​Press conference by President of the Government and Prime Minister of Kingdom of Morocco following High-Level Spain-Morocco meeting

Madrid

President of the Government.- Ladies and gentlemen, a very good afternoon and thank you all for attending.

I appear before you here accompanied by the Head of Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, Abdelilah Benkiran, to report on the 11th High-Level Spain-Morocco Meeting, which has just concluded.

I would like my first words to be of thanks to Prime Minister Benkiran and his government for their good will and commitment shown in holding a meeting of such great importance. Since we became the leaders of our respective countries - we did so at almost the same time - we have managed to recover the annual nature of our high-level meetings and visits: in 2012 we held a High-Level Meeting in Rabat; in 2013, HM King Juan Carlos travelled to Morocco and, in 2014, HM King Felipe VI travelled to Rabat on his first official visit outside of Europe, following his coronation. We are meeting here today in Madrid to hold a new round of these high-level meetings.

Prime Minister Benkiran and I have held a most beneficial bilateral meeting at which we analysed the political and economic situation of our countries. We have seen that these bilateral relations are enjoying a particularly positive period, with a constant exchange of trips and visits that help foster mutual trust and allow us to respond quickly and decisively to common challenges.

We have studied the effective collaboration that exists on justice and home affairs issues, highlighting the joint fight against terrorism, drugs trafficking and illegal immigration. Furthermore, we have paid close attention to stepping up trade and investment. I would like to stress that Morocco is our main customer outside of the European Union and behind the United States, and that Spain is Morocco's leading trade partner. In 2014, trade exchanges between the two countries amounted to almost 10 billion euros and more than 17,000 Spanish companies exported to the Moroccan market.

With Spain's support, Morocco has developed a privileged relationship with the European Union. With an advanced charter in place, Morocco received the largest financial allocation of any Southern Neighbourhood country and is the leading country in terms of negotiations on the new model of free trade agreement, as well as in signing a mobility partnership.

At our meeting, we analysed this privileged relationship, as well as ways to improve it, highlighting the role that Spain can play as a member of the European Union and partner of Morocco.

During our meeting, we reviewed various issues of international current affairs. In relation to Libya, we agreed on the need to reach a political and negotiated agreement to exit the conflict. We support the mediation work undertaken by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, the Spaniard Bernardino León, and we hereby publicly thank Morocco for the facilities it has offered to this dialogue process.

Furthermore, we have exchanged opinions on the migratory crisis in the Mediterranean. We also spoke about the instability affecting the Sahel and, in particular, the situation in Mali, where, as you know, Spain heads up the European mission to train the Malian Armed Forces.

The fight against Jihadi terrorism is a shared priority and an area in which we closely collaborate. This is a phenomenon that endangers the safety of our citizens and threatens the model of democratic coexistence of our societies. It knows no borders and affects North Africa, the Middle East, the Sahel and Europe equally. It affects us all and, as I have pointed out on numerous occasions, it does not represent Islam.

Within the framework of the high-level meeting various sectoral meetings were held. The Moroccan and Spanish ministerial departments reviewed their bilateral relations, analysed joint projects and explored new areas for cooperation.

Finally, today's meetings culminated in the adoption of a Joint Declaration, which I invite you to read, and with the signing of a series of agreements on important issues for both countries, such as judicial cooperation, promoting tourism, the management of water resources and women, children and the elderly.

In parallel to this meeting, an economic and business forum was held this morning in Madrid, co-organised by the CEOE [Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations] and CGM, its Moroccan equivalent. The presidents of the two organisations subsequently reported back on the results of the forum.

I would like to highlight, finally, that the meeting held today clearly shows our proximity to Morocco; a proximity which is more than just geographic, and which is based on deep-rooted friendship and faithful cooperation that binds our governments and our peoples.

I will conclude by underlining that meetings such as this one today undoubtedly contribute to strengthening ties ingrained over time, which, if we protect them in the future, will necessarily lead us down a common path.

