pointed out that the Spanish EU Presidency during the first six months of 2010 will take place in a "complex context of uncertainty" for the international community and also for the European Union, and, thus, it will have to be "demanding and engaged".
At the Carlos de Amberes Foundation, where the meeting of the Association of European Journalists was held, Rodríguez Zapatero said that we need a "strong European Union, ready to exert leadership". It is this leadership that will determine, to a great extent, the moment and the way in which this crisis will be overcome, he said.
We need the European Union of "integration, solidarity, innovation, competitiveness, education and citizenship". And, he added, we need a European Union "able to speak out to the world with one single voice in a definitive way".
He defended the euro as one of our main "assets" and he pointed out that "those birds of ill omen who say that the euro is in danger must know that it has been a sound basis in fact a haven of stability" and that it is "the most valuable asset" in these times.
Ambitious presidency
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero explained that the Government is preparing a "very ambitious" Presidency according to a detailed planning. It will be a "transforming" Presidency, and not a "managing one", he added.´
Spain's tasks during the first six months of 2010 will be a challenge beyond merely governmental issues, it will be a challenge at a State level, the President said.
Thus he pointed out that the Government will make an effort to reach consensus with the different parties at the parliament and with the Autonomous Regions.
Therefore, a consultation process will "soon" start in order to gather opinions, ideas and support.
He said that all the actions carried out by the Spanish Presidency will be aimed at two main goals. In the first place, "innovation, not only technological but also economic institutional and political innovation", intended to create more and better jobs.
And in the second place, equality at all levels. From the point of view of solidarity and aid for development between men and women.
As the President said, these two ideas are going to mark the three priorities of the Spanish Presidency, namely, the promotion of a new economic model, the reaffirmation and enhancement of a social, supportive European Union and the adaptation of Europe to a multipolar world, a world to which it will speak out with "one single voice".
Foreign Politics
The President said that the Spanish Presidency will "support" Croatia within the EU as well as Turkey's wishes to enter the Union.
It will be characterised by being "a Euro-American presidency". Thus, it will pay special attention to the relationships between the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean.
As to the relationships between Europe and the United States, they must keep being "allies and partners" and Europe must "keep pace with the current circumstances" and assume more responsibilities in the areas of peace and international safety
The Spanish Presidency will also turn to Africa, a continent that is progressively becoming more important to us, Rodríguez Zapatero said.
As to Russia, he added, we must integrate it in the Euro-Atlantic space we have started to develop.
The relationships with Asia will also be enhanced, and he pointed out the summit with Japan and the ones with China and India.
As to the Middle East, Europe will keep making an effort in order to contribute to the peace process between Israel and Palestine.
The relationships between the European Union and the NATO, the promotion of the European Safety and Defence Policy, the common immigration policy and the efficient deferment of the death penalty by 2015 were some of the other actions that will mark the first European Presidency in 2010 mentioned by the President.
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Speech of the President of the Government