SPAIN

UNSC

(United Nations Security Council)

HANNA SOFIA BÁRCENAS PÉREZ

3ºA

Knowing your country:

Where is it in the world and what are its neighbors?

Spain is located in the southwest of Europe and occupies 80% of the Iberian Peninsula,
which it shares with Portugal. It borders to the north with the Cantabrian Sea, France
and Andorra, to the east with the Mediterranean Sea, to the south with the
Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west with the Atlantic Ocean and
Portugal.
https://www.camaraofespanola.org/geografia-de-espana/

Which countries are powerful in its region?

In addition to rebellions and corrupt taxation policies at home, the loss of territories in
Europe and overseas assisted the decline. The Portuguese independence
movement saw an alliance between neighboring Portugal and England, furthering
Spain's loss of power on the European continent and abroad.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-decline-of-spain-emergence-of-competing-
powers.html#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20rebellions%20and,the%20European
%20continent%20and%20abroad

What system of government does it have and who is its leader?

Spain is a State whose political form is a parliamentary monarchy. The government system
is based on national sovereignty, the division of powers and a parliamentary system. It is a
parliamentary system due to the central role played by the legislative branch or Parliament.

The political form of the Spanish State is the parliamentary monarchy. The king is the Head
of the State and all his acts must be endorsed by the Government, in accordance with the
provisions of the Constitution in its Title II dedicated to the Crown.

Juan Carlos de Borbón y Borbón, Juan Carlos I, was proclaimed king on November 22,
1978. After his abdication, since June 19, 2014, the king of Spain has been his son Felipe
VI. The queen consort is Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano.

As established in the Constitution, his first-born daughter, Princess of Asturias Leonor de

Borbón Ortiz, is the heir to the Crown. His youngest daughter, Infanta Sofía de Borbón Ortiz,
is the second in the line of succession.

https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/espana/organizacionestado/Paginas/index.aspx#:~:text=La
%20forma%20pol%C3%ADtica%20del%20Estado,II%20dedicado%20a%20la%20Corona.

Is its economy industrialized or mostly agricultural?

Spain has grown above the European average constantly in the last 5 years, prior to the
appearance of the COVID-2019 pandemic. It is the 4th economy in the EU and the 14th in
the world with a GDP of 1.2 billion dollars. It ranks 13th in the world in receiving investments.
https://www.investinspain.org/es/por-que-espana/economia#:~:text=Espa%C3%B1a%20ha
%20crecido%20por%20encima,mundial%20en%20recepci%C3%B3n%20de%20inversiones

Spain is the main producer and seller of olive oil and table olives in the world. With an area
under cultivation of 2,605,252 hectares (24% of the global total), it produces 44% of all the
olive oil and 24% of table olives. In other words, one half of the bottles of olive oil and one jar
in four of the table olives consumed around the world have their origin in Spain. 2015-2016
olive oil production accounted for 6.4% of crop output value.
https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/espana/stpv/spaintoday2015/agriculture/Paginas/
index.aspx#:~:text=Spain%20is%20the%20main%20producer,and%2024%25%20of
%20table%20olives.

What are the main sources of income?

The tourism sector is fundamental to the country's economy, as it is Spain's main source of
income (although its contribution to GDP fell from a pre-COVID level of 12.4% in 2019, to
8% in 2021 - INE), since the country is the second most popular tourist destination in the
world.
https://santandertrade.com/es/portal/analizar-mercados/espana/politica-y-
economia#:~:text=El%20sector%20turístico%20es%20fundamental,turístico%20más
%20popular%20del%20mundo.

What is the role of religion in the state?

Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution. The most practiced religion is
the Catholic religion and is evident with important popular festivals such as Holy Week.
Other religions practiced in Spain are Muslim, Hebrew, Protestant and Hindu, which have
places for their worship.
https://www.spain.info/es/consejos-viaje/religiones-espana/#:~:text=Religión%20¿Qué
%20religión%20se%20practica%20en%20España%3F&text=La%20libertad%20de%20culto
%20está,populares%20como%20la%20Semana%20Santa.

How tolerant of different religions and beliefs is its government?

No one may be forced to declare their ideology, religion or beliefs. No confession will have
state character. The public powers will take into account the religious beliefs of Spanish
society and will maintain the consequent relations of cooperation with the Catholic Church
and other confessions.
https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/titulos/articulos.jsp?
ini=16&tipo=2#:~:text=Nadie%20podrá%20ser%20obligado%20a,Católica%20y%20las
%20demás%20confesiones

Are its laws based on religion or is it secular?

Article 19. Freedom of religion is guaranteed. Everyone has the right to freely profess their
religion and to spread it individually or collectively. All religious denominations and churches
are equally free before the law.
https://www.suin-juriscol.gov.co/legislacion/libertadculto.html#:~:text=Art%C3%ADculo
%2019.,igualmente%20libres%20ante%20la%20ley.
Are there minority groups?

Knowing this and fully aware that Spain is no exception when it comes to the current racist
phenomenon, the Government created the Spanish Observatory of Racism and Xenophobia,
under the Immigration Law of 2000, although its constitution did not materialize until 2006. The
decision to create the Observatory is the result of the recommendations of the various ECRI
reports, the transposition of Directive 43/2000 of the European Union on "Application of the
principle of Equal treatment of persons regardless of their racial origin or ethnic" and warnings
from civil society of the increase in situations of discrimination, racism and xenophobia in Spain
against foreign citizens and members of ethnic minorities.

The first and fundamental mission of the Observatory is to carry out a periodic diagnosis of the
situation of racism and xenophobia in Spain. The collection of data, the analysis by experts and
the publication of a detailed diagnosis of the situation are the three fundamental aspects of this
first objective, which has an important corollary: the preparation and publication of reports, the
first of which was the Study on the opinion of Spaniards on racism and xenophobia in March
2006. The second objective of the Observatory is the establishment of communication networks
with equivalent international entities. In this way, it becomes the main Spanish interlocutor of the
ECRI and the European Agency for Fundamental Rights, with whom it maintains a permanent and
direct relationship, as well as through civil society. The third fundamental task of the Observatory
is to prepare mandatory reports prior to the approval of sectoral legislation on the fight against
racism and xenophobia. Perhaps the most well-known and notorious case has been that of the
recent Law against violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sport, one of the areas in
which the racist phenomenon is most visible and regrettable, both in Spain and elsewhere. All
Europe. The ultimate objective of the Observatory is to promote the principle of equal treatment
for all. Whether racist and xenophobic attitudes are eliminated will depend on the effectiveness
of the actions adopted in this area. The actions already undertaken include training officials,
among others members of the security forces, on equal treatment and non-discrimination on the
basis of racial or ethnic origin, promoting the appropriate treatment of the racist phenomenon in
the media or promoting the use of good practices in the public and private sectors.

The model of the Spanish Observatory of Racism and Xenophobia is still too new to be able to
offer tangible results of importance, but it is to be hoped that it can become an essential tool to
fight against racist phenomena that, unfortunately, are increasing in Spain as shown the study
prepared by the Observatory in March 2006. The study also shows that in Spain there is a general
rejection of open manifestations of racism and a positive assessment of the presence in Spanish
society of people of different origins. However, along with this hopeful data, several worrying
paradoxes emerge. The first is the perception that the number of foreigners in the country is
excessive. On the other hand, the idea prevails that in Spain there are certain ethnic, religious or
cultural groups or minorities that do not mix with the rest of society: this proves the existence of
an important minority little inclined to cultural openness. There is also a widespread perception
that increased immigration encourages crime.

The elimination of obstacles to achieving real equality for all citizens is one of the main
hallmarks of the current Government of Spain. Thus, the Gender Equality Law has been approved;
the modification of the Marriage Law, which extends it to everyone; the Dependency Law, whose
objective is to seek greater equality of opportunities for those who cannot take care of
themselves and their families; the introduction in schools of the subject Education for Citizenship
and Human Rights; and the approval of the Gender Identity Law, which eliminates all
discrimination based on sexual orientation. In the area of tolerance and non-discrimination, in
addition to the establishment of the Racism and Xenophobia Observatory, the Penal Code has
been modified to introduce the aggravating circumstance of racism in the commission of any
crime, which will entail harsher penalties, and have established two new bodies, the Pluralism
and Coexistence Foundation, to promote ecumenical dialogue, and the State Council of the
Gypsy People, which recognizes the continuing difficulties of integration of a people established
in Spain for centuries.