And I will end by reiterating my thanks to Prime Minister Benkiran. I believe that Morocco has made a major effort during the course of recent years. It is an example of a country that is enjoying significant economic growth, which has been capable of reducing those economic imbalances that severely prejudice well-being, such as the public deficit and the foreign trade deficit, and I am absolutely convinced that, if we continue working together and stepping up this collaboration, then we are two countries with a very interesting future ahead of us.

Thank you very much. I will pass you the floor, Mr Prime Minister

Mr. Benkiran.- Thank you, respectfully, Mr President of the Government.

Firstly, allow me to thank you for the warmth and friendship with which you have received us. I would like to say that we have culminated this working day with a Joint Declaration and with this meeting, agreeing on important issues within a whole raft of issues that we have discussed.

The circumstances affecting our region and the whole world have a special flavour for Morocco. Everyone knows that it is an Islamic Arab nation, but, at the same time, it is a special State, which has spent the last 12 centuries living in a singular fashion. Today, our neighbours know and are aware that Morocco is a stable country, a safe country, a country which enjoys an advanced democratic level, a developed country in terms of human rights and with major political activity. Everyone continues to admire its achievements publicly despite and in addition to all those activities being carried on there.

Under these circumstances, Morocco, as the Spanish Prime Minister mentioned, who has thus saved me going into detail… He has thanked me here for all the reformist measures we have taken in Morocco to improve the administrative situation, the macro-economics, our companies and entrepreneurs, and at the same time and in terms of social issues, the situation of our students, widows and pensioners. All that makes Morocco a partner that everyone would wish to establish relations with.

Morocco is a neighbouring country, a friendly country and Spain has, as well as the existing friendship between the two countries, a special situation. In the last two years we have undertaken many activities in order to extend and improve our relations, and even to increase the trust and partnership between our two governments, particularly in terms of security in the fight against terrorism. There have been no problems in recent years in terms of this type of collaboration. The Ministers for Home Affairs are also very pleased with the level of collaboration.

We are also very pleased in terms of the relations that exist between the two countries and the collaboration, not only at a political level, but at all levels. I believe that the level of trust between the two countries is significant.

In terms of economic issues, Spain today holds an important position throughout the world in terms of exports, in terms of tourism and in terms of collaboration in all its aspects, also at a social level, a tourism level and other levels. All of that, thankfully, reflects a prosperous future, as do the levels of judicial collaboration between our two countries - I can see the Minister for Justice here, who is looking at me. This degree of collaboration in all its aspects is a strong and important collaboration.

In addition to speaking with the Spanish Prime Minister, I also spoke with HM King Felipe VI this morning.

Today, then, we can say and we might agree that there is no turning back. We have opened a path between Spain and Morocco towards a new future by establishing these relations and making them an instrument for collaboration between the two countries and thus show that the Mediterranean should not be grounds for separation , but rather it should and must be grounds for consensus, for collaboration and for the exchange of trade and indeed for collaboration in all shapes and forms. All humanity needs to apply this type of logic and this type of discourse to forge a good and useful future for the whole world.

We also invited our allies in Spain to increase their investments in Morocco in all areas and to work towards us all cooperating in other countries, above all in Africa, taking into account our interests and the interests of the countries and people in Africa, and taking into consideration that terrorism and trafficking can be handled positively; but above all, we must handle these issues together and thus ensure that these neighbouring regions grow and that all countries and all peoples benefit from this. Stability and security are what these people need and when countries live in peace and have security their citizens do not leave their country. That is why we welcome this new phase.

Today we can consider that this visit has been a positive step towards a better future and better relations between Spain and Morocco despite there being certain problems on some occasions; this even happens within families. And hence we will try to overcome all these problems.

Thank you.

Q.- I have three questions. The first is related to what the Spanish Prime Minister mentioned regarding good relations and the Moroccan Prime Minister when he mentioned trust. Have you spoken today about Ceuta and Melilla in your talks?

Secondly, there are many associations that speak about the suffering of Moroccan immigrants here.

