Joint media appearance of the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, at Moncloa Palace

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN, PEDRO SÁNCHEZ

President.- Good afternoon. Thank you to the media for attending this appearance and thank you to the Chancellor of Germany, to my friend Olaf, who we are naturally delighted to welcome to Spain, Madrid, just a few days before the start of the new year and a few weeks after the new government took office.

As the Spanish public knows, Spain has worked hand in hand with the previous government, of which the current Chancellor Scholz was also a member; and here I have to say that some of the achievements of that previous collaboration bear the signature of Chancellor Scholz and have been very important in responding to the Covid-19 crisis. I am thinking, particularly, of the NextGenerationEU Funds, where unquestionably Chancellor Scholz has had a leadership role within the Eurogroup, and also, for example, the SURE Fund, which is one of the funds that has also largely allowed us to finance and sustain the work in the most difficult moments of the confinements. And that is why I would first of all like to congratulate you, Chancellor, and thank you for the pro-European commitment you have shown over the years and which, I am convinced, you will continue to show in the years to come.

Today's meeting is a first working review of the shared agenda of the two governments. We have had the opportunity to address a wide range of issues, although many of them at this time in a superficial manner due to time constraints: from the intense bilateral agenda for the coming months to the most urgent issues on the European agenda and also its external dimension, the preparations for the NATO summit to be held in Madrid next June, on which we share a vision and for the success of which we have vowed to work together.

From all of our discussions, I would like to focus on two concrete results that I believe sum up the spirit of today's meeting. First of all, we have decided that as soon as our agendas permit we are going to once again hold the bilateral Spanish-German summit, this time in Spain. This, I believe, is a very important format, postponed, unfortunately, last year because of the pandemic, and also of course because of the electoral cycle in Germany. As you know, these summits are of the utmost important. They are the main instrument for boosting bilateral relations which, in the case of Germany, are extremely close, as the data show. On a personal level, for example, with the thousands of Spanish and German citizens who have put down roots in the other country, with the enormous interaction in general between our civil societies, and with the more than 11 million Germans who visit or visited Spain every year before the pandemic and whom we hope to see again very soon in our country. In economic terms, with the trade balance, which in the worst year of the pandemic, in 2020, exceeded sixty-three billion euros and in Spain had a growing coverage rate, standing at eighty-seven percent, and also, undoubtedly, with the great investment weight of the German economy and a highly integrated business fabric and value chain that is increasingly committed to more and more innovative sectors. And last, in the cultural field, which I would also like to highlight, especially in the year 2022, because Spain has the great honour of having been selected as the guest country for the Frankfurt Book Fair, as you know one of the great cultural events of this year, which has the full involvement of the Government of Spain.

Secondly, Chancellor Scholz and I have noted that today we are entering a new phase in our cooperation at the European level.

If the past has shown us anything, it is that Spain and Germany have achieved great things when we have worked hand in hand. We are more than the sum of the two countries and so today we are putting this harmony at the service of a greater ambition for the European Union.

A harmony that stems from the fact that both countries agree on key positions in important debates that lie ahead. And as I mentioned before, there is no doubt that the NextGenerationEU funds and the transitions that we have to make, the green transition and the digital transformation in terms of investment, and also in terms of reforms, are key in this close relation between the two governments.

And now, moreover, we share with this new German government the vision of social and economic progress, which we translate into determination to guarantee and restore dignity and respect, as Chancellor Scholz said in his election campaign, to our fellow citizens, to our workers, to our young people and to our elderly.

This is something we have discussed and I also had the opportunity to learn from Olaf, even before the formation of his new government, in Berlin last June, in the year 2021. and later in Rome. I am referring to the notion of justice in the double transition, to the boost we must give to social Europe in all its dimensions, and to the defence of our values and our social democratic principles.

And even on those issues on which Spain and Germany are not as closely aligned a priori, we have an enormous potential that I would like to highlight if we can align our positions.

This could be the case in the forthcoming debates in Europe on green taxonomy, on the migration and asylum pact, which we also discussed in our conversation, and on the reform of European economic governance.

I believe that the two countries agree that the currently suspended fiscal rules have been too complex and difficult to comply with in the context of the pandemic, which is why the Government of Spain considers that it is important to reform them, under two major considerations, the first of which is that we have to respond to the climate challenge that young people in our continent are asking of us, and also to the digital transformation. In many cases the two go hand in hand, digital transformation and ecological transition, while of course ensuring the sustainability of finances in the medium term.