These same priorities are reflected in Spain's foreign human rights policy, which has made the
fight against discrimination one of its flags. As an example, in addition to the launch of the
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, it is worth mentioning that, in 2007, the year in which
Spain presides over the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), it was
chosen for the human dimension of the Organization the motto "Diversity and Participation in
Pluralistic Societies".
https://www.un.org/es/chronicle/article/iniciativas-lideradas-por-el-estado-para-acabarcon-la-
discriminacion-racialla-experiencia-de-espana

Are these groups treated differently to the majority?

A democratic system is not compatible with the persistence of the racist phenomenon and with
the modern manifestations of intolerance and discrimination that we currently suffer. However,
these expressions of the most staunch and irrational hatred will not disappear until a framework
is created that promotes awareness-raising work, effectively using education and the media, and
strengthens legislation aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination.
https://www.un.org/es/chronicle/article/iniciativas-lideradas-por-el-estado-para-acabarcon-la-
discriminacion-racialla-experiencia-de-espana

Are there civil conflicts?

The Spanish Civil War was one of the most passionate idealogical conflicts of
modern times. It was the greatest and last struggle between traditional Catholicism
and liberal secularism. To many, religion became the most divisive issue of the war,
the single problem that distinguished one fraction from another.Since then there
hasn’t been a recent serious civil conflict.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Spanish-Civil-War

What is the government response to this?

The Strategy is concerned with both ethics and effectiveness, and seeks to identify
and prioritize those spheres in which Spain has the greatest capacity for action, and
to promote our international humanitarian profile through specific lines of action.
The Strategy is aligned with the Agenda for Humanity approved in 2016, the United
Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, the promises and
resolutions of the International Conferences of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the
Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular
Migration, among other instruments. In addition, it is coherent with instruments
such as the Guide to Spain’s Feminist Foreign Policy, which sets forth our country’s
commitment to mainstreaming gender equality and the empowerment of women
and girls into all of its foreign policy actions.
Drafted following an inclusive process, this Strategy is the product of a collaborative
effort involving multiple public administrations and civil society.
https://www.exteriores.gob.es/es/PoliticaExterior/Documents/Estrategia%20Española%20de
%20Diplomacia%20Humanitaria%202023-2026%20ingles.pdf

Are there any groups that are fighting to be independent or autonomous?

Spain has 17 autonomous regions (including the archipelago of the Canary Islands in the
Atlantic Ocean and the archipelago of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea), and
two autonomous cities in northern Africa: Ceuta and Melilla. Each autonomous region is
itself divided into provinces, making a total of 52
http://www.studyinspain.info/en/reportajes/propuestas/Spain-and-its-regions/#:~:text=Spain
%20has%2017%20autonomous%20regions,making%20a%20total%20of%2052..

Catalonia's independence movement is back in the headlines after Spain's Supreme

Court jailed nine separatist leaders, prompting days of protests.
The crisis first flared in October 2017, when a banned independence referendum
was met with a heavy police crackdown.
Madrid imposed direct rule on the region shortly after.
It is the country's biggest political crisis since democracy was restored in 1975, after
the death of military dictator General Francisco Franco.(2019)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29478415

During the COVID-19 pandemic, “people started worrying about quite different things, and
the goal of independence withered away,” Cardenal said. In particular, the EU’s role in
combating the pandemic spoke volumes to many citizens about the need for EU backing for
an independent Catalonia.
“There was a lot of self-deception back then about how the EU couldn’t do without Catalonia,
so future membership would be a given,” Cardenal said. “But the EU—which most Catalans
support—set different limits to what could be done.” The United Kingdom’s dire performance
post-Brexit, both economically and politically, has also reinforced fears about the risks of
losing EU protection.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/05/20/catalonia-independence-movement-spain-municipal-
general-elections/

What is the country's history?

SUMMARY – INTRODUCTION OF THE HISTORY OF SPAIN From prehistory to the end of

the Visigothic kingdom.

The roots of the history of the Iberian Peninsula go back to the appearance of the first
hominids, so far the oldest remains have been found at the Atapuerca site (Burgos). In this
topic we will study the process of hominization in the Iberian Peninsula, the discovery of
agriculture and livestock, the occupations of the colonizing peoples and the great
transformation brought about by Rome, which laid the foundations of peninsular civilization.
The crisis of the Roman Empire and the appearance of the Visigoth kingdom mark the end
of this stage.

Medieval Spain.
The Muslim conquest of the Visigoth kingdom in the year 711 integrated almost all of our
territory into the Islamic world for a period of eight hundred years. Faced with this power, the
Christian centers of the north were configured as centers of resistance. With the
dismemberment of the Cordoba caliphate, came the Christian advance and the recovery of
the peninsular territory. A process that culminated in 1492 with the fall of the Nasrid kingdom
into the hands of the Catholic Monarchs.

The Hispanic monarchy from the RRCC to the Austrias.

The reign of the Catholic Monarchs was the starting point of the modern State in Spain.
During his government the following took place: the creation of the authoritarian monarchy,
the dynastic unification of the territories, the discovery of America and overseas expansion,
the conquest of Granada and religious unification. From 1516 to 1700 the Austrian dynasty
occupied the throne of Spain. During the 16th century the Greater Austrias (Charles I and
Philip II), and during the 17th century the Lesser Austrias (Philip III, Philip IV and Charles I).
If during the 16th century the Hispanic monarchy was the most powerful State, during the
17th century the political decline began, leading to the loss of world hegemony. However, in
the artistic and intellectual world, the Renaissance and Baroque prevailed with great cultural
splendor.

The 18th century: the first Bourbons.

The arrival at the beginning of the 18th century of the new Bourbon dynasty seemed to
encourage hope for other forms of government that, inspired by enlightened despotism,
would make the recovery of Spain possible. The 18th century at the European level means
the return to reason, progress and modernization. The new dynasty will try to be in tune with
these ideas and a broad reform movement shakes Spain. The logic of the Enlightenment
ideas, together with the economic development brought about by the beginnings of the
Industrial Revolution, will contribute to breaking down the estate order and the legitimacy of
absolute monarchies at the end of the century. The French Revolution of 1789 did its part in
this phenomenon. Spain would also be affected by these ideas, but that is another topic.

The crisis of the Old Regime.

In 1788 Charles IV acceded to the throne. The old regime, although reformed by enlightened
despotism, seemed intact. A year later, the French Revolution (1789) began a process that
in just over forty years would pave the way for political liberalism.

The internal disputes of the reign of Charles IV, the Aranjuez mutiny, the French invasion
and the uprising of May 1808, began the long process that will lead to the fall of the old
regime and the confrontation between liberals and absolutists. The Constitution of 1812 is a
faithful reflection of many of these liberal principles.

The consolidation of the liberal State: the reign of Isabel II (1843-1868)

During the reign of Isabel II, the liberal political system in Spain was consolidated. The two
liberal parties that will fight for power will be the moderates (upper bourgeoisie) and the
progressives (lower bourgeoisie). These will succeed each other in power and when they
govern, each one will write a Constitution tailored to them. Outside the system are the
absolutists (Carlists) who will claim the throne for Carlos Ma Isidro and his successors during
the 19th century, the three Carlist wars.
In 1868 a revolution put an end to the reign of Isabel II, she went into exile in Paris and in
Spain a new constitution was drafted, that of 1869, the most progressive of all up to that
time. With the throne empty, the Cortes launched a search for a new king. The chosen one
would be the Italian Amadeo of Savoy, who would last just two years (1871-1873).
After the king's abdication, the First Spanish Republic was proclaimed, which failed to fix
anything. It would be overthrown with the coup d'état of General Pavía and the
pronouncement of Martínez Campos, both events contributed to the restoration of the
Bourbons in the person of Alfonso XII, son of Isabel II.

The Revolutionary Sexennium (1868-1874)

After the overthrow of the queen, a period of strong changes began, known by
historiography as the democratic or revolutionary Sexennium. It constituted the first attempt
to establish democracy in Spain as it was understood in the 19th century, that is, based on
universal male suffrage. This stage began with the dethronement of Isabel II and concluded
with the proclamation of her son, Alfonso XII, as king of Spain. In those six years
(September 1868 – December 1874) various political regimes took place: a regency, a
monarchy, a republic and finally, after the dictatorship of General Serrano, the restoration of
the Bourbon monarchy occurred again in person. of Alfonso XII.
The common characteristic of the entire period was the search for a new political and social
order, in which the urban bourgeoisie and the growing labor movement played a
fundamental role. That is why this stage is called the Democratic Sexennium or the
Revolutionary Sexennium.

Economy and society in 19th century Spain.