Thirdly, as regards judicial cooperation, have you taken into account the accusations against certain military officials, some of which have even been indicted?

President of the Government.- We haven't spoken about Ceuta and Melilla.

I understand that you are referring to some events that have taken place recently in the Spanish National High Court and, if that is the case, then we haven't spoken about them. That is an issue that falls to the judiciary and public prosecution.

What we have fundamentally spoken about is what we have already mentioned, about the wonderful relationship that prevails at this time, about collaboration and about cooperation between our two countries, which we want to step up in the future.

If you want my opinion on the issues of migration and human trafficking, an issue which is currently being intensely debated by the European Union then I would say the following: I believe that the European Union should make a concerted effort to help all countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, all those countries from where many people hail to make a living, and, as the Prime Minister said, work towards peace, stability and progress there. When you have peace, stability and progress, you can be totally and absolutely certain that this is good for all African countries, for all European countries and, above all, for those citizens, those people, those many people that are forced to flee their own country to earn a dignified living in another country. Hence, that is my position on this issue.

Mr. Benkiran.- When I was just about to leave to come here, a journalist from the EFE Agency said to me, "I hope that the Spanish journalists are nicer to you". But he did not speak about the Moroccan journalists, about them being nicer to me, because, in the end, you are equally as relentless as the Spanish journalists.

Ceuta and Melilla is an historic issue that exists between Spain and Morocco, and we will continue to talk about this issue. When we are building relations based on trust, we start with the good things, with the positive things. These issues will be discussed further down the line.

As regards Moroccan workers here, in Spain, there are some 800,000 Moroccan workers here. Are they all suffering here in Spain? No. There are assuredly some problems, and I believe that the ministers in the Spanish Government will listen closely to any problems that may exist with these Moroccan workers. On the last occasion we met we spoke about the problems with the issue of studies for some young Moroccans. But the most important thing is that each of us is prepared to react to problems; you cannot be in absolute agreement.

As regards judicial cooperation, yes there was an issue related to the National High Court and to some of the defendants. This issue was spoken about by the two Justice Ministers, and this is an issue that will be handled on a standard basis between the competent bodies.

The most important thing at the end of the day is that there has been consensus on the issues we have discussed.

Q.- President of the Government, I have a couple of questions for you. Firstly, following the meeting on general politics that you have held this week with the leader of Ciudadanos and with the leader of the Socialist Party, we would like to know if you have also scheduled a meeting with the leader of Podemos or if, on the contrary, you completely rule this out for the coming weeks.

Secondly, regarding the changes being prepared in the government and/or in the People's Party, we are not sure if these changes will take place in one or both; but you said the other day that you were not going to change your economic policy under any circumstances. Does that mean that there will not be any changes in those economic members of your government, such as Mr De Guindos, who will stand for the post in the Eurogroup?

President of the Government.- As regards the first question, I have not scheduled a meeting.

During the course of the last few days, it is true that I have met with the General Secretary of Ciudadanos and with the General Secretary of the Socialist Party. My opinion on the agreements we must reach during the coming days is widely known. I believe that, as a general rule, we must respect the most voted for party list. That seems to me the most democratic way, because the most voted-for party list is the party that has received the greatest support from the residents of each local council, and indeed in each autonomous region.

Secondly, it seems fundamental to me to form stable governments. I don't believe that it is good to have minority governments, who are permanently at loggerheads. That is very bad for our citizens as a whole. Hence, I believe that any agreements should seek stability, and they should also be transparent with clear goals.

The most important thing for me at this time is for agreements to be reached in a political reality that contributes to economic recovery and to job creation, which are and must be the major national objectives.

Then, issues should be discussed that affect the autonomous regions and local councils: what will they do with taxation, for example on Inheritance Tax; what will they do with Property Tax, and what will they do with their resources, etc. That is the second idea.

