Press conference by the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, at the conclusion of the NATO Summit

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

Well, good afternoon to you all, and first of all, thank you to the media for attending this press conference.

And secondly, as I always do, Ambassador, I would like to acknowledge the work of our diplomatic service, in this case at NATO, because I believe that the outcome of the Summit also demonstrates the excellent work of our diplomatic services, particularly those based in Brussels, at NATO headquarters.

I would therefore like to begin by thanking our hosts, particularly President Erdogan, and the Turkish people. And, of course, to the city of Ankara for its hospitality and for the fantastic organisation of this Summit.

It is fair to say that Spain has come to the NATO Summit having done its homework. We are, therefore, satisfied with the consensus reached on the summit declaration. We also remain firmly committed to supporting our allies.

You are already familiar with the figures, as the Cabinet has had the opportunity to share them with you previously, during a number of preparatory briefings on the NATO Summit. But I believe the figures indicate that the world is indeed going through one of its most turbulent periods since the end of the Cold War. We are convinced that, to overcome this, Western societies belonging to the Atlantic Alliance must make this organisation stronger, more effective and more European.

That is precisely what we came here to promote today - through our own voice as Spain, but also through our actions. We are working in three specific areas that I would like to share with the Spanish public following this press conference.

Firstly, last year, as you know, we agreed that the Atlantic Alliance needed to modernise and strengthen its deterrent capabilities, and that Europe needed to take on a greater role in its own defence.

Spain pledged at that time to do its part, and today I can tell the citizens that we have delivered - and indeed, exceeded expectations. Last month, the Alliance's Defence Policy and Planning Committee concluded that our country has achieved its capability targets set for 2026 and has done so with a level of compliance above the European average. In fact, Spain is the seventh-best-performing country. Seventh, I would note, out of the 32 member states of the Atlantic Alliance.

I believe this strong performance is best illustrated by some very telling figures that I would like to share with the media, and, naturally, with Spanish society as a whole.

In early June, our country was the third-largest contributor of personnel deployed to NATO missions and operations. In total, we are talking about 3,000 personnel - 3,000 military personnel - men and women who represent the best of our society, the values and principles worth fighting for, namely peace and respect for international law.

Spain is, therefore, the country with the largest troop presence outside its own borders within the ground forces on Europe's eastern flank, thereby playing a key role in defending territories that are currently facing a legitimate threat from Russia. Specifically, Slovakia, Romania, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

So, as of early June, I repeat, Spain was the third-largest ally in terms of personnel deployed on NATO missions and operations. And, with the Chief of the Defence Staff (JEMAD) - the Admiral - present here, I would like to expressly acknowledge the outstanding work the Spanish Armed Forces are doing in these locations. I must say that every government leader I have spoken with, including those in the meeting room, has naturally acknowledged and expressed gratitude for Spain's efforts.

Furthermore, our country - and this is the second point I would like to share with you all - is the second-largest contributor of naval capabilities to operations and missions outside its territory, and the fourth-largest contributor of air capabilities.

At present, our country is leading missions in Iraq and in the North Atlantic. We provide essential support along Europe's southern and eastern flanks, and I also wish to announce to the media and the Spanish public that we will be joining the forward ground forces mission in Finland, an initiative launched by the Atlantic Alliance to protect the Arctic region.

And I believe that, if anything, this also reflects our firm commitment - as a country in the southern Mediterranean region of Europe - to NATO and to that 360-degree approach to security, which, in our case, is total and absolute.

This increased security effort has been made possible, as you know, partly because we have solidified the commitment made last year to invest 2% of our Gross Domestic Product. This was a commitment made by a previous administration back in 2014. Let us recall that in 2018, when we formed the first progressive government, the budget stood at around 0.9% of Gross Domestic Product. Today, we are at 2%. This has been consolidated, and I believe it also demonstrates that we are a reliable country - one that, naturally, honours its international commitments.

This is due not only to that firm budgetary commitment to the 2% target but also to the fact that we have spent more wisely by backing both our national industry and European industry. We have increased synergies and joint projects with allied nations, while successfully balancing defence investment with the preservation of public services, humanitarian aid, and - crucially for us - adaptation to the climate emergency affecting the Iberian Peninsula and, by extension, our own country.