Spain, like a large part of southern and eastern European countries, experienced important
transformations in its economy throughout the 19th century, but it did not manage to get on
the industrialization train at the same pace as Great Britain, France, Germany or Belgium.
At the end of the 19th century, Spain maintained a predominantly agrarian economy, with a
limited industrial sector and little capable of competing in the foreign market. However,
Spanish society presented the characteristic features of a capitalist society, although the
level of wealth per inhabitant was notably lower than that of industrialized countries,
especially that of Great Britain, which had become the factory of the world.

The restoration regime (1875 – 1902)

After the failed attempt to establish a democratic regime during the Sexennium (1868-1874),
the Bourbon monarchy was restored and Spain returned to census liberalism. The new
political system devised by Cánovas del Castillo was based on the alternation in power of
two large parties, the conservative and the liberal.
The Restoration lasted more than fifty years, from the pronouncement of Martínez Campos
in 1874 until the proclamation of the Second Republic in 1931. During this long period, which
encompasses the reigns of Alfonso XII and Alfonso XIII, with the interregnum of the regency
of María Cristina, a constitutional and parliamentary regime was consolidated. Over time, the
two hegemonic parties decomposed and were not able to accommodate the new emerging
forces, such as republicanism and workerism, to broaden the social base of the regime and
give it stability.
In 1898, the loss of the last Spanish colonies, Cuba and the Philippines, plunged the
Restoration into a great political and moral crisis, known as the “disaster,” which cracked the
foundations of the system and raised the need to begin a process of reforms. social, political
and economic in the country (“regenerationism”).
The reign of Alfonso XIII and the crisis of the Restoration system (1902 - 1931).
The disaster of 1898 produced a general commotion in the country. As a consequence, the
Restoration regime entered a new phase, which was marked by the accession to the throne
of Alfonso the Second Republic. During this period, a new generation of politicians and new
social movements (republicanism, workerism and nationalism) burst into Spanish life. The
Restoration regime was not able to broaden its social base towards these new forces that
gave rise to an increase in social and political conflicts. The war in Morocco and the impact
of the First War exacerbated the conflicts. The system's inability to democratize ended up
leading to Primo de Rivera's coup d'état in 1923 and establishing the dictatorship until 1930.

The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1936).

The result of the elections of April 12, 1931 gave victory to the republican forces in most of
the large cities, and thus acquired the character of a plebiscite against the monarchy. Faced
with this situation, King Alfonso XIII renounced the Crown, left Spain and on April 14, the
Republic was proclaimed. The new regime was seen in the eyes of a large part of the
Spanish population as an opportunity to democratize and modernize the State through a
broad program of economic and social reforms. But the Republic was born in difficult
circumstances. At the international level, the world had to face the most serious crisis of
capitalism, after the stock market crash of 1929. In Europe, fascism had begun its escalation
and endangered the recent democracies. The lack of democratic tradition in Spain, social
conflict, the slowness of reforms and the conservative opposition led to political instability.
The triumph of the left-wing Popular Front in February 1936 was the pretext for the enemies
of the Republic to decide to take up arms against it.

The Civil War (1936-1939)

The Civil War was the most relevant and tragic event in the history of Spain in the 20th
century. Many of the problems that contemporary Spanish society had been experiencing
since the 19th century were concentrated in this war.
The confrontation between the traditionally dominant groups in Spain (aristocrats, large
agricultural owners, businessmen, Church, Army) and the popular classes (peasants,
workers, petite bourgeoisie) reached a critical point during the Second Republic and
culminated in the Civil War.
In July 1936, the group of forces that revolted against the Republic had not anticipated the
possibility of starting a war. The military uprising turned into a civil war because both the
rebels and the Republican side soon had foreign aid. The war then reached an international
dimension.

The Franco dictatorship (1939-1975).

The result of the Spanish Civil War was the consolidation of the dictatorial regime that the
rebels had built since October 1936. The regime lasted until the death of the dictator in 1975.
In its almost forty years of existence, Francoism always remained an iron dictatorship. ,
although its institutions were evolving. It is considered that the Franco regime had two major
stages. The first lasted until 1959 and was characterized by the attempt to establish a
totalitarian State inspired by fascism and based on economic autarky. The second stage
took place in the 1950s, when the failure of economic policy and the need for international
recognition led to the liberalization of the economy. The result was a period of intense
economic growth and social modernization that developed throughout the 1960s.

Transition and democracy.

After Franco's death, a process of political transition developed in Spain in which the 1978
Constitution was promulgated and through which a system of constitutional monarchy was
established. The transition took place between 1975, with the accession to the throne of
King Juan Carlos I, and 1982, with the arrival to power of the Spanish Socialist Workers
Party (PSOE), one of the opposition parties to Francoism. Since 1982, a period of
democratic normality began in which two parties, PSOE and PP, have alternated in
government. During these years, Spain has taken an immense modernizing leap,
consolidating a “welfare state” typical of industrialized countries. This state is currently
threatened as a consequence of the economic crisis that we have suffered since 2007, the
“decline of political and financial institutions”, corruption, and the increase in social protests.
Situation very similar to that experienced in other southern European countries.
https://profesoremilio.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/resumen-hes.pdf

Is it a developed or developing country?

The Spanish economy will undoubtedly slow down in 2023, although no risk of recession or
contraction is envisaged for the time being. The forecasts for Spain are more upbeat than
those of the main European economies due to Spain’s specialized production and
comparative non-reliance on the Russian and Ukrainian economies, plus the implementation
of certain measures, such as the Iberian exception. This is one of the main findings of the
Esade Economic and Financial Report (first six months of 2023), produced with support from
Banco Sabadell and directed by Toni Roldán, director of EsadeEcPol. According to the
chapter on the economic scenario, by Esade professor Josep M. Comajuncosa and Manuel
Hidalgo, professor at Pablo de Olavide University and senior fellow at EsadeEcPol, the 1%
growth forecast for the Spanish economy will depend on the evolution of energy prices and
inflation and the ensuing decisions taken by the European Central Bank. The performance of
the job market will also be decisive, in which respect the authors warn that potential
employment levels may already have been reached, a situation that might hinder reductions
in unemployment in the coming months.

The impact of fiscal policy in 2023, an election year, will also be crucial. According to the
authors of the report, the overexposure to fiscal stimuli in recent months (such as Next
Generation EU funds, and increases in pensions and minimum wages) could bring down the
deflation that began at the end of last year. These measures and others such as the
reduction in VAT, will significantly impact public finances by limiting the reduction in the
public deficit and sending today’s very high levels of public borrowing even higher.In this
respect, they believe it is essential for Next Generation EU funds to be used to make
profound structural reforms aimed at improving productivity and the output of human capital.

In terms of sectors, the construction industry can expect a year of significant opportunities
thanks to the investment driven by Next Generation EU funds, whereas forecasts for the
service sector, whilst still relatively optimistic, are more uncertainbecause of the close links
between consumer spending and the evolution of prices, financial costs and the job market.
The uncertainty regarding industry, however, will be high because of geopolitical friction and
changes to regulations, particularly those related to the environment and industrial
autonomy.

The inflation dilemma facing banks

The Economic and Financial Report reveals that 2023 will be characterized by poor
economic growth around the world due to higher inflation and also tougher financial
conditions caused by the contractionary monetary policies of central banks. The authors do,
in fact, warn that whether economies merely slow down or suddenly grind to an extended
halt will depend on the ability of central banks to achieve neutral interest rates.

The authors of the Esade report forecast a global growth rate of some 2.9% for 2023, with a
more pronounced downturn in developed economies, expected to grow around 1.2%. The
world’s three leading economies will decelerate significantly: 1.4% growth in the USA; 0.7%
in the Euro zone — albeit with considerable variations between Member States; and 1.8% in
Japan. Moderation is also anticipated in Latin America, with Argentina, Chile, Peru and
Colombia experiencing growth of around 2% to 3%, and Mexico and Brazil, around 1%,
whilst Chile enters a recession with -1% growth. As for Asia, moderate growth of 5.2% is
expected in China, 6.1% in India, and 5% in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The main risk affecting the fulfilment of these economic forecasts is the evolution of the war
in Ukraine which could cause the prices of food and energy commodities to rise again. The
growth of some countries might also be hampered by new waves of the Covid-19 pandemic,
mistakes by central banks about higher interest rates, or more widespread difficulties for
financing public debt in developing economies. These risks, should they happen, could
cause the economy to slow down even more and push inflation higher.