In short, it is a pleasure to have you with us in Madrid, Olaf.

I thank you for the effort you have made to be here in Madrid with us. I fully understand, especially for a new government, the busy agenda you must have at the national level.

I believe that we are entering a new phase that should allow us to further develop our full potential.

I believe that the bilateral summit, as I said, is going to be a key instrument and we already have a structured dialogue that we can push forward even further. Today is just the first day of work, of many to come, working together, at different levels, in this direction.

Thank you very much to the Chancellor, and to all his team, for accompanying him and for coming here to the city of Madrid.

Whenever you want, the floor is yours.

ADDRESS BY THE CHANCELLOR OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY OLAF SCHOLZ

Chancellor Olaf Scholz: Thank you very much, Pedro, for the kind invitation to come to Madrid. It is a pleasure to be here.

The trip is also a sign that the ties between our two countries are very good. And we can state that very clearly: Spain and Germany are very good friends. Today we have taken another step to ensure that this will continue to be the case in the future.

I am glad to have agreed that we will once again hold a bilateral summit to underline our respective teams' commitment, and we will do everything possible to organise it as soon as possible.

A sovereign Europe and a values-based international order. That is what we have achieved. We want to do everything we can to safeguard the sovereignty of Europe, despite all the efforts towards a value-based multilateral order being the efforts we must make towards economic recovery, climate protection and security policy, and especially the security of Europe.

That is why it is a pleasure to know that we can always count on Spain, especially in view of the upcoming NATO summit to be hosted by Spain, where the Alliance will present its new strategic concept. The Federal Government will make its utmost contribution to the success of this summit.

This is precisely why we are now also talking about the crises in the European neighbourhood. This applies above all to the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border, which is of course of very serious concern to us. We can describe it in no other words. It is very important to see Russia taking unequivocal steps towards the de-escalation of the situation. And it is also clear that military aggression against Ukraine would have serious political and economic consequences. And that is why we have to do everything we can to prevent this from happening, because in the end it will only cause suffering for everyone.

What is good is that there is already a whole series of formats in place, the direct talks between Russia and the United States, the NATO-Russia Council, the OSCE. I am pleased that this format has become more dynamic and we also want to revive the Normandy format together with France. We are also trying to strengthen this force of Europe towards de-escalation of the situation. Spain is cooperating with us jointly to continue on this path.

We have also discussed current European affairs.

Of course, the ecological transition has been part of that. Spain and Germany have great ambition. We want to achieve rapid progress in the expansion of renewable energies and we see this as an economic technology of the future. The expansion of wind energy, both off-shore and on-shore, and solar energy. And we also have to ensure economic success, that there are good grids and good connectivity between us and our neighbours so that we can continue to create an effective grid in Europe to move renewable energies forward.

Contributing to the success of this is something we want to do together in Europe, not only when we talk about taxonomy, but also with regard to the European "Fit for 55" package, which will lay the foundations, important foundations, to be able to achieve this progress and slow down climate change.

Other issues that have been and will continue to occupy us are migration and the question of the rule of law in Europe. This is very important because it characterises the cohesion of Europe.

And I am glad to have these good relations. We have been able to talk a lot but we have been short of time, which is why I am very glad that we will soon be able to discuss these issues further at the bilateral summit with more time, and whenever you want, either here or in Brussels, or at other times when we meet.

Thank you very much for the invitation.

I am convinced that we will have very good relations, supported also by the Frankfurt Book Fair, which has already been mentioned. It is delightful that Spanish literature also plays an important role in Germany.

Q.- [Andreas Rinke, Reuters Germany].

A question for the Federal Chancellor and also for the President of the Government of Spain.

Here we have two social democrats. What does this mean? Now that the social democratic parties have the majority in Europe and no longer the conservatives. Have you spoken to Macron and the Italian Prime Minister? Do you think there will be movement in this direction?

And, Mr President of the Government of Spain, you have said, with regard to the Covid-19 crisis, that the pandemic must now be treated as if it were a flu. Is there a need for a change of strategy? Can Spain be a model for Germany? I was also asking the Federal Chancellor the question, and maybe there is no need for compulsory vaccination in Germany?

President.- Thank you very much, Rubén, for your questions.

Well, I would like to recall when Chancellor Scholz was a candidate for the Chancellorship we were at a meeting of the party of European socialists in Berlin and I remember one of the things he said at that meeting, which has been one of his main messages throughout the months of the election campaign in Germany.

