Spanish presidency 'committed' to working with EU parliament

Further Reading

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• Brewers of Europe
• Spanish Wine Appellation Society

Spain's foreign affairs minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos has promised to work closely with MEPs in bringing about Europe's economic recovery.

Ángel Moratinos was was the guest speaker at the Parliament Magazine's Spanish EU Presidency reception held in the European parliament on Monday to celebrate the country's six-month stint at the EU's helm.

With unemployment in Spain at almost 20 per cent, prime minister José Luis Zapatero pledged to make economic recovery a key presidency priority.

And Ángel Moratinos told TheParliament.com that this, alongside the new economic objectives contained in the 2020 strategy, would be high on Madrid's agenda.

The presidency will also need to "put the Lisbon treaty into motion", he said, and he stressed the need to increase EU "respectability" in world affairs.

"I think the EU has to be much more determined, much more present in the international mission," said the minister.

Speaking of parliament's new legislative powers contained in the Lisbon treaty, he added, "The European parliament is extremely important and becoming more so because of Lisbon.

"I will come here, engage and of course take into consideration the comments and advice that the European parliament will give to the council."

Delivering the keynote speech at the packed event he said that Spain would "show tremendous commitment to work with the European parliament".

He spoke of the role of the "essential" role of parliament in "bringing people closer" to Europe, pledging that Madrid will "work to make a stronger EU with more credibility".

Guests were treated to traditional Spanish food anddrink including paella and Lentejas con chorizo, and some of the country's finest wines were supplied by the Spanish conference of regulating wine councils and a range of Spanish beers courtesy of the Brewers of Europe.

Accepting a glass of his homeland's wine, Ángel Moratinos joked that the Spanish presidency "will try to make everybody happy".

But he ended on a more sombre note, saying, "Even if we are enjoying ourselves tonight let's have a thought for the people Haiti - they deserve that."

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