In this edition of the Esade Economic and Financial Report, Javier Solana and Ángel Saz-
Carranza, President and Director of EsadeGeo respectively, analyze the impact of the
invasion of Ukraine and the rivalry between the US and China in the global economy in the
article “Geopolitics and globalization: 2023”. Samantha Gross, director of the Energy
Security and Climate Initiative at the Brookings Institution, addresses the global crisis
regarding natural gas and oil supplies, and other short- and medium-term energy challenges
in the chapter “The geopolitics of the energy transition: towards a clean, safe future”; while
Mij Raman, Europe MD of the Eurasia Group and senior research fellow at the LSE
European Institute, reflects on the political landscape of Europe in “Political risks in Europe:
the outlook for 2023”. Yue Jie, senior research fellow on China in the Asia-Pacific program at
Chatham House writes about the relationship between China and the world in “Power,
mindset and money: the difficult balancing act between China’s domestic challenges and its
global ambition”; and Calin Arcalean, professor of Economics at Esade, ends the discussion
section of the report with “Global value chains: the links that keep us
apart.”https://www.esade.edu/en/news/spains-economy-will-slow-down-in-2023-not-enter-a-
recession

Does it have adequate infrastructure?

The Global Competitiveness Report (World Economic Forum)

ranks Spain 7th worldwide in infrastructures

https://www.investinspain.org/en/why-spain/infrastructures
Does it struggle to feed its population?

According to a study published in early 2022 by the University of Barcelona, one in seven
Spanish households is faced with "food insecurity" due to a lack of access to healthy and
nutritious products. Few see the situation improving in the short term in a country faced with
chronic precariousness.
https://www.euronews.com/2022/11/22/we-cant-manage-anymore-spains-hunger-queues-
lengthen-as-inflation-soars#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20study%20published,country
%20faced%20with%20chronic%20precariousness.

Food insecurity and poverty are enduring problems in Spain. Just over a decade ago, the
2008 global financial crisis sharply exacerbated both food insecurity and poverty. And just as
people’s living standards seemed to improve, the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic
impact have made both poverty and food insecurity worse once more.
At the start of the pandemic, the Spanish government expanded existing unemployment
support programs and introduced a new flagship social assistance program. However,
despite the government’s stated good intentions, existing weaknesses and flaws in the social
security system, as well as problems in the design of new forms of assistance, meant that
support fell short of what was needed. Limitations on the scope and eligibility of both existing
and new measures have meant that many people still depend on non-governmental food aid
to feed themselves and their families, and struggle to meet their basic needs. As a result,
Spain’s government is failing its obligations to protect and fulfil people’s rights to food and an
adequate standard of living.
Many people in Spain already experiencing poverty were left further exposed to a complete
loss of income and lack of access to adequate food. Others, previously employed and living
above the poverty line, found themselves suddenly out of work and struggling to access a
social security system, which was overwhelmed by demand. As incomes slowed to a trickle,
people began to fall behind on monthly payments and to go hungry. The sight of food
queues at churches, neighborhood associations, and community centers, with shopping
carts left in orderly lines in anticipation of food distribution, became commonplace.
At a minimum, tens of thousands of people living in poverty have faced violations of their
right to an adequate standard of living, and difficulties securing their rights to food and social
security and social assistance during the pandemic.
The government took some important steps to address the sudden loss of income for so
many, expanding an existing furlough program (ERTE, the Spanish acronym for an existing
labor code provision for temporary work reduction) expressly for the Covid-19 pandemic, and
fast-tracking the introduction of the Minimum Vital Income (IMV, ingreso mínimo vital), a
social assistance scheme planned before the pandemic whose introduction was brought
forward to May 2020. The IMV was not a basic income scheme, but rather a non-
contributory social assistance program. Spain is a relative latecomer among European
countries to having a nationwide social assistance program. Both the expansion of ERTE
and introduction of IMV were intended to complement the existing social security system.

Human Rights Watch interviewed 52 people in food bank lines in Madrid and Barcelona, as
well as 22 food bank staff and volunteers, specialists from nongovernmental groups and
academics, and analyzed government and other data relating to the social safety net and
food aid distribution.
National data show that the Covid-19 pandemic hit low-income districts of Spanish cities like
Madrid and Barcelona particularly hard in terms of infection rates. The economic shutdown
in these densely populated areas, insufficiently mitigated by social protection systems, made
matters worse.

Data from the country’s main network of food banks, (Federación Española de Bancos de
Alimentos, FESBAL), showed a 48 percent increase in food distributed in 2020 compared
with 2019, approaching the highest levels of food aid distributed since 2014, when Spain’s
unemployment rates peaked following the global financial crisis. Regional and national food
bank data showed that although demand dropped in 2021, it remained about 20 percent
higher than in 2019.
Faced with growing food lines, and rising unemployment and poverty at the onset of the
pandemic, Spain’s national government in May 2020 created a national Minimum Vital
Income (Ingreso Mínimo Vital, IMV) program, allowing applicants to claim between €451 and
€1,015 per month based on household size. However, the level of support is too low to
guarantee an adequate standard of living, Human Rights Watch found. And the IMV system
itself has run into a series of problems.

The government should embed in domestic law protections for specific socioeconomic
rights, including the right to an adequate standard of living and to food, and significantly
reform the IMV and social security support more generally.
The Spanish government should speed up its process of assisting people who need IMV
support and eliminate restrictive eligibility criteria. It should reassess and revise social
security support rates, including age-related pensions. Autonomous community governments
should similarly revise and reassess their social security support rates, indexing them
transparently to cost-of-living measures, including ensuring access to adequate, affordable
food.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/07/13/spain-food-lines-grow-during-pandemic

“As the country’s leading industrial sector, part of the solution to the crisis generated by the
pandemic is to boost our companies”, the director of the sectorial organization FIAB stated.
One more time, the food and beverage industry recorded positive data in production,
employment and exports in 2019, but this year will suffer the impact of the global economic
crisis generated by the Covid-19.

his was made clear at the presentation of the Annual Economic Report of the Spanish
Federation of Food and Beverage Industries (FIAB) for 2019, which also provided the first
estimates of the impact that the pandemic has had on the food and beverage industry.

FIAB has submitted to the Government a series of urgent measures for the economic
revival of the sector, including economic and tax actions; for the promotion and protection of
employment; for the support to exports; to boost consumption and the Food-Gastronomy-
Tourism trinomial; for competitiveness and sustainability; for the support to research and
innovation.
Economic and Fiscal Measures

● Streamlining the process of requesting financial aid and ICO guarantees: more
flexibility for access and less administrative burden for companies.
● Expansion of the ICO guarantee lines.
● Priority in compliance with the payment obligation to members of the value chain
for those companies that have benefited from a line of ICO guarantees.
● Grant restructuring/refinancing of operations based on the economic conditions of
each HORECA and IMPULSO channel operator.
● Extension of measures regarding the presentation and entry of certain tax
declarations and self-assessments until the recovery of economic activity.
● Increase the range of beneficiaries of the tax holiday for companies with
difficulties regardless of their volume of operations, whether greater or less than
600,000 euros in 2019.
● Granting preventive financing products -insurance coverage- so that the client can
be covered against potential losses and in turn allows the company to minimize its
risk.
● Inclusion of a moratorium on the payment of loans to micro, small and medium-
sized businesses, regarding mortgages, leases, credit openings and short-term
loan maturities.
● Reject increases in any tax that undermine the citizen's disposable income.
● Deduction in Corporate Tax (IS) of expenses derived from donations of food and
drinks made during the crisis period.
● Establish an open and collaborative dialogue with the European Union that
contributes to the establishment of specific economic measures for the sector.

Employment promotion and protection measures

● Flexibility in the validity of ERTEs once activity recovers.

● Streamlining procedures to receive unemployment benefits.
● Exemption from personal income tax taxation of amounts paid during the crisis as
bonuses, variable salaries... provided that this has been established for
exceptional reasons linked to the health crisis.
● Provide sufficient guarantees in the supply of PPE and COVID Test to workers
and companies, promoting the carrying out of mass tests with defined protocols
for the recovery of activity with the necessary safety.
 ● Temporarily enable mutual societies, Prevention Services or other private entities
so that they can carry out the appropriate diagnostic tests, monitor workers and
grant medical discharges and discharges, thus contributing to the release of
resources in Social Security.
● Validate sectoral security recommendations clearly, defined in the short and long
term that do not generate legal uncertainty for companies.
● Greater flexibility in state subsidies and bonuses for training: expansion of the
entities that can provide training, increase in aid or increase in deadlines for their
execution.
● Ensure the supply and mobility of workers and merchandise, purchase of raw
materials and auxiliary materials, such as containers or packaging.
● Streamlining the conversion of current contracts linked to a certain activity to
others that, performing different functions, require labor to respond to current
demand.

