Pedro Sánchez presents the Seville Plan to support and reform multilateralism

FIBES Conference and Exhibition Centre, Seville

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, speaks at the event on Global Solidarity at the United Nations International Conference on Financing for Development (Pool Moncloa /Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, presented the Seville Plan for multilateralism at the 4th United Nations International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4). He did so during the special event "Investing in Global Solidarity: a New Vision for Development Cooperation", which was also attended by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Rebeca Grynspan; the Secretary-General of the OECD, Mathias Cormann; the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye and the President of the European Investment Bank, Nadia Calviño, among other personalities.

The president began his speech by recalling that the multilateral system is being questioned, and therefore called for "a renewed multilateralism to emerge from the Seville Conference, one that can withstand the current challenges". Pedro Sánchez pointed out that Spain's initiative in this regard will be the Seville Plan for Multilateralism, which, he added, is made up of three main lines of action: refuge, reinforcement and reform.

Greater Spanish presence in the multilateral arena

To protect and preserve multilateralism in the face of budget cuts, and thus serve as a refuge for it, Spain will open a United Nations House in Madrid to host interested UN agencies, as the president announced on Monday; but in addition, Pedro Sánchez added today, our country will host more international events such as this Seville Conference, and will be committed to a greater presence of Spain and Spaniards in international organisations. "Spain opens its doors, extends its hand, and does so when it is most needed," the president explained.

In terms of strengthening the multilateral system, the president announced that Spain will allocate 0.7% of its gross national income to development aid by 2030, gradually increasing its current contribution starting next year. Moreover, Pedro Sánchez added, it will do so by redirecting contributions to those sectors most affected by the withdrawal of funds from other donors.

In this regard, he explained that the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) will allocate 315 million euros to global health, 500 million to climate change and 725 million to human rights and humanitarian action in the period 2025-2027. "Because we know that the best investment in security and defence is one that creates well-being, development and opportunities," stressed Pedro Sánchez.

The president also specified that the way in which Spanish contributions are made will be improved by announcing them on a multiannual basis, to give predictability and stability to international agencies; by bringing forward the disbursement of our contributions as much as possible in the budget year; and by increasing contributions to meet the running costs of the institutions so that they can better navigate these times of uncertainty.

A platform for transforming multilateralism

With regard to the reform of the multilateral system, the President of the Government of Spain announced that Spain will coordinate a platform of leaders, institutions and key actors in civil society that will chart the way forward and promote action to radically transform the architecture of global governance.

"We stand for a more inclusive and representative global governance, where all voices - including those of the global South, youth, science and civil society - have a seat at the table," said the president.

"Faced with the withdrawal of some, Spain offers refuge. Faced with cuts, Spain offers reinforcement, and faced with deadlock, Spain offers reform of the multilateral system", said the president in the conclusion to his speech. "Because if ever there was a time to renew our multilateral compact, it is today. And if ever there was a place to do it, it is here, in Spain and in Seville".

Non official translation