The third idea. I would like to say that I am very concerned because in the electoral campaign we have heard that the Socialist Party, which it is supposed to be a party that should be politically central, said that it would make agreements with anyone except with the People's Party and with Bildu. I am not going to get into an argument as to what this statement might mean, but, quite honestly, this is a statement that shows an exclusive intention, it is a profoundly undemocratic statement.

And, in light of what occurred when votes were cast for Mr Juncker and for the Spanish People's Party Commissioner, whereby the Spanish Socialist Party was the only European party that did not vote for them, I believe that it would be more appropriate for them to adapt to current European trends.

At any event, I believe that this is a very serious mistake. Three- or five-party coalitions never end up working, they lead to many problems and difficulties. They are very bad for the general interests of all and I would like to add that the exclusion of the People's Party by the Socialist Party is very bad for Spain; giving power to those who have not received the support of our citizens, far-left parties in many cases, which is very bad for the people of Spain as a whole. I believe that the way these pacts are seen, both in Spain and abroad, will greatly affect the general interests of all Spaniards, and I think that in the 21st Century, both sectarianism and exclusion should be things that responsible political leaders and governors should put behind them.

As regards economic policy, as I have said on several occasions, I am not going to make any changes. I genuinely believe that this would be a folly, a huge mistake and incredibly negative for the interests of the Spanish people. We have gone through a very harsh period, with several years of recession, of negative economic growth, and several years of continuous rises in unemployment, and now that things are starting to improve, after a tremendous effort has been requested from Spanish society, it would be a great folly to turn our backs on these policies. Last year was the first year of growth in a long time, and this year, 2015, will see at least a 2.9% rise in economic growth; in other words, we will be the country to enjoy most growth in the European Union.

Last year saw the creation of 440,000 jobs and this year at least 600,000 more jobs will be created. What we must do is persevere along these lines. I am well aware that we still need to create many more jobs and that there are still many people who haven't felt the recovery in their pockets, but it would be a huge mistake to change a policy that has shown it works. What we need to change is what is not working which is why we changed the economic policy implemented by the Socialist Party because, among other things, it led to 3.4 million Spaniards losing their job.

So, I believe that it would be the worst possible mistake we could make to change our economic policy because, moreover, there are now two options available: we either grow at an annual rate of 3% for several years or we return to a period that led to the worst economic crisis in decades.

That is what is at stake here and for that reason I don't like the municipal pacts I am seeing, because recovery and employment are achieved through the government of the nation, regional governments and local authorities acting in harmony, or at least with agreement on the fundamental issues and some other key areas.

Hence, we are not going to change our economic policy. I repeat, it would be a huge mistake to do so. Spain cannot afford it, above all now that things are going well.

As regards changes and issues relating to individuals, I am not going to say anything at all. When I make changes you will all see for yourselves. But, at any event, we shouldn't change what works.

Q.- My first question is addressed to Mr Rajoy. You head up the People's Party and this party has moderated its position on Morocco. I would like to know whether this position is well assimilated within the party and receive assurance this policy will not be reversed should you return to the opposition in the future.

The second question is for Mr Benkiran. At many meetings you have spoken about the voting rights of Moroccans in elections, but what I have seen is that this trend no longer exists; in other words, there was an attempt for Moroccans to vote from Spain. Have you raised this issue with the Spanish Government? I would like to know this.

Mr. Benkiran.- At any event, it seems that you are very lucky, because at least they ask you to change policies, in Morocco, they are directly asking for a new Prime Minister.

President of the Government.- There are rotten eggs everywhere!

Relations at this time between the Governments of Morocco and Spain are very good, as they are between our citizens. Morocco and Spain are neighbours, we have a complex history and complex relations in our past, just like any other neighbouring country. If I told you about our history with Portugal, not to mention France, you might be amazed.