The second area on which we, the allies, have decided to focus is the industrial sector. Spain's position on this is clear. We share the need for so-called burden shifting, that is, rebalancing responsibilities among allies, and the view that Europe must become more autonomous in security matters, capable of defending itself and protecting its interests beyond its own borders.

That is why we have supported programmes such as the SAFE instrument launched by the European Commission, and the EDIP. And that is why, at this summit, we have agreed, together with our other allies, to take steps to strengthen our industrial base.

We have agreed to promote joint procurement, reduce trade barriers and invest more in innovation. In short, to produce more and better. And - to put it more colloquially - to produce faster; this is a factor that significantly impacts the capabilities and needs of our Armed Forces.

We believe that Spain has a great deal to contribute in this regard. We have companies that are at the forefront of their field.

We also hold a privileged geopolitical position that enables us to cooperate with the majority of the world's nations, alongside a key instrument for doing so: the industrial security and defence plan - endowed with €10.4 billion - which we approved last year and which was the subject of my address to the General Courts.

The third area where we have agreed to work is, naturally, the defence of Ukraine; for we know that this war puts at stake not only the future of a sovereign nation like Ukraine but also the European project itself - precisely what Putin's Russia seeks to attack and weaken.

In 2025 - and I mention this so that Spanish citizens are aware, given that, ultimately, it is their tax money at work - our country sent over one billion euros in aid and equipment to Ukraine.

We therefore contributed substantially to that support, as well as to mechanisms involving both NATO and the European Commission itself, such as the SAFE and PURL instruments.

We have established new industrial cooperation agreements with their companies and, since 2022, we have trained more than 9,000 Ukrainian military personnel. One in ten of all those trained across Europe.

This makes our country the eighth-largest contributor among the 32 NATO allies and the fifth-largest among the 27 European Union nations in terms of support deployed to Ukraine in 2025. Eighth in NATO and fifth in the European Union in 2025, bringing the total figure since the conflict began - which, regrettably, has been going on for nearly five years now (we are moving from the fourth year of war into the fifth) - to 3.8 billion euros.

However, I am speaking here in our own terms - in bilateral terms - because there are obviously other instruments being implemented through EU institutions. These include, for instance, the 90 billion euros in funding aimed not only at the defence capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces but also at sustaining the very institutions of the Ukrainian people, which are naturally under attack.

This support is vital - and, incidentally, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy himself acknowledges and expresses his gratitude to the Spanish people for it whenever we have the opportunity to meet.

I must say to the media and Spanish society as a whole that it is a source of genuine pride to see this effort recognised - an effort rooted in solidarity and a commitment to international law, the freedom of peoples, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and, of course, the defence of the European project.

And I would like to conclude with a reflection and a word of thanks.

The point is that while Spain may be geographically distant from Russia and the Eastern Front - just as we are from the Middle East - we remain very close to our allies and to the values and objectives that inspired the creation of both the European Union and NATO.

We are a peaceful, pacifist country, but we are also a reliable ally.

We deliver on our capabilities and deployments; we stand by Ukraine; and we naturally fulfil our commitments regarding the Eastern Flank and the Mediterranean.

Ultimately, we act in accordance with the wishes, sentiments and interests of the Spanish people, who deserve to live with full security guarantees.

We also uphold a worldview in which security stems from agreement rather than imposition; where military investment is balanced with social investment; and where the ultimate goal of all our actions is, quite simply, to put an end - once and for all - to the wars ravaging the Middle East and the Eastern Front of our own continent, Europe.

That is the message I would like to convey, along with my thanks, naturally, to the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Office of the Presidency of the Government of Spain, as well as, of course, to the Chief of the General Staff and the Ambassador, because I believe that behind this Summit lie many hours of work and many hours of negotiation with teams of people who are not known to the general public, but who nevertheless play an essential role in defending our country's overall interests.

And without further ado, I am now ready to take questions from the media.

Q. - [Iñaki Aguado, Telecinco] Hello, how are you? Thank you very much.

Good afternoon, Mr. President. I would like to ask if, during this NATO summit, you have had the opportunity to greet or exchange comments with President Donald Trump, and specifically, to ask how you view the attacks he made today.

Because it seems reasonable to think that, even if expected, his words do not sound any less serious when he speaks of Spain as a "lost cause," a "terrible ally" or "bad people," or says that "relations with Spain must be cut off", or even suggests to the NATO Secretary General himself that Spain be expelled from the Atlantic Alliance.