Demand generation and consumption promotion measures

● It is necessary to carry out a promotional campaign or campaigns that encourage

consumption and ensure compliance with the stipulated health measures that
increase consumer confidence.
● Promote the Food-Gastronomy-Tourism triad through campaigns that encourage
national consumption, tourism and the promotion of Spanish products abroad,
addressing the progressive de-escalation of the hospitality industry, balancing it
with the necessary security measures.
● Reject the imposition of consumption taxes with the aim of maintaining greater
disposable income for citizens that contributes to the recovery of consumption (no
increase in VAT brackets, no environmental taxation, no taxation of ingredients...).
● Personal income tax exemption for restaurant checks, as well as the extension of
the conditions and limits on their use.

These measures must be expanded with other proposals for the HORECA channel prepared
by the hospitality value chain.

Export support measures

● Work for the elimination of additional tariffs on agri-food products imposed by the
United States or on compensatory measures if said elimination is not achieved.
 ● Promote support for the achievement of a more ambitious Free Trade Agreement
with the United Kingdom after Brexit, based on the provisions of the current CETA
agreement between the EU and Canada, to ensure the continuity of our exports,
totally or partially eliminating or reducing tariff taxes on agri-food products.
● Ensure that there is no unnecessary disruption to international trade in these
essential goods and services, essential to respond to the current emergency,
protect workers and ensure access for international consumers.
● Facilitate trade, addressing transport bottlenecks and streamlining logistics,
customs procedures and continuing to support the EC in opening and maintaining
Green Lanes for transport across internal and external borders.
● Intensify international cooperation and the exchange of updated information
between EU Member States, international organizations (WTO, OECD, FAO,
WHO, etc.) and the private sector, in order to monitor the impact of the pandemic
on supply chains. agri-food supply.
● Continue encouraging digitalization in obtaining certificates and documentation
necessary for export, as well as streamlining and making customs procedures and
inspections more flexible, limiting them to completely essential activities, to
prevent border delays from getting in the way of the adoption of other measures.

Industrial competitiveness and sustainability measures

● Promote market unity and avoid regional regulations that reduce the
competitiveness of the Food and Beverage Industry.
● Food waste: coordinate an action with the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and
Nutrition to send all buyers and consumers of food and beverages the clear
message that products whose best before date has expired remain safe, as long
as Their containers are intact and the storage conditions recommended by the
manufacturer have been respected, so they can be ingested under conditions of
adequate quality.
● Avoid competitive disadvantage with third countries, with less strict environmental
requirements than the EU.
● Public support measures and tax deductions for companies that make
investments in environmental sustainability, climate change and the circular
economy.

Research, Development and Innovation Measures (I+D+i)

 ● Tax deductions in the field of IS for companies that are in the process of investing
in the field of R&D&I.
● Maintain direct aid at the business level, both in the form of subsidies and
subsidized loans.
● Reduce the deadlines for resolving public aid for R&D&I, anticipating the funds
sufficiently in advance so as not to undermine the liquidity of the entities.
● Bonuses in social security contributions for research personnel contracts, both for
new hires and for personnel hired prior to the crisis.
● Increase public aid to entrepreneurs and newly established companies.
● Maintain the momentum of digital infrastructures, extending fiber installation to as
many geographic areas as possible.
● Facilitate the use of innovative and digital tools for companies of any size:
geolocation of people and business cybersecurity

https://www.agroberichtenbuitenland.nl/actueel/nieuws/2020/06/18/spain-the-food-and-
beverage-industry-has-a-plan-to-revive-the-sector-economy-after-lockdown

https://fiab.es/fiab-presenta-un-plan-para-la-reactivacion-del-sector-y-la-economia-espanola/

Does it owe money to other countries or is it able to be a lender?

No,but has been pushed up by the economic crisis rather than debts with other countries in
some aspect we can talk about Israel ‘Serious doubt’ Israel complying with international law:
Spain PM Sanchez,In response, Israel recalls its envoy to Madrid, summons Spanish
ambassador over ‘shameful statement’.The prime minister talked about “doing violence only
leads violence”.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/30/serious-doubt-israel-complying-with-
international-law-spains-sanchez

The Budget Plan includes a review of the macroeconomic framework. The Spanish
economy made a strong recovery from 2021 onwards and has maintained strong growth
throughout 2023, which has already put GDP 2% above the pre-pandemic level. In a
context of high uncertainty and lower economic growth in the international arena, the
Spanish economy maintains differential growth thanks to the dynamism of the labour
market, the positive evolution of the foreign sector, the solid assets of households and
companies and the rapid deployment of the Recovery Plan.

These factors explain why the Spanish economy remains strong and resilient in 2023,
with a cautious economic growth forecast of 2.4%. In 2024, GDP growth is expected to
be 2%, higher than the average for the euro area.

The evolution of the Spanish economy in the coming months will be influenced by two
relevant international factors: geopolitical conflicts and the impact of the European
Central Bank's contractionary monetary policy. Geopolitical tensions and conflicts are
currently the main risk factor for the economy because of their potential impact on
energy markets and economic activity in Europe and globally. After a rapid rise in
interest rates, monetary policy is starting to succeed in reducing inflation, but it is also
slowing demand at the European level.

In a complex international context, Spain will lead economic growth among the main
developed countries in the 2023-2024 period, thanks to the deployment of the Recovery
Plan and the effects of the economic policy adopted in the past five years, according to
the forecasts for the main national and international organisations.

The labour market is performing remarkably well. During the first half of the year, 60% of
the total employment generated in Europe was in Spain, largely in R&D, science and
ICT. During the period spanning 2023 and 2024, 700,000 full-time jobs are expected to
be created. Moreover, unemployment will continue to fall in 2024 to bring the average
unemployment rate below 11%, which is particularly relevant in a context of an
increasing labour force of around 24 million people in 2024.

The quality of employment will continue to improve, with remuneration per employee
rising at higher rates than consumer prices, allowing workers to gain purchasing power
during this period. Productivity will also improve as a result of the Recovery Plan
reforms.

Shows the Government of Spain's commitment to budgetary stability. This includes a

target to reduce the deficit to 3% by 2024, a reduction of more than 7 percentage points
in four years.

Within this framework, the document envisages an easing of the deficit for the Regional
Governments in 2024, with a rate of 0.1%, as opposed to the balanced budget set out in
the Stability Programme from last April. This extra tenth of a percentage point for the
Regional Governments will be assumed by the Central Government of Spain, whose
deficit rate in 2024 will be 2.9%, compared to 3% in the previous forecast.

In turn, Social Security maintains the 0.2% deficit rate for 2024 that was included in the
Stability Programme. Local bodies also maintain the 0.2% surplus for next year that was
already included in the document sent to the European Commission in April.

The plan submitted to Brussels also states that the good economic performance will
allow the debt-to-GDP ratio to be reduced to 108.1% in 2023, achieving the target of
being below 110% a year earlier than envisaged. Next year, this will continue to fall to
106.3%, a reduction of 14 points from its 2020 value.

The economic policy pursued by the Government of Spain in recent years has shown
that this significant reduction in the deficit and public debt is compatible with
strengthening the welfare state and deploying a social shield to mitigate the impact of
rising inflation on the middle and working classes, on the most vulnerable groups and on
SMEs and the self-employed.

In this regard, the Government of Spain's efforts to combat inequality are reflected in
how various indicators have volved, such as the Gini index, which measures inequality
and has been reduced by more than one point since 2018, reaching its lowest level for
16 years. There has also been a narrowing of the gender gap in the activity rate and a
progressive increase in the number of women being included on Boards of Directors,
which has risen by almost 14 points (from 23.7% in 2018 to 37.5% in 2022).
Spain is leading the deployment of the Recovery Plan in Europe, having already
received 37.036 billion euros from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, following
the successful completion of 121 milestones and targets out of a total of 416, equivalent
to almost 30% of the total.

Calls for grants and tenders for services and works have been processed for 80% of
these funds (30 billion euros), which are financing over 500,000 projects throughout
Spain, and the Spanish Treasury has already paid out 38.7 billion euros to the managing
bodies and final beneficiaries, i.e. more than the European funds transferred by the
European Commission so far.

These resources have been deployed through co-governance with the Regional
Governments, to which more than 24.3 billion euros have already been allocated since
these funds were launched through 159 sectoral conferences or collaboration
agreements.

