Zapatero outlines Spain's priorities as EU Presidents

The Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has outlined Spain’s priorities for the European Union, with just days before it takes over the rotating Presidency.

He mentioned how the main priorities would be the full application of the Treaty of Lisbon, to consolidate economic recovery and approving the European strategy for sustainable growth for 2020, strengthening the presence and influence of the EU on the international stage and putting European citizens at the heart of the EU's policies.

The Prime Minister also promised to work towards ‘a new model of balanced and sustainable growth’, taking social and environmental interests into account.

Zapatero emphasised that the challenge of consolidating economic recovery, combined the aims of returning to the path of job creation and of making progress with regard to the sustainability of the public finances. He warned that the EU must avoid premature withdrawal of the measures to support the financial sector and stimulate demand.

With regards to international policy, Spain will seek to develop relationships with America, as well as to place more emphasis on the relationship with South America and the Caribbean, aswell as the development of a strategic dialogue with Russia.

Similarly, Spain intends to intensify accession negotiations with Croatia, while seeking to ‘maintain an appropriate pace’ with Turkey, another candidate country.

The Spanish Presidency intends to ensure that the EU signs up to the European Convention on Human Rights. In this respect, Spain is also going to give impetus to the fight against gender-based violence and will push for the setting up of a European monitoring centre and a European protection order.