Mariano Rajoy reiterates to Jean-Claude Juncker the commitment by the Government of Spain to budget stability targets

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

At the meeting, Mariano Rajoy highlighted Spain's firm commitment to reducing the public deficit to 3.1% next year (2017) as agreed with Brussels and advised him that the Commission will shortly receive the document containing the new ceiling on spending and additional measures adopted to achieve this goal.

The President of the Government recalled the tremendous effort that Spain has made in recent years to correct the public deficit and welcomed the priority that the Commission shares with our country of achieving stable and lasting economic growth in Europe.

During the meeting, they analysed other issues on the European agenda, such as the situation created by Brexit and the recent agreement to increase the commitment by European countries on defence issues. The President of the Government of Spain congratulated Jean-Claude Juncker on this initiative, to which he guaranteed Spain's support.

Lastly, they went on to analyse policies on immigration at the meeting, and the recent European agreement to collaborate with countries of origin and transit in the fight against people-trafficking mafias.