The concentration of reforms and investments during the 2021-2023 period has
increased GDP by 2 percentage points since 2021. These has boosted business
investment, with 5% growth since their inception, and have accelerated the green and
digital transitions. The fact that companies have a sound financial position and
momentum is driving developments under the Recovery Plan will allow business
investment to continue to grow in 2024.

https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/gobierno/news/paginas/2023/20231016_2024-
budget-plan.aspx#:~:text=Update%20to%20the%20macroeconomic
%20framework,above%20the%20pre%2Dpandemic%20level.

What is the social and political position of women and girls?

The participation of women in the different spheres of political power has
increased notably in Spain in recent years. Legislation in Spain intents to
promote female representation, e.g. one of the laws which advocate
equality between men and women, states, "The achievement of real and
effective equality in our society requires not only the commitment of public
subjects, but also their decisive impetus in the orbit of relations between
individuals". This approach can be the key to a social response that has
achieved that almost 50% of political representation is female, placing
Spain at the head of the world and the EU in gender equality. The path has
been long but it is beginning to bear small fruits.
This constitutional law pays special attention to the promotion of the
principle of equality of existence or composition, including the presence of
women and men in State institutions, so that the number of persons of
each sex is no more than 70% and no less than 40%.
In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the
United Nations, one of the main objectives is to achieve gender equality
and empower all women and girls. One of the targets within this goal
corresponds to ensuring women's full and effective participation and equal
opportunities for leadership at all decision-making levels in political,
economic and public life. Spain ranks high in all categories of gender
equality in the Sustainable Development report 2022: from the ratio of
female participation in the labour force to a high share of seats in the
national parliament and a comparatively low gender pay gap of 8.6%.

In March of year 2022, the audit by the renowned international NGO Grant Thornton
published a survey where 36% of management positions in Spanish medium-sized
companies were held by women, surpassing the reduction to 34% in the previous year
caused by the pandemic. This percentage share exceeds the average European level (33%)
and also the global level (32%).

https://www.freiheit.org/spain-italy-portugal-and-mediterranean-dialogue/spain-right-path-
more-equal-opportunities#

Has the country been guilty of human rights violations?

The national police and the Civil Guard maintain internal security as well as

migration and border enforcement under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior.

The regional police under the authority of the Catalan and the Basque Country

regional governments and municipal police throughout the country also support

domestic security. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security

forces. There were credible reports members of the security forces committed some

abuses.

Significant human rights issues included: provisions in the penal code that limit

freedom of expression and the refoulement of refugees without the opportunity to

apply for international protection.

The government had mechanisms in place to identify and punish officials who

commit human rights abuses or engage in corruption.

https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/

spain/#:~:text=There%20were%20credible%20reports%20members,to%20apply

%20for%20international%20protection.

What kinds and to what extent?

According to a May report released by the Office of the Ombudsman, in 2021 the

ombudsman received five complaints of significant police mistreatment and 37 complaints of

other types of abuse, such as threats, coercion, insults, or harassment.

In contrast to the previous year, there were significantly fewer reports of excessive use of

force by law enforcement officers in response to protests. Defend the Defenders, a

consortium representing multiple nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) dedicated to

protecting freedom of assembly, continued to call on police to end the use of rubber bullets,

which they called obsolete technology and responsible for debilitating injuries. In January a

metalworkers union in Cadiz (Andalusia) presented a petition to the local prosecutor’s office

calling for an investigation into the use of force during three days of labor protests in

November 2021. According to the petition, police used 900 rubber bullets during the

protests, resulting in numerous injuries.

In June a Barcelona court indicted two police officers involved in an incident in which Roger

Español lost an eye after being hit by a police officer projectile in 2017 while waiting to vote

in the illegal Catalan independence referendum. In the same ruling, the judge indicted

Español for throwing a portable police barrier at a line of police officers.

In June a judge closed the investigation into the March 3 death of Koussai Dhouaifi, age 17,

at the Zambrana juvenile detention center in Valladolid (Castile and Leon), ruling the death

accidental. The judicial investigation was initially opened against two guards at the center

after they reportedly handcuffed and restrained Dhouaifi face down following his aggressive

actions toward staff. An autopsy later revealed he suffered from heart problems and the
judge ruled the death was natural and the guards not responsible. The ombudsman’s office

initiated a separate investigation into practices at the center, which continued at the end of

the year.

In a report published in June regarding the country’s government-operated foreigner

internment centers (CIE), the Jesuit Migrant Service (SJM) reported barriers for migrants to

report abuses by police in the centers, lack of access to health care, and lack of NGO

access to the centers. According to the report, there were instances of police sending

migrants to isolation cells to prevent them from reporting police abuses as well as instances

of harassment or accelerated repatriations of migrants who reported abuses. The SJM also

reported instances of police being present for medical examinations of migrants.

On July 25, a man detained in a CIE in Valencia filed a complaint with the court alleging on

July 21, he was beaten by police after requesting medical assistance for a severe toothache.

The complaint alleged officers beat the man on the ground and kicked him in the eye. A

medical report carried out following the incident indicated multiple lesions on the thorax and

left arm and bruising around the left eye. A witness filed a corroborating complaint with the

court. The case remained under investigation.

https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/spain/

#:~:text=There%20were%20credible%20reports%20members,to%20apply%20for

%20international%20protection.

Is it open to contacts with other countries? (tourism, business, schools, etc.)

Spain is an established tourism market in Europe – the region with the most tourist

arrivals worldwide – and globally. In 2022, Spain registered more than 100 million

international visitors, recovering by 187.2 percent and 102.6 percent versus 2020 and

2021, respectively. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the Iberian country

counted more than 120 million international visitors until reaching the record mark of
126.2 million. That figure represented more than 2.5 times Spain’s total population,

which adds up to around 48 million people. Tourism is, therefore, one of the major

drivers of the Spanish economy. In 2019, the gross value added (GVA) of industries

related to tourist accommodation and food services in Spainreached over 70 billion

euros. But the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic negatively impacted these figures in

2020, though the recovery was already in sight in the following year.

Who visits Spain the most?

The international recognition of Spain as an attractive travel destination has drawn

visitors from all around the world. However, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom

topped the list of leading source markets for tourism in Spain in 2022. These three

European nations accounted for nearly 35 million foreign tourists that year, or roughly

half of the total international tourism volume during those twelve months. From outside

Europe, the United States and Mexico were the most popular countries of origin among

foreign visitors in Spain in 2022. Among the many reasons to visit the Iberian country,

many do so to enjoy its wineries and wine museums. In 2022, the number of visitors to

wineries and wine museums in Spain was nearly 2.5 million.

How popular is domestic tourism in Spain?

Spain’s wineries, beaches, and mountains are not only a popular destination for

international tourists but domestic tourists as well. The number of domestic trips in Spain

amounted to over 155 million in 2022, an increase of roughly 14 percent from the

previous year’s total of around 135 million. The country is made up of 17 autonomous

communities each with its own unique geography. Andalusia was the most popular travel

destination among domestic tourists in Spain in 2022, registering nearly 28 million trips

by residents of the country. Catalonia and the Valencian Community followed in the

ranking that year with 24.16 and 17.93 million trips, respectively. Overall, the number of
domestic trips taken by Spanish residents that year well exceeded the number of

outbound trips taken by Spanish residents.

https://www.statista.com/topics/3867/travel-and-tourism-in-spain/#topicOverview

Schools

● Participation in high-quality early childhood education (ECE) has a positive effect on

children’s well-being, learning and development in the first years of their lives. In

Spain, 56% of 2-year-olds are enrolled in ECE. This increases to 94% of 3-year-olds,

97% of 4-year-olds and 97% of 5-year-olds.

● Compulsory education in Spain starts at the age of 6 and continues until the age of

16. Students typically graduate at age 17 from general upper secondary

programmes. The age range for completing vocational programmes is wider, with

students typically graduating from vocational upper secondary programmes between

17 and 21. This is similar to most OECD countries, where graduates from vocational

upper secondary programmes have a wider age range, reflecting the greater

diversity of pathways into these programmes than for general ones.

● The large majority of 15-19 year-olds across the OECD are enrolled in education. In

Spain, 46% of this age group are enrolled in general upper secondary education and
 14% in vocational upper secondary education. A further 8% are enrolled in lower

secondary programmes and 19% in tertiary programmes. This compares to an

OECD average of 37% enrolled in general upper secondary programmes, 23% in

vocational upper secondary programmes, 12% in lower secondary programmes and

12% in tertiary programmes (Figure 2).