I would like to know how these attacks are received and whether these threats align with the reality of the diplomatic relationship and the contacts the Government of Spain maintains with the United States within the NATO framework. After all, the information the Government shares with the media and the general public is also presented to our NATO allies. I would like to know how the US Administration responds when they hear this information.

One final point on this matter: I would like to know if you have been able to speak with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and whether you have discussed these latest attacks by Donald Trump.

And, turning to the domestic front, I would like your assessment of the remarks made in the last few hours by the leader of the opposition, who described sick leave and workplace absenteeism in terms of "cancer". I would like to know what your thoughts are on these words. Thank you very much.

President: Thank you very much, Iñaki.

Yes, I did have the opportunity to have an informal chat with the President of the United States. We spoke about football, about the World Cup in the United States. So, it was an informal, casual conversation; there was absolutely no tension whatsoever. On the contrary, it was all friendly words and courtesy. It was after the press conference given by the President of the United States.

Secondly, regarding how the Government of Spain views these statements - which, naturally, we learned about through you while waiting for the summit to begin: Well, we take them with calm and patience. Calm and patience.

And a certain sense of normality, too. Because, ultimately, when one steps back a bit from these kinds of statements, what becomes clear is that the relationship between the United States and Spain - socially, culturally, economically, and politically - is very, very positive. Very, very positive.

And talking specifically about trade - as I have said before, and as you have heard me say on numerous occasions, since this is not the first time we have faced this type of criticism - Spain actually runs a trade deficit with the United States. We are not among the European countries that enjoy a trade surplus with the U.S.; rather, we run a trade deficit.

Secondly, as the European Commission itself has rightly pointed out today, trade policy is a common policy. It is a policy managed by EU institutions, institutions that have, in fact, already publicly reiterated the nature of this trade policy.

We are therefore a trading bloc, and it is with the European Commission that all trade agreements must be negotiated, including the tariffs that the US administration has previously imposed on the European Union. And I should add that Spain has always maintained a thoroughly constructive attitude, supporting the European Commission in its efforts to reach an agreement - one that can also be ratified by pro-European forces in the European Parliament - thereby providing a measure of predictability for economic actors operating in both the United States and the European Union. That, then, is the second point I wish to convey.

And the third point is that whilst I am a social democrat, ultimately, trade relations are forged between companies, not between governments or states. I therefore believe that, all things considered, relations are positive. Spain is a country that seeks to maintain the best possible relations with all nations - especially with our allies, with whom we share deeply established ties that have transcended the ideological leanings of the various administrations that have held office in Spain or the United States over the decades. And, building on that - if I may, and taking the opportunity presented by the question regarding the United States - I would like to congratulate the American people on the 250th anniversary of their independence and the nation's founding.

Finally, regarding the statements made by the leader of the opposition, I believe that framing the issue in terms of "workplace absenteeism" is a flawed approach. It would be better to speak of sick leave or temporary incapacity, as the term "absenteeism" tends to stigmatise a reality that exists in our country. The fact is that there are indeed workers who fall ill and who, naturally, have every right in the world to take sick leave.

Secondly, I find it extremely unfortunate to equate sick leave with cancer. I think it is extremely unfortunate and that it also reflects the mindset that prevails when these issues are discussed.

Finally, I believe that the approach we are hearing from the opposition - as well as the agreements being reached with the far right in regional governments - amounts to cutbacks. It amounts to curtailing rights. It means cutting back on and calling into question the social and labour rights that have taken us many years to secure.

I always remember that, in 2010, following the financial crisis and the utterly misguided neoliberal response to it, there were years of extremely harsh cuts across the board, particularly in healthcare, education, the National Care System and pensions. And also in labour rights.

A labour counter-reform was introduced which drove millions of workers and pensioners to take to the streets. It took us more than a decade not only to rebuild those lost labour and social rights but also - during the current decade of the 2020s - to consolidate and expand them.

I therefore believe that is what Spain needs. Not cutbacks. What is needed is the consolidation and advancement of social and labour rights. And that is what the Government of Spain is focused on.

I read something suggesting that perhaps the message hadn't been communicated or explained very well. I think we all understood very well what Mr. Feijóo meant - not least because this is a recurring pattern. Whenever the People's Party has governed or had the opportunity to do so, it has brought about significant cutbacks - in this instance, to the labour rights of a great many workers in our country.

