Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has announced that he will promote an agreement to do away with visas for Colombian citizens that want to travel to the Schengen area at the upcoming EU-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Summit in June. The leaders of Spain and Colombia signed a declaration and various partnership agreements.
Rajoy, received the President of the Republic of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, who is on a State visit to Spain, at Moncloa Palace.
At the joint press conference they gave at the end of the meeting, Rajoy highlighted that the visit takes places at a key time in the recent history of Colombia. “After half a century of hostilities and numerous victims, President Santos has pushed through a highly complex peace process with a far-reaching historical scope that is currently going through a crucial phase”, he explained.
Rajoy recalled that Juan Manuel Santos was in Madrid last November at the start of a European tour designed to explain the developments in the peace process in Colombia and to gather political support for this process. As he did on that occasion, he reiterated the Spanish Government’s support for the initiative, “support that is shared by the main Spanish political forces and by our own public opinion”. “I am aware that President Santos is working with great drive and conviction. I hope that peace comes soon”, he added.
Progress on removing Schengen visas
Rajoy undertook to mediate at the upcoming EU-CELAC Summit in June in Brussels to try to push through the removal of the requirement for Schengen visas for Colombian and Peruvian citizens. He explained that the measure has received positive political backing but that certain technical issues are still pending. “It would be reckless of me to put a date on it because the resolution of these problems is not down to me, but I will do all I can”, he said.
“I would like to highlight that this initiative is recognition of thousands of Colombians that live in Spain and who have decisively contributed to our development and to our liberty. It is also due recognition of all Colombians, their sacrifices and their desire for peace”, Rajoy added.
Bilateral agreements
The Governments of Spain and Colombia have signed a declaration that updates the current framework of the Strategic Association in force since 2008, which identifies priorities in bilateral relations, as well as potential areas for future collaboration. “The agreement provides for the re-launch of the High-Level Commission, chaired by the foreign affairs ministers, which will meet on an annual basis at alternating locations”, pointed out Rajoy.
In addition, other sector agreements have been signed on development cooperation, broadcasting in Castilian Spanish, air transport and collaboration on issues relating to penitentiary institutions. The two leaders confirmed the strong level of economic and trade relations between the two countries and the potential for expansion.
European Union-Latin America
The two leaders also spoke about relations between the EU and Latin America and, in particular, with Colombia, which, according to Rajoy, “is a good example of creative and diversified cooperation.
At an economic and trade level, the Spanish Prime Minister advocated taking further steps “on the path between Latin America and Europe by facilitating integration and free trade processes”. He also recalled that Spain will continue to support Colombia’s membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), “a process that will hopefully be concluded next year”.
On security issues, Rajoy recalled that Colombia has increased its commitment beyond its borders. In this regard, he pointed out that the agreement signed with the European Union “will shortly allow Colombia to play an active role, through a naval vessel, in Operation Atalanta to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean”. He also remarked that Colombia has laid the foundations for its cooperation with NATO, resulting in the signing of an agreement on co-operation and information security in July 2013. “Spain clearly supports these initiatives”, he stressed.
Among other issues Rajoy and Juan Manuel Santos also tackled the upcoming EU-CELAC Summit; the Ibero-American Summit that will take place in Colombia in 2016, and the progress made by the Pacific Alliance, of which Spain was the first EU Observer State.
