Spain signs six agreements with Uruguay in the fields of cooperation, security, culture and gender equality

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, during their meeting. (Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

The declaration provides for annual political consultations, strengthens economic and trade relations, and for the first time includes content on equality and cooperation in regional fora and multilateral affairs.

The agreements include a pioneering alliance for sustainable development between Spain and Uruguay, which goes beyond traditional cooperation formulas by identifying regional and global challenges in which both countries can align their positions, and an agreement in the field of security and the fight against transnational organised crime, which will allow both home affairs ministries to exchange information on police intelligence and improve cooperation on citizen security.

In addition, four Memoranda of Understanding were signed: one on consular cooperation (which includes mechanisms for coordinated action in favour of the Uruguayan and Spanish communities in third countries), another on gender equality (to forge an alliance that promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls also in multilateral forums), a third in the field of cultural collaboration (aimed at facilitating cooperation between Spanish and Uruguayan institutions in the visual and performing arts, music, film, literature, libraries, archives and museums, and the management of cultural heritage, among other areas), and last, a memorandum of cooperation between diplomatic schools.

EU-Mercosur Agreement

The President of the Government highlighted the scope of these agreements as a reflection of the "intense relationship" between Spain and Uruguay. Pedro Sánchez characterised the relationship between the two countries as that of "two vibrant democracies" united by shared interests and a joint vision of the need to defend democracy, human rights and multilateralism. The president also stressed the importance of economic relations, as expressed at the business meeting held on Tuesday morning between Spanish and Uruguayan companies. In this regard, Pedro Sánchez stressed the "utmost imperative need for the EU-Mercosur Agreement to be concluded and enter into force as soon as possible", as it means creating the largest free trade area in the world and sending a message of crucial openness at a time of global trade uncertainty.