Q. - [Enrique García Pozo, Cadena SER] Good afternoon, Mr President. It is true that Secretary-General Mark Rutte has welcomed Spain's increase in spending. He did so just now at the press conference. But I wanted to ask if you felt the absence of any public message of support for Spain regarding the disparaging remarks Donald Trump made this morning.

I wanted to ask whether the NATO Secretary General says one thing or another about Spain depending on whether US President Donald Trump is standing next to him.

I also wanted to ask if you could provide further details on Spain's participation in the Alliance's new Arctic mission.

And finally, regarding domestic matters, I wanted to ask your thoughts on a judge not allowing your wife to attend or accompany you to this Summit.

Thank you very much.

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

Look, the facts are the facts. They speak for themselves. I mentioned this earlier in my first speech: Spain has made an extraordinary effort to go from 0.9% of GDP spent on defence in 2018 to 2% by 2026.

To give you an idea, Spain was the third country in both 2024 and 2025 in terms of the increase in its defence spending out of all NATO member states - the third country. And since 2018, with an economy that - apart from in 2020, when it naturally declined due to the pandemic - is currently leading the way amongst the major European economies in terms of GDP growth. We have increased it fivefold. Or rather, let me be more precise and exact. Defence spending has increased five times as much as GDP against a backdrop of economic growth, which means the effort involved is immense and extraordinary.

Not only in terms of commitment, but also, indeed, in terms of management itself. We have discussed this on many occasions with the Minister for Defence, the Chief of the Defence Staff (JEMAD), the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the ambassador himself, because it is not merely a question of increasing the volume of defence spending, but also of the Administration's capacity to absorb such a vast amount of resources in a timely and effective manner. And, what's more, to do it right, so that it genuinely helps to modernise our Armed Forces.

This is a point I would like to highlight - one that I believe your colleagues have had the opportunity to share with all of you and the media during preparatory meetings with cabinet members and the relevant ministries. The fact is that, right now, of the 35 billion - or nearly 35.5 billion - euros we invest in defence annually, 44% is allocated to new equipment. By contrast, if I recall correctly, the average among NATO member states is just over 20%.

We are therefore not only investing more, but we are also investing in new equipment and in the modernisation of our Armed Forces - something that is indeed necessary and which our Armed Forces were quite rightly calling for.

Consequently, I believe that Spain's presence is both noted and appreciated - whether in terms of capabilities, budgetary effort or our commitment to deploying troops and assets across the many security-related fronts where, unfortunately, many NATO allies are currently facing challenges.

Note that today, for example, at the Summit, it was not just one or two, but quite a few presidents and ministers who thanked Spain for its commitment and its presence in their countries. For instance, President Erdoğan himself did so; as you know, we have had Patriot air defence capabilities deployed there for years, specifically to safeguard some of Turkey's border areas.

This demonstrates that our efforts are appreciated by the Alliance's member states. I would emphasise that on every single occasion I have had the opportunity to speak with the NATO Secretary General, he too has acknowledged this.

This is of the utmost importance to us, and we certainly appreciate it, as our forces truly do extraordinary work. I had the opportunity to visit troops deployed on the Eastern Flank a few years ago, and the presidents of the Baltic States, for example, certainly recognise this contribution.

I have also had the chance to speak with the President of Finland, Mr. Stubb, who naturally appreciates Spain's participation in this new mission. If you wish, the Ministry of Defence team can later provide you with more precise details regarding the nature of our participation; however, if memory serves, Minister, this decision will be made in September, once an agreement is reached among all the countries participating in this mission. However, if there is any information that we can also pass on to you, we would be happy to do so.

And as for the last of these issues, look, we're in NATO, we're in Ankara; I've already spoken about this matter both at other press conferences and in the Lower House of Parliament. They know where I stand, and that's enough for me.

Q.- [Daniel Basteiro, Bloomberg] Thank you, Mr. President. Just to confirm: did you and President Trump speak in private? Did Trump not mention anything to you regarding the statements he makes in public? And I take it you didn't complain or ask for any kind of explanation either?

President.- Well, it was an informal conversation. We were all waiting to have our group photo taken. So, we chatted about football, the World Cup, and more informal topics, all with absolute and total cordiality.