When citizens want respect and dignity in their lives, they always look to social democracy. And I believe that the revolution of respect, of dignity, is the great pending revolution on the European continent and undoubtedly in Spain.

And when I talk about respect and I talk about dignity, I talk about dignity in employment. I am talking about dignity in pensions, I am talking about dignity in wages. It is also about dignity in the education of our young people. In the dignity to be able to access housing at an early age and not the ages we have now in our country, in Spain.

And I would like to reclaim the word respect used by Chancellor Scholz, because I believe that this is precisely what summarises the social democratic proposal for Europe and which we, humbly, at least in Spain, are also trying to promote: the dignification of the living conditions of our compatriots.

Secondly, I would like to say a few things about the

Covid-19 crisis. First, if the pandemic has shown us anything, it is that no country can teach others. No country can teach anyone.

On the contrary, we all have to learn from each other, and with this position what I want to say is that we are not saying that we want to change overnight, in the middle of the sixth wave, how we conceive and how we manage this pandemic in the face of Covid 19.

What we are saying is that over the next few months and over the next few years, we are going to have to address, as science tells us, slowly but surely, how we begin to manage this pandemic using other parameters, among other things, because vaccination is progressing, in some countries to a lesser extent than in others, but it is progressing and therefore we are beginning to have a larger proportion of the population protected as a result of the vaccine on our continent, on the European continent.

And it is in this context that the Government of Spain is doing its homework well by simply anticipating scenarios, and working with the scientific community to see how we can build that bridge, not today, not tomorrow, but hopefully one day, when we can move from managing the pandemic to managing a disease that we hope science will also allow us to make endemic.

And finally, regarding the debate on its obligatory nature, the Government of Spain believes it is up to each society, each government, to deal with this issue. Because every society is responding to the vaccine debate differently, as we are seeing in Europe and in other parts of the world.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz: I am very happy to be here as the head of the Government, and it is true that Pedro Sánchez and I have known each other for a long time as social democrats, as socialists, we have been cooperating [inaudible].

One of the main tasks we talked a lot about was how we can deal with the pandemic. Europe must fight the crisis together. And the European Recovery Fund is one of the outcomes of the intense exchanges we had, which made it possible to maintain cohesion in Europe.

Doing so has already paid off, because most of the funds will only be disbursed in the future. They have not yet been disbursed. This is a sign of the strength we have displayed and that shows what we expect from the future.

These are three key words: a strong, sovereign European Union, which has mentioned the question of the future.

We have to ensure that we have technological progress and in Europe we have to take digitalisation forward, to see it as a challenge, as an opportunity for the benefit of all. And slowing man-made climate change.

It is a matter of respect. But Sánchez has already said: respect is important for everyone, for how we live together as a society. And that is what will unite us to the social democratic parties in the future, respect and Europe. And there is nothing wrong with that.

On the question of the pandemic. I think we all understand very well that it is a pandemic, a global pandemic that cannot be defeated in one country.

And that is why it is very important for us here in Europe to help make sure that vaccines are available all over the world, that they are transported to where they are needed, and with the COVAX initiative and with financial donations, with high export quotas for vaccines. I think Europe gave an important signal and we will continue to do so in the future as well.

Moreover, the evolution of the pandemic does indeed vary from country to country.

Spain is a model, I want to be very clear about this, in terms of vaccination rates. That is, the number of vaccinated population. This is something we should highlight and it is a great achievement on the part of the citizens and the whole country, because with a high vaccination rate it is easier to manage a pandemic than with a lower one.

That is why our goal in Germany is also to further increase the vaccination rate. We are on the right track, slowly but surely, but we want to reach success. And also to make it compulsory, which is what we are doing right now in Germany.

At the same time, we obviously want to offer a third vaccine to as many people in Germany as possible.

And it has also helped us to have contact rules, safety rules, for example masks that we all know limits transmission, slowing down a little the rate we had.

But obviously the omicron variant is much more contagious than the previous variants and that is why you really have to manage the pandemic intelligently throughout, and we agree on that.

Q.- [Víctor Ruiz de Almirón, ABC].

How are you? Good afternoon, President Chancellor, welcome to Spain.

We wanted to ask them if they could go deeper into the matter of this new tuning they were talking about. What will their positions in the debate on the amendment of the Stability Pact be? We have seen that France and Italy are allied on this issue as an axis.