● On average across countries and other participants with comparable data, 77% of

entrants into general upper secondary education successfully complete their upper

secondary studies (either in general or in vocational programmes) within the

theoretical duration of the programme. The completion rate increases by an average

10 percentage points within two years after the end of the theoretical duration. In

Spain, 74% of entrants into general upper secondary education complete their

programme within the theoretical duration, but this share increases to 91% after

allowing an additional two years.

● In most countries with available data, completion rates in vocational upper secondary

programmes are lower than in general upper secondary programmes. In Spain, 46%

of vocational students complete upper secondary education (either general or

vocational programmes) within the expected duration and 63% complete their

programme after an additional two years. On average across countries and other

participants with available data, 62% of vocational entrants complete their studies on

time and 73% within an additional two years.

● In some countries, most students enrol in another education programme shortly after

completing their upper secondary education. In other countries, it is common for

upper secondary graduates to enter the labour market or take a gap year and return

to education later. Consequently, the share of general upper secondary graduates in

education one year after their graduation ranges from less than 40% in Sweden to

more than 90% in Slovenia. In all countries, general upper secondary graduates are

more likely to be enrolled in formal education one year after their graduation than

those who graduated from a VET programme. In Spain, 87% of general upper
 secondary graduates are in education one year after their graduation compared to

50% of vocational graduates.

● Bachelor’s programmes are the most popular programmes for new entrants to

tertiary education. On average across the OECD, they attract 76% of all new

students compared to 50% in Spain. Short-cycle tertiary programmes are the second

most common level of education for new entrants into tertiary education, but their

importance differs widely across countries. In Spain, they are chosen by 38% of all

new entrants.

● Perhaps surprisingly, the share of international students at tertiary level has not been

negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in many OECD countries. However, a

few countries experienced double digit declines in the share of international students.

Spain is not one of them, as the share of international students remained stable

between 2019 and 2021 (4% of all tertiary students).

https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/69e34493-en/index.html?itemId=/content/

component/69e34493-en#:~:text=The%20large%20majority%20of%2015,and

%2019%25%20in%20tertiary%20programmes.

How does the government get on with other countries?

The United States established diplomatic relations with Spain in 1783. Spain and the United
States are close allies and have excellent relations based on shared democratic values,
including the promotion of democracy and human rights.

Spain joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1982. In addition to U.S. and

Spanish cooperation in NATO, defense and security relations between the two countries are

regulated by the Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement and the Agreement on Defense

Cooperation. Under this agreement, Spain has authorized the United States to use certain

facilities at Spanish military installations. In 2012 and 2015, Spain and the United States

amended this agreement to permit the basing of additional U.S. personnel and equipment at

bases in southern Spain. Spain is an active participant in the Coalition to Defeat ISIS, with

over 500 personnel deployed in Iraq in 2020 to support the training of Iraqi security forces.
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Spanish National Institute

for Aerospace Technology jointly operate the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex

in support of Earth orbital and solar system exploration missions. The Madrid Complex is

one of the three largest tracking and data acquisition complexes comprising NASA’s Deep

Space Network.

The two countries have a cultural and educational cooperation agreement. The U.S.

Embassy conducts educational, professional, and cultural exchange programs. Spain is the

third most popular destination for U.S. students worldwide. The binational Fulbright program

for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting professors is among the largest

in the world. The U.S.-Spain Fulbright Commission celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2018.

https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-spain/#:~:text=The%20United%20States

%20established%20diplomatic,Organization%20(NATO)%20in%201982

Does it cooperate with or is it a member of international groups such as NATO, the EU, the
African Union, etc.?
The 31 NATO members are Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic
of Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the
United States.

To become a NATO member, a country must meet certain criteria, including having a stable
democratic system, respecting human rights and the rule of law, having a functioning market
economy, and being able to contribute to the alliance’s collective defense capabilities. The
process for joining NATO involves a series of steps, including submitting a membership
application, undergoing a review process, and negotiating a membership action plan.

The decision to admit a new member to NATO is made by the alliance’s member countries.
This decision is based on a country’s ability to meet the membership criteria, its willingness
to contribute to the alliance’s goals, and its compatibility with NATO’s values and principles.
The admission process can be lengthy and may involve political negotiations, public opinion
considerations, and strategic assessments.
https://wisevoter.com/country-rankings/nato-countries/#:~:text=The%2031%20NATO

%20members%20are,Slovenia%2C%20Spain%2C%20Turkey%2C%20the

Position Paper

Topic A:Counterterrorism measures:Addressing global efforts

to combat terrorism and its financing.

Background:

In recent decades, global security has become a fundamental priority for Spain. Challenges
such as combating terrorism and organised crime and cyber-security are essential to
Spanish foreign policy.

Terrorism is one of the greatest threats to the achievements and rights obtained in the field
of justice, security and freedoms. There is no justification whatsoever for terrorist acts, which
deserve the strongest and most emphatic condemnation. The fight against terrorism and
scrupulous respect for human rights are two mutually reinforcing and complementary
objectives. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation is carrying out
a continuous analysis of the phenomenon of international terrorism, as well as proposing
and defining different actions to address this threat. Spain furthermore advocates that the
victims of terrorism should play a central role in national, regional and global anti-terrorist
strategies. Therefore, through the European Network of Associations of Victims of Terrorism
(NAVT), Spain is committed to the adoption of a binding international standard of a universal
nature that specifically aims to protect the rights of victims of terrorism.

Country’s official position:

Furthermore, progressive disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation of weapons of

mass destruction are three key and complementary objectives for progress towards
international peace, security and stability. Spain's commitment is clear. Through the relevant
legal means, non-proliferation aims to ensure that no country increases its weapons
capacity. Disarmament measures are aimed at reducing military capabilities or even banning
certain categories of weapons already deployed. Recent progress in this field in recent years
remains significant.

Spain has been participating in military operations abroad for over three decades, both in
United Nations (PKOs) and in European Union (military and civilian) peacekeeping
operations, as well as in international coalitions (such as the International Coalition against
self-styled Islamic State). In total, it has taken part in over fifty missions in which troops from
the Spanish State’s Armed and Security Forces have been deployed.
Over the years, security priorities in foreign policy have changed. The rise of new
technologies and new communication networks has removed barriers but has also led to the
emergence of new challenges, risks and threats. For this reason, the Spanish National
Security Council has included cyber security as a priority of the National Security Strategy.
This priority is implemented through two lines of action: The National Cybersecurity Strategy,
the purpose of which is to establish adequate prevention, defence, detection, response and
recovery capabilities in the face of cyberthreats, and the National Cybersecurity Plan, which
sets out the lines of action to implement the first paper. The opportunities and risks
technological globalisation entails require cooperation between countries to achieve a safe
and reliable cyberspace. Spain aims to achieve global standards, expand the international
legal system and develop and promote best practices.

The operation, involving 11 countries, is part of the priorities set by the Spanish presidency
of the Council of the EU and aims to mitigate the incidence of terrorist and extremist content
on the social network.

The Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime (CITCO) of the Ministry of
Home Affairs has coordinated the actions of the state law enforcement forces and agencies
in a Europol operation that has led to the removal of more than 2,000 publications with
terrorist content from the social network TikTok.The operation has been led by Spain and the
IRU of the EU's European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) in cooperation with the police
forces of 9 different countries.

On the Spanish side, CITCO coordinated the intervention involving experts from the National
Police, the Guardia Civil, Mossos d'Esquadra and Ertzaintza. The initiative contributes to
strengthening the prevention of radicalisation among the youngest users, in the framework of
the priorities set by the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU.

During the joint exercise, law enforcement agencies assessed up to 2,145 pieces of content,
finding multiple elements linked to jihadism and violent right-wing extremism, as well as
videos and memes, which they forwarded to TikTok for review. More than 50% of the
publications were reported by state law enforcement forces and agencies.Referral Action
Day (RAD) is part of a public-private partnership between TikTok, law enforcement and
Europol that aims to tackle the use of the internet by terrorist organisations, prevent online
radicalisation and safeguard fundamental rights.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has announced in Brussels that,
during its rotating presidency of the European Union, Spain will promote the application of
measures to improve the situation and care for cross-border victims of terrorism,those who
suffer from an attack in one Member State but are nationals or residents of another.

The Minister emphasised this objective during his speech at the commemorative event
organised by the European Commission on the occasion of the European Remembrance
Day for Victims of Terrorism, which has been brought forward one day this year, as it was
set for 11 March on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks perpetrated in Madrid in 2004.