Q. - [Daniel Basteiro, Bloomberg] Given the harshness of Trump's statements - and bearing in mind that this isn't the first time - I would like to ask if there have been any tangible consequences resulting from these threats Trump makes, and whether there might be any in the context of the review of the US presence in Europe - for instance, regarding the US bases in Spain.

And if I may ask a second question: President Trump has also said that Greenland should be under US control rather than Danish control. I would like to know how concerned you are that the United States - having already engaged in operations in Venezuela and Iran that might have seemed unlikely at first - could now attack European territory, and what Spain would be prepared to do to defend it.

Thank you.

President: Well, thank you very much, Daniel.

I believe that there is a common thread running through all three of your questions, and that is sovereignty.

As for what the United States does with its troops deployed in Europe, that is a sovereign decision for the U.S. government and a matter for the security analysis conducted by the U.S. Armed Forces. We have no say in that matter.

What I can convey, however, is that from the standpoint of military cooperation and collaboration between defence officials, the relationship is excellent. There is absolutely no difficulty whatsoever; on the contrary, there is a great deal of mutual respect and very positive cooperation between the US and Spanish Armed Forces.

But it is indeed a sovereign decision that rests with the US Government. However, within the framework of rebalancing NATO security responsibilities, Spain has contributed solutions and resources precisely to fill the gaps left by the absence - or reduced presence - of U.S. troops in Europe.

Secondly, regarding our relations with the United States. I say it again. Spain seeks to maintain the best possible relations with every country in the world - especially with our allies, such as the United States - regardless of which administration is in power.

This has happened on many other occasions throughout Spain's history. I had the opportunity to meet President Trump during his first presidency in 2018. I have had the opportunity to meet President Biden and now President Trump. We have the utmost goodwill and are fully committed to maintaining the best possible relationship with the United States, because I believe that what unites us is far greater than what divides us.

I would also say that we have the power to defend our general interests and, naturally, the sovereign decisions we take as a country. And these sovereign decisions are aimed at meeting the capabilities that NATO not only requires of us, but which we agreed with NATO last year, even before The Hague Conference took place. And, secondly, naturally, committing the necessary fiscal resources to meet those capability needs.

The good news is that, as I said at the start of my speech, we have delivered - and we have done so with flying colours. I reiterate: in 2024 and 2025, we ranked third out of 32 nations in terms of increasing defence spending; looking at the period from 2018 to 2026, we have moved from 0.9% to 2% of GDP. We are a country that has increased defence spending at a rate five times higher than the growth of our Gross Domestic Product. Our commitment is therefore total, absolute and unequivocal.

And we are doing this through specific plans - such as the one we presented to the General Courts and which the Council of Ministers approved - that strengthen both Spanish and European industry. This involves a defence budget increase of over €10.4 billion, with eight out of every ten euros going to Spanish industry and companies, and nine out of ten euros going to the European Union as a whole.

In addition to this, we take part in the European Commission's SAFE programme and in NATO's PURL programme. We are one of the main providers of financial and military support to Ukraine within the framework of NATO and the European Union.

In short, we have a presence in the regions that are, shall we say, closest to the areas of conflict with Russia. So, I believe these are the facts. Spain's commitment to the security of the North Atlantic Alliance is total and unequivocal.

And I believe that, beyond mere statements, what matters are the facts and the actual declaration; if one takes the trouble to read the NATO declaration - as I am convinced you have - one will see that many of the positions advocated by the Government of Spain are reflected there, because we are talking precisely about capabilities. And this is ultimately what a partnership is all about: knowing what capabilities are needed to tackle the common challenges and global issues that affect us all.

And regarding Greenland - indeed, that concerns the third aspect of sovereignty: national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

And, as you know, this is something Spain has always defended whenever the issue of Greenland has come up in public debate - in this instance, raised by the US administration.

Q. - [Carlota Núñez, Cuatro] Hello, Mr President. I wonder if, during that conversation about football you had with Donald Trump, the controversial topic of the red card and FIFA - which is generating so much discussion during this World Cup - came up.

And then, regarding the statements and criticisms from the United States: you mentioned that withdrawing troops is a sovereign decision on their part. But is Europe prepared, in a few months' time, to plug all the gaps that the United States might leave in the European Union?

Also, I wonder if you discussed the recent exchanges of attacks involving Iran. Trump declared the truce - the ceasefire - over here today, and I don't know if that came up in the meeting or if anyone commented on it.