I don't know if it is premature to talk about Madrid and Berlin having a joint position if we are talking about a total renewal of the Stability Pact in which, for example, each country would have its own objectives.

We also wanted to know if you have discussed the modification of the European energy market. In October the German government came out against a position led by Spain, which included joint gas purchases. We wanted to know if, with the change of government, there is a possibility that the two countries can move closer together on this issue.

And finally, something they have also had in common. Both have maintained diplomatic conflicts with Rabat over the position on the Sahara. To know whether they have discussed this issue and whether it is in any way guaranteed or whether they are seeking a common position on this issue.

President of the Government: Well, thank you very much, Inma, for your questions. With regard to the first of the questions, that is, the open debate on fiscal rules, I would like to inform you of the Government of Spain's position. Because with this I am also going to answer some of the issues reflected in your question.

First of all, what the Government of Spain is doing is approaching this important debate, this very important debate, from a constructive and inclusive perspective. I believe that it is not good to have blocs, with some countries defending one position and other countries defending another. I think it is important that we work silently across all governments, in a united way, to be able to address this important issue, both in terms of consolidating the economic recovery and in terms of tackling the tasks ahead of us, some of which I mentioned in my first speech.

I believe that Europe's main priority right now is to tackle two things: first, the medium-term sustainability of public finances and, second, to tackle the important, decisive task, I would say, of the ecological transition and the digital transformation, which will not only require the leverage of private investment, but it will also of course require leadership, public investment.

And I believe that what we have achieved, also thanks to the leadership of Chancellor Scholz, is having recovery funds, the NextGenerationEU funds, which allow all countries, especially the most indebted ones, as is the case of our country (as a result of the entire response we had to give to Covid-19 from the beginning of the pandemic), to be able to tackle with these European funds the modernisation of our country, its change of production model towards a green and digital reindustrialisation. So, one: we want to approach this debate from an integrative, non-bloc, inclusive perspective (Spain will be in a constructive position on this issue). And second, we have to address the two main tasks we have as a Union and as a government. One: how we respond to climate change mitigation and adaptation with this energy transition. And also, and in line with what Chancellor Scholz said, how we achieve this strategic autonomy, this sovereign Europe, which will also require, logically, a huge investment in digital transformation. And finally, of course, how we respond in this context to the sustainability of public finances in the medium term.

With regard to the energy market, we have indeed dealt with this issue. We have different visions. I hope, in any case... I think what I have shared with Chancellor Scholz is that, in the debate regarding taxonomy, Spain is going to have a constructive debate, but what we believe is that taxonomy has to be really green. In this context, the Government of Spain's approach is that we should not mix up the debates. We are not talking about the energy mix that we really need, in this case gas, but about what investments we are going to consider green to really achieve the climate neutrality that we have set as an ambitious objective for all the Member States of the European Union.

And finally, we have not spoken about Morocco and Western Sahara, we did not have the opportunity. Chancellor Scholz used to say so: There are many issues that we still have to deal with, but in any case I would like to recall and reflect and echo the words of the Head of State today at the reception for the diplomatic corps, that Spain understandably sees Morocco as a strategic partner, with whom we have to move forward together over the coming months and years, and that from this point of view we are grateful for the strategic collaboration and cooperation we have with Morocco.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz: Thank you very much. Indeed, the past has shown that it is when we solve economic problems together in the European Union that we have the best outcome. And the Stability Pact has given us the necessary framework for the recovery fund. As I said at the beginning and I repeat, most of these funds have not yet been disbursed. They will be with us in the years to come and that is why we can also respond to the tasks of the future, because we have mobilised funds for the years to come.

For Germany, it is clear that we want to build on the experiences of the past and have been able to do what is necessary. And it is also important for us to have the perspective that Europe will walk hand in hand in the coming years. And this is done on the basis of the Stability Pact, which has served as a framework for such dramatic operations and which will also help us in the future to do the right thing.

As far as energy policy is concerned, this is obviously very important for us. It is clear that we currently have major challenges, prices for raw materials and gas that are unprecedented. This may still take some time. That is why it is important that we deal with this issue and that together, in the global framework, we act together, and that we continue what both countries have already started, namely to opt for the expansion of renewable energies, which gives us more independence and which is also the basis for the provision of affordable energy for our citizens in the future.

Q.- [Michael Fischer, DPA Agency].

