Mr Speaker, Honourable Members,
My idea of Spain is that of a country that is unmistakeably European and pro-European, a bridge between Europe and Latin America, a champion for peace and multilateral solutions to conflicts, fighting poverty with solidarity and generosity.
We shall continue working towards a Europe that is ever more effective, more integrated, more selfless and more prosperous, playing a more influential role in the world and promoting peace and stability. The first six months of 2010, during which we shall hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, constitute a unique opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to this project for Europe.
We shall continue fulfilling the goals of the Lisbon Strategy and make Spain a more modern, competitive society, focused on job creation, sustainability and social cohesion. Spain will take a decided stand for technological innovation within our economy and continue to provide funding for agricultural policies, cohesion and the Canary Isles statute recognising it as an ultra-peripheral region. The Government will also continue to take an active part in developing European policies to fight climate change and will contribute to defining the new European policy for energy. If, as I have said before, we need to protect our borders more effectively - and these borders are also European borders - we shall further reinforce the European borders agency, known as FRONTEX.
During this legislative term, and very especially during our Presidency of the Council, we want Europe to become a more significant and influential player on the international scene. Europe must act as a factor of stability and prosperity in the Mediterranean area, through the initiative of the Barcelona Process, which needs to be furnished with effective institutions and the necessary resources.
Latin America will figure strongly among our priorities. We shall work to consolidate democracy there, to strengthen social cohesion and to fight against inequality and poverty in the continent.
Regarding the United States, we would like to turn to a fresh page in our relations, looking towards the future, based on mutual respect so that together we may respond to the challenges that affect us all, and intensify our cooperation.
In the Mediterranean area, we shall also carry on with our endeavours to guarantee security, fighting terrorism and increasing cooperation among our legal systems and police services, promoting exchanges among civil society and creating a shared space of education, research and innovation.
After having placed it to the forefront of our foreign policy during the previous term, I propose that Subsaharan Africa should be now consolidated as a new axis of our foreign action, via the approval of a new Plan Africa 2008-2012, to obtain fresh advances towards our goals of consolidating peace and democracy, in development cooperation, in the political, institutional, cultural and economic spheres, and in cooperation regarding migration issues.
Our foreign policy will remain that of promoting multilateral solutions to conflicts. We prefer cooperation to imposition, we defend international legality versus arbitrariness, and we shall promote solidarity and respect when confronted with domineering abuses.
My idea of Spain, Honourable Members, is that of a country fighting poverty with generosity and solidarity. For this reason, by 2012 we shall devote 0.7% of our Gross Domestic Product to Official Development Assistance, having been the developed country that has advanced furthest in official aid during the last four years.
The United Nations Organization will be our inspiration in cooperation policies, in the form of its Millennium Development Goals. The UN will also be our guide for Spain's foreign policy, setting the scene for us to support peacekeeping operations throughout the world. For this reason, I hope to count on the close cooperation of this Congress, which in accordance with the National Defence Act must authorize all such missions that are to be sent abroad. In this task, our soldiers, who are doing exemplary work, ennoble us all. Furthermore, in accordance with the same law, I shall work to further advance the modernization of the Armed Forces, so they may enjoy better professional conditions and be provided with the best possible resources.