I also wanted to ask if there was any discussion about that 5% figure - which was so controversial last year - regarding which Spain stated it would not comply, arguing it could manage with just the 2%, while Rutte insisted that plans needed to be submitted.

And finally, turning to domestic matters, I wanted to ask about the budget. There are several partners who seem unlikely to make things easy - including Junts, who have already signalled they will vote against it. I wonder if talks with them have begun, and how far you are willing to go to try to win them over to a "yes" vote. And, do you think that, following the CJEU's decision on 16 June, anything might change to help improve relations once again?

Thank you.

President. Well, thank you very much for your questions, Carlota

We did not discuss the red card. We spoke only about football and the successful staging of the World Cup itself in the United States. We also talked a bit about golf, because President Trump is a keen golfer. I don't play it much myself, but we did discuss such matters.

It was a completely informal conversation, conducted in a friendly and very cordial manner.

There are so many questions!

Regarding whether Europe is prepared for this sovereign decision by the United States... I would like to point out that the U.S. administration has been signalling this decision for quite some time. In other words, this is not something that has suddenly come up at this Summit, but rather it has been under discussion for some time, since his first term in office. And, certainly, from the very beginning of his second term. Therefore, I believe the Minister of Defence can be more explicit and specific on this issue later on.

But in any case, wherever NATO has asked us to provide capabilities to offset the reduction in the U.S. military presence, Spain has stepped up - we haven't looked the other way; we have contributed. And I believe this has been greatly appreciated by our allies.

Three. Indeed, we have heard President Trump's remarks on Iran. He knows what our position is. What we want is to avoid the outbreak of another war. Wars are always bad news - especially for civilians, and particularly for women and children. Therefore, we hope that talks will resume, and the peace agreement will be consolidated. And, in whatever humble way we can, to contribute to this. Of course we will.

And finally, regarding the 5% figure. I reiterate: I believe the key point in the summit declaration is that NATO speaks in terms of capabilities - focusing not so much on the resources to be allocated, but on the capabilities to be provided. And I believe that is a stance Spain has always championed.

In fact, I would like to recall that when the issue of the 5% figure was raised last year, Spain had already agreed with NATO on the capabilities we needed to make available to the Alliance to address those challenges; the cost of contributing those capabilities amounted to 2.1% of our Gross Domestic Product. This is a position we have consistently maintained and agreed upon with the Alliance, and we believe it is important.

It is just as important to protect and guarantee our countries' security as it is for public opinion to understand the efforts we are making to guarantee that security - and, consequently, to make it feasible to sustain greater security capabilities and a more European NATO alongside a strong welfare state capable of tackling a threat facing our societies: inequality. I believe this is something that would, quite naturally, lend much greater legitimacy to the commitment we are making to the security and defence of our country, our continent and the North Atlantic Alliance.

As regards the General State Budget, we are a coalition government with a parliamentary minority. What does this mean? Firstly, we are a coalition government and must therefore reach an internal agreement on which draft budget we are going to present to the General Courts. And then, as we have done on many other occasions, we will have to go to the General Courts and secure - or attempt to secure - parliamentary support from the various groups in the House. We do so with humility, but also with the conviction that the economic, fiscal, and social policies implemented by this government have yielded clear results.

We often speak of the importance of the instruments used, but the results are what matter most. Very recently - amidst the difficult context we are experiencing, such as the situation involving the war in Iran that we discussed earlier - Spain raised its economic growth forecast to 2.6% and recorded Social Security registration levels that are absolutely unprecedented in our history, reaching 22.5 million contributors. Furthermore, during my time leading the government, Spain has been the third country in the European Union to achieve the greatest reduction in inequality.

Therefore, while the instruments are important, the results are more important.

And I believe the results show - as you have heard me say on many occasions - that Spain is experiencing one of the finest periods in its democratic history, in terms of employment, in terms of growth and also in terms of reducing inequality.

There is still a great deal left to do; without a doubt, the most important of these is housing. I haven't been asked about that today. I'm sure I'll be asked about this - I'm convinced I will be - at other press conferences, because we will also be putting forward a package of housing measures to the General Courts, which I hope will, on this occasion, receive majority support from the House.

Well, let's get on with the work.

Thank you very much for this briefing.

(Transcript edited by the State Secretariat for Communication)