Thank you very much, Chancellor. A question on the conflict in Ukraine. Before Foreign Minister Baerbock's visit, there were Ukrainian demands for German arms supplies and an end to Nord Stream 2. I would like to know whether your government, like the previous government, categorically refuses to supply arms to Ukraine. As for Nord Stream 2, you keep saying that it is a private economy project that has to be seen separately from the conflict in Ukraine. And Present, Spain is also a member of NATO. I would also like to know what your position is on possible arms supplies to Ukraine.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz: The situation is very serious, as I have already said. Troop movements along the Ukrainian borders are obvious because they are massive. It is a danger to Ukraine's sovereignty. That is why everything possible must be done to prevent military intervention. With the EEC processes and now with the OSCE, we have done everything possible in the European Union to ensure that border security and integrity are respected. No one wants to look at history textbooks to see where the borders used to run or to take it as a starting point for possible military intervention. The sovereignty, integrity and inviolability of borders is something we have to respect. Hence the clear message from the Federal Government, together with our European and NATO allies, that any military intervention, any threat to the integrity of Ukraine would come at a high cost and is something that everyone has to reckon with.

But the aim is to prevent this from happening. That is why, once again, I would like to mention the dialogue formats that already exist and that provide a basis for preventing this from happening. This is the mission we have now. The Federal Government is acting very consistently. And also consistently in terms of continuity, what the Federal Governments in the past have already prepared very well, I think.

President of the Government: Well, thank you for the question. I think I could repeat everything that Chancellor Scholz has said in Spanish, but as this is the first time, also from the point of view of Spanish public opinion, that I have been asked about this issue at a press conference, I would like to say a few things.

The first is to call for de-escalation, as Chancellor Scholz has done. I think it is very important for Russia to de-escalate the situation on the Ukrainian border.

Secondly, as I have said on many other occasions, the Government of Spain, like the other NATO allies and also the European Union, must call for the territorial integrity of nations, for respect for borders, which is what is being called into question at the moment. I had the opportunity to say this to the President of Ukraine at the last Eastern Partnership summit between the European Union and all the countries, including Ukraine.

And thirdly, as the Chancellor has done, to of course recognise all the forums for dialogue that are currently open to achieve the objective of de-escalating the situation so that we do not find ourselves in a situation that is potentially as extraordinarily risky as the one we are currently experiencing.

P.- [Paula de las Heras, Colpisa].

Good afternoon, we wanted to ask about an issue that I don't know about in Germany. I imagine they have this issue, but certainly in Spain it has made the headlines in the last few days, and that is whether you think the Australian government's decision to cancel Novak Djokovic's visa is the right decision.

You said, President Sánchez, that each company has its own recipe, but the Mayor of Madrid said today that the presence of the Serbian tennis player at the Mutua Madrid Open would be a good attraction, but that the final decision on his participation will depend on his executive, the central executive, and I wanted to know if they have a position on this.

Secondly, the president of the Galician regional government announced today that, like the Community of Madrid, he will also appeal the distribution of nine million euros of European recovery funds that have been granted to four other autonomous communities and rejected the PSOE's accusation that this implies a boycott of the recovery plan. I wanted to know whether you fear, President Sánchez, that the Supreme Court may rule in favour of these communities or whether, on the contrary, you believe that this may actually cause damage to Spain's receipt of these funds. And whether you have been obliged to speak to Chancellor Scholz on this matter, or whether you believe that there are sufficient mechanisms in the European Union to prevent the distribution of funds from being arbitrary.

And finally, in your defence of social democracy you said, President Sánchez, that social democracy is dignity and this is also related to access to housing. Recently, the General Council of the Judiciary has taken a decision that affects the Government's Housing Law. I wanted to know if you share with your partners in Unidas Podemos that this acting General Council of the Judiciary with a conservative majority is making a... is actively torpedoing the action of the government.

Thank you.

President: Well, thank you very much for your questions, Paula.

I don't know, Chancellor, if you want to answer Djokovic's question first and then I'll close the press conference, because the rest of the questions are directed at me, so ....

Chancellor Olaf Scholz: This is a decision by the Australian government and courts which everyone has followed with interest and obviously has to do with the fact that we all set rules in a pandemic brought in to protect the health of citizens, and once the rules are set they have to be respected whoever it is. Australia has rules that are not ours, obviously that has to be said, but it is Australia's sovereignty and right to set its own rules and not to say that they apply to some, but not to others. I think that is something that can be said quite clearly.