But what is true is that there have been wonderful relations during all of this period and there is a desire for this to remain so in the future. Morocco is a very important country throughout the whole of the Mediterranean region. The Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, based in Barcelona, is Moroccan. I believe that we should work together, simply to achieve something that is as simple to appreciate as progress for our peoples. It would be absurd, being neighbours, for us not to have intense relations on economic issues, and I have given you some figures on this earlier. At this time, aside from the European Union Member States and the United States, Morocco is the country with which Spain has the most intense economic relations. All types of exchange, both imports and exports, have increased greatly, and there are now some 17,000 Spanish companies that export to Morocco.

So, while I am the President of the Government of Spain, and I am sure that while Mr Benkiran is the Prime Minister of Morocco, relations will continue to improve, because that is what pure common sense, logic and reason dictate, and what we all want.
In other words, you can be reassured on this count, because if we are going to make any effort, it will be to improve relations further in order for us all to improve our well-being, which at the end of the day is what truly counts.

Mr. Benkiran.- As regards Moroccans that live here, in Spain, voting, we have not spoken about this issue, because that is related to elections to local councils, and they have just been held. Perhaps we could talk about the upcoming Spanish elections. But the Moroccan Constitution does not allow Spaniards to vote and I believe that what there will be is a mutual agreement between Morocco and Spain. We could agree that for the next elections.

Q.- For the President of the Spanish Government. From the answer you gave to the question from my colleague a moment ago, can we deduce that you see any type of pact with Mr Sánchez to be impossible, even in Andalusia, and that you consider he has become more radical since the elections were held? In this regard, does it concern you that there may be left-wing based lists for the general elections, as Izquierda Unida [the United Left] has requested, such as the grouping that has won in Barcelona and came second in Madrid?

As regards the meeting with Ciudadanos, we would like to know if corruption is the main problem existing to reach an agreement with Ciudadanos, particularly in Madrid, and whether the PP or you are prepared to make some other gesture towards Ciudadanos to reach an agreement in Madrid.

President of the Government.- At my meeting with Mr Rivera, we did not speak about agreements anywhere in Spain, and hence not in Madrid.

The intention we conveyed to Ciudadanos is that it should be local chapters of the political parties that reach an understanding or not. So we didn't speak about Madrid directly. I have seen in some places that they asked for one thing or another to happen in Madrid, yet no-one has asked me for anything whatsoever. It was an absolutely normal and cordial meeting, at which we tackled general issues that affect Spain as a whole and which also served as a calmly tackled initial contact. But we did not go into any details, neither before, nor at the time we were together, nor afterwards. I have not spoken with anyone about agreements, not in Madrid, and not anywhere else in Spain.

As regards whether or not "I see reaching agreements with the Socialist Party as possible", I don't view anything in this life as impossible, but what makes no sense is for the Secretary of the PSOE to say that he will make pacts with any political party except the PP and Bildu, while trying to reach an agreement with us in Andalusia. That makes no sense and shows the existence of a problem, which, moreover, is a serious problem.

What I believe to be deeply undemocratic is, and we are starting to see this, for coalitions or four or five parties to start to be built, far-left parties, parties that are saying things which there is no room for in what is the great European project at this time, and that the PSOE has preferred to take this type of decision, which is contrary to what the rest of the countries in the European Union are doing. The Socialist Party has voted for Mr Juncker, as I mentioned earlier, it has voted for the commissioners; in Germany it is governing together with the Social Democrats and in other countries it has reached agreements with conservative parties but not with extremists.

It seems to me to be deeply undemocratic and highly incongruent in light of what it is doing in Andalusia. What does Mr Sánchez mean by this? Does he mean that the People's Party should not attend meetings with Ms Díaz because Mr Sánchez says that, aside from Bildu and the People's Party, agreements can be reached with anyone? It would be good for us to understand this.

I repeat, this is very worrying, very worrying indeed. And above all at a time in which Spain is undergoing a recovery - we are now enjoying growth, as I said before, at around 3% and we will be, I repeat, the leaders in Europe this year - it is a huge mistake to move towards these policies that only generate uncertainty and instability, which, due to the frivolity of some may lead to all Spaniards paying very dearly. I hope and wish that this isn't going to be the case.

Thank you very much.