In his speech, the minister stated the need to establish a protocol for action in terrorist
attacks involving victims who are residents or nationals of different Member States of the
European Union. "We must develop a mechanism to ensure assistance, support, protection
and financial compensation for cross-border victims and their families," he asserted.That
protecting cross-border victims of terrorism will be one of the issues to be addressed on 25
September at a seminar organised by Spain, "during which concrete, specific proposals will
be developed that will then be submitted to the Council of the European Union".
The Minister also highlighted Spain's participation in the consortium that will tender for the
future European Counselling Centre for Victims of Terrorism, as a sign of Spain's
commitment to protecting victims. "We are the only Member State directly involved in this
project," he stressed.

In the Minister's opinion, reparation for the victims of terrorism must involve recovering and
preserving their memories, and he therefore urged states to safeguard the memories of the
victims of terrorism" as an act of justice and, at the same time, an instrument for socially
delegitimising violence".

In this sense, he presented as "paradigmatic examples" of how memories had been

recovered the Victims of Terrorism Memorial Centre, opened in Vitoria in 2021, and the
"Memory and Prevention of Terrorism" project, which brings terrorism studies as well as
personal and direct testimonies from victims to educational centres.

https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/gobierno/news/Paginas/2023/20230310_terrorism-
victims.aspx

To improve the speed and quality of counter terrorism cooperation among the
competent authorities, the ECTC hosts the Counter Terrorism Joint Liaison Team
(CT JLT). It serves as a platform for the swift exchange of operational information
and actionable intelligence among counter terrorism experts and analysts from the
EU Member States, associated non-EU countries, and the ECTC.Provides a trusted
environment, in which information can be shared swiftly, securely, efficiently and
effectively.Also analyses the wider European and international dimensions of the
terrorist threat, in particular by identifying new lines of investigation, including, but
not limited to, flows of terrorist financing and illegal firearms.

https://www.europol.europa.eu/about-europol/european-counter-terrorism-centre-
ectc

Proposals:
1. Strengthen international cooperation: Enhance collaboration among nations
to share intelligence, coordinate efforts, and collectively address the root causes of terrorism
on a global scale.
2. Invest in education and awareness: Promote educational programs that foster
tolerance, critical thinking, and understanding of diverse cultures, aiming to counteract
extremist ideologies and prevent radicalization.
3. Improve border security: Enhance border controls and information-sharing
mechanisms to prevent the movement of terrorists and illicit funds across borders, disrupting
their ability to operate transnationally.
4. Support community engagement: Empower local communities by fostering
partnerships between government agencies, law enforcement, and community leaders to
address grievances, promote inclusivity, and build resilience against radicalization.
5. Utilize advanced technology: Leverage technological advancements such as
artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity to monitor online activities, identify
potential threats, and counteract terrorist propaganda on digital platforms.
Position Paper:
Topic B:Conflict resolution in a specific region:Focusing on
ongoing conflicts in regions like the Middle East,Africa or Asia

Background:

In the current geopolitical scenario, many countries seek to increase their international
projections and gain space and power in an increasingly less hegemonic world. Day after
day, states of lesser geopolitical relevance try to broaden their horizons, becoming more and
more militarized, adopting interventionist policies and investing in the modernization of their
combat arsenals. With this, we contemplate the birth of a world of greater military
multipolarity and diversity of powers, however, also with a greater number of conflicts and
threats.

For centuries, the Middle East has served as the crossroads of empires, given its
geostrategic location between Europe and Asia. In the twentieth century, the discovery of oil
there fueled modern-day rivalries between foreign powers looking to exploit the resource.
World War I established British and French dominance in the region, while the Cold War
rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union fueled arms races and conflicts
across the Middle East. Following British and French withdrawals and the Soviet Union’s
collapse, the United States became the dominant foreign superpower active in the region.
But the disastrous occupation of Iraq, the faltering of Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, and
the dramatic rise in American oil and gas production have reduced the United States’
commitment to the region, creating a vacuum filled by countries like China, Russia, and
Turkey. Likewise, regional powers—namely Iran and Saudi Arabia—back rival governments
and armed groups in their escalating competition for regional dominance, inflaming the
Middle East’s already-fragile political situation.

Country’s official position:

Spain has increased its interest in the Middle East. Currently, Madrid maintains fifteen
military missions abroad, being Lebanon and Iraq the countries with the largest Spanish
presence. Specifically, in Iraq, the Spanish government aims to further increase its presence
and role in the local conflict. Recently, Spain's Chief of Staff and Defense, General Miguel
Angel Villarroya, announced major changes in Spanish military strategy, emphatically stating
that the country is focused on Iraq and that Spanish troops will be taking increasingly
decisive positions there.
According to Villarroya, several changes are needed in the way Spain is conducting its
mission in Iraq today. The country was exercising the role of training Iraqi troops, according
to the NATO program for Iraq. However, Villarroya believes this objective has already been
accomplished and that Spain must overcome this phase of the mission. The general plans to
return the Spanish military base in Besmaya to Iraqi rule. With the troops back from training
missions, the next step is to invest in more important positions in the conflict, increasing, not
decreasing, Spanish participation.

Since last year, Spain has been working to reduce its staff at the Besmaya base and
showing a lack of interest in continuing with the work carried out in Iraq so far. At first, the
Spanish project seemed to be one of demilitarization, but Villarroya and other
representatives of the Spanish State have already signaled that, in fact, it is an offensive
adaptation, from which the country's participation in Iraq will become more relevant and
decisive. General Villarroya visited Iraq on his first trip to an overseas mission in mid-
February 2020, days after Defense Minister Margarita Robes announced that the Spanish
military was resuming training at the Gran Capitán base in Besmaya. Despite Robes'
pronouncement, Villarroya declared that the base had lost its relevance and announced
changes to the Spanish military program.

The case must be analyzed in depth, considering various circumstances in the contemporary
world. Apparently, there was a small change in the Spanish plan for Iraq. In fact, Iraqi and
coalition forces declared victory over ISIS in 2017 and since then the conflicts have subsided
considerably, with the country only at the mercy of sporadic attacks by remaining ISIS
terrorist groups, with no regular war. Under this context, in 2019, Spain considered
definitively retreating its troops, which were without function in Iraq. But from 2019 to 2020
several changes took place in the geopolitics of the Middle East. The assassination of
Iranian General Qassem Soleimani caused a major rise in tensions in the region and Iraq
was directly affected by this situation, since Iraq is an extremely important region for both
Iran and the West.

However, the Iranian response was incisive – attacking American bases in Iraq -, and
Washington did not retaliate for attacks on its bases. Although tensions have risen, the US
was unable or at least disinterested in carrying out a conflict with Iran, which is why the new
dynamics of American interventionism have proved even more fragile. More and more Iran is
taking positions against the American occupation of the Middle East, as can be seen in
Iran's naval progress in the Persian Gulf, for example. American inertia shows the decline of
its hegemonic power, which is already beginning to be realized worldwide. Some countries
are interested in making this moment of American decline an opportunity for national rise
and raise their projections in areas where Washington has been losing influence.
Washington and Bagdad recently announced that in the coming months, the US military will
vacate Iraq, considerably reducing the number of troops. In contrast, this is not in the interest
of other Western nations. In the specific Spanish case, Madrid intends to assume some of
the prominent positions in Iraq that Washington is renouncing. It is likely that there will be
even more changes and that other countries will seek to take the positions left behind by the
US in its retreat from interventionism. These nations will try to continue the same American
projects, but aiming at their own national interests, which means that Spain and all members
of the NATO coalition will continue to perform the same acts as the US in the Middle East,
including dominance over Iraq and frontal opposition to Iran.

https://infobrics.org/post/31430/%7B[url]%7D

Proposals:

1. Diplomatic dialogue: Encourage diplomatic efforts and international mediation

to facilitate open and inclusive discussions between conflicting parties in the Middle East,
seeking political solutions to address the root causes of the conflicts.

2. Humanitarian aid and development: Increase support for humanitarian

assistance to provide essential resources, medical aid, and infrastructure development in
conflict-affected areas, aiming to alleviate suffering and create conditions for stability.

3. Multilateral cooperation: Strengthen collaboration among regional and global

powers to address regional security concerns, promote stability, and prevent the escalation
of conflicts in the Middle East through collective diplomatic and security initiatives.

4. Conflict resolution through negotiation: Advocate for peaceful negotiations

and dialogue between conflicting parties, emphasizing compromise and the pursuit of
common ground to achieve sustainable and mutually beneficial solutions.

5. Address root causes: Tackle underlying issues contributing to instability, such

as economic disparities, social inequality, and governance challenges, by supporting
initiatives that promote economic development, social justice, and good governance in the
region.