And apart from that, it is true that in the last few days we have realised that there is no one who can say that they will catch it. And when you've been infected, you can't [inaudible] serious consequences on society either. This is our common appeal. Please get vaccinated. And also the booster vaccination is the best thing you can do for you and your loved ones.

And if I understood the last question correctly, housing is also an important issue for us. Please.

President.- Thank you very much, Mr President.

Second the words of the Chancellor in relation to the controversy with tennis player Djokovic. I believe that rules are there to be complied with. No one is above the rules and, therefore, if these are the rules that the Australian Government has adopted, then they have to be followed. In this respect, I fully respect and obviously support the decisions that have been taken by the Australian government within its competences.

And with regard to the statements made by the Mayor of Madrid, and without wishing to cause controversy, then much the same, much the same. Health regulations are there to be complied with. I would also like to recall the words of Rafa Nadal, an extraordinary tennis player who, when the Djokovic controversy arose, recalled the suffering that this disease is causing the world's population, including the Spanish population, causing deaths and making people vulnerable and ill. And I believe that, with all due respect and without wishing to cause controversy, anyone, whatever their name or profession, whether they are top-level sportsmen or not, must comply with the country's health regulations. And that is what any athlete who aspires to compete in our country will do: comply with Spanish health regulations.

And with regard to the second question. In short, I can only respect what each of the autonomous governments can do, but I would like to share a reflection with Spanish opinion as a whole. I believe that we have two years ahead of us in which the key task of all the institutions is to row as one, to pull together, to work side by side to consolidate economic growth in our country, to consolidate these extraordinary levels of employment in our country. We have more than 20 million employed people. We have had ten months of reductions in the unemployment rate. We have never had so many women national insurance contributors. The data we are anticipating for national insurance affiliation in January are also extraordinarily positive and, therefore, all the administrations, and the Government of Spain are working on this, are working to consolidate this economic growth.

And we see these European funds as a great opportunity, as were the cohesion funds, as were the structural funds, to make the leap in modernity that our country needs in the new digital green economy of the 21st century.

And that is what the government is working on, and that is why I call on all public institutions to take responsibility, to move the management of European funds away from partisan issues that matter little to the citizens. What is important is to consolidate this economic growth, to continue to consolidate the job creation that we are seeing so intensely and to modernise and change our production model.

This is what the Government of Spain is working on. And that is what we call all public institutions of all political colours, of all political colours to assist in. Let us not make European funds a partisan issue, let us make European funds an opportunity for the country. That is what I ask of the opposition.

And finally, in relation to housing. Well, first of all, I believe we should have absolute respect for what the General Council of the Judiciary decides. I have been heard on many, many issues and certainly on this one as well.

But let's get into the debate. The debate is that the formulas we have had so far in our country in these forty years of democracy to guarantee decent access to housing for broad sectors of the population have not been sufficient and, therefore, the Government of Spain shares, I believe with the vast majority of citizens, regardless of whether they vote left or right, because they suffer the same shortage, the need for a greater public commitment to ensure that an article, a right that is in our Constitution, such as access to housing, becomes not a problem as they are experiencing it now, as they are suffering it now, but a real right, which is to have decent housing.

And in this regard, the Government of Spain is committed to a Housing Law that we consider to be the fifth pillar of the welfare state. We want to make housing the fifth pillar of the welfare State. We will therefore wait for the report to be issued by the General Council of the Judiciary. We will regard it with absolute respect. We will indeed look into all the technical issues that you may wish to raise, but the commitment of the Government of Spain is to build this fifth pillar of the Welfare State, to double the public effort, the public commitment to housing policy in our country. So what are we going to do?

We are going to do this when we bring the draft Housing Bill to the Council of Ministers, and we are also going to do it tomorrow, with the approval of the State Housing Plan, with the approval of this bond for the emancipation of our young people, who will be able to rent a home in the coming months and, without a doubt, also with a law on architecture and housing quality, which is a very important complement to this commitment we have to housing.

And without further ado, thank you very much, Director. President. Thank you very much to the media. A thank you also to the delegations of both governments and, above all, Olaf, thank you very much for making the effort to come to Spain, to Madrid. Here you have a friendly government, as we Spaniards also know we have in Berlin.

Thank you very much.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz: Thank you.

(Transcript edited by the State Secretariat for Communication)

(Original intervention in Spanish and German)

Non official translation