MADRID WEEKLY ECON/COMMERCIAL/AGRICULTURAL UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MADRID 000641 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/WE AND EEB/IFD/OMA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON EFIN EIND EINV ELTN ENRG KIPR SP SUBJECT: MADRID WEEKLY ECON/COMMERCIAL/AGRICULTURAL UPDATE JUNE 2 - JUNE 6 MADRID 00000641 001.2 OF 003 Table of Contents: ECON: Zapatero defends economic prospects in congressional hearing ECON: OECD reduces 2008 growth forecast for Spain to 1.6% EAGR/EAID: Zapatero on food security in Rome ENRG: Electricity Prices to Rise, but Deficit Continues to Grow EIND: New Auto, Tourism, Regulatory Initiatives KIPR: Major Chinese audio-visual piracy gang disbanded ELTN: Department of Transportation and Staffdel Visit EFIN/EINV: BBVA increases stake in China investments ZAPATERO DEFENDS ECONOMIC PROSPECTS IN CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ¶1. (U) During a June 4 congressional hearing, President Zapatero faced heavy criticism from opposition leaders regarding Spain's weakening economy. During this hearing, opposition Partido Popular leader Rajoy highlighted a waning economy and loss of confidence by businesses and families, and he suggested that the government was failing to adequately address the economic downturn. While Zapatero admitted that Spain was indeed suffering an economic de-acceleration, he asserted that Spain would be able to confront this difficulty and move forward. He highlighted the GOS stimulus package, including the 400 euro tax rebate to households across the country, an increase in minimum pension levels, and measures to provide housing assistance. (Europa Press, 6/5) ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Recent months have been filled with negative economic news such as increasing unemployment, higher inflation and fuel prices, and lower growth projections. Zapatero and his administration have responded to these negative indicators with overall optimism, accusing naysayers of being overly pessimistic and stressing the beneficial effect that the stimulus package will have on the Spanish economy. However, it is questionable whether these measures will overcome the negative economic effects of the construction sector bust, a sector which represented between 10 and 20 percent of Spain's economy in recent years. Zapatero responses often include a reference to the broader global economic downturn and its effect on Spain, and he often avoids references to weaknesses faced by Spain's own economy such as its past dependence on the construction sector and its high current account deficit. End Comment. ; OECD REDUCES 2008 GROWTH FORECAST FOR SPAIN TO 1.6% ¶3. (U) The OECD recently revised its GDP growth forecasts for Spain, cutting its projections from 2.5 percent to 1.6 percent for 2008 and from 2.4 percent to 1.1 percent for ¶2009. These forecasts, which are lower than the EU average, are largely based on the projected effects of Spain's housing downturn. On June 4, Second Vice President and Minister of Economy Pedro Solbes described these estimates as overly pessimistic and charged that the OECD analysis had not taken into account stimulus measures that the government is employing. (Comment: The GOS had reduced its own growth forecast for 2008 from 3.1 to 2.3 percent this past April.) (El Pais, 6/5) ZAPATERO ON FOOD SECURITY IN ROME ¶4. (SBU) Speaking in Rome on June 3 at the FAO meeting, President Zapatero said Spain would provide euros 500 million in the next four years to deal with the food crisis, especially to develop production capacity in affected countries. Zapatero stressed Africa especially. He also offered Spain as the venue for a fall 2008 High Level Meeting to review the application of the food security plan approved by Rome FAO meeting participants and to approve an international Food Security Rights Letter. The President also spoke strongly about the need to conclude the Doha Round and asked WTO members to demonstrate "flexibility" in "rising to the circumstances." (Comment: Zapatero does not often talk about Doha, so his strong support for the Round is noteworthy, although we are unaware of any particular activism on the part of the GOS to influence EU external trade policy in a more flexible direction.) (President,s Office Website, 6/4) ELECTRICITY PRICES TO RISE, BUT DEFICIT CONTINUES TO GROW ¶5. (U) At a June 4 congressional hearing, Industry, Tourism and Commerce Minister Miguel Sebastian announced an electricity rate increase of 5 to 6 percent as of July 1. MADRID 00000641 002.2 OF 003 This follows a 3.3 percent increase at the start of the year. The combined increase is well above the rate of inflation but is not enough to prevent the GOS' obligation to the electric companies from continuing to grow. Since the Aznar government, the GOS has not let companies charge prices that are determined by an agreed-upon formula; it is required to make up the difference to the companies. Industry sources have indicated that an increase of 23 to 26 percent would be needed to catch up, and any smaller increase means that the obligation will continue to grow. The National Electricity Commission had proposed an 11 percent increase, but President Zapatero reportedly ruled out an increase that high. Minister Sebastian announced that rates would be adjusted so that per-kilowatt costs would increase as consumption increases, which the GOS hopes will encourage conservation. Households with particularly low electricity consumption capacity would be exempted from one electricity charge, which could save them up to 10%. (El Pais, 6/5; Metro, 6/2) NEW AUTO, TOURISM, REGULATORY INITIATIVES ¶6. (U) Minister Sebastian also announced to the congress a series of 15 measures to stimulate economic activity. The Plan VIVE (Innovative Vehicle-Ecological Vehicle) will subsidize consumers who buy new cars and scrap cars older than fifteen years; a similar program expired recently. Interestingly, Sebastian's ministry had to open a 1.5 billion euro line of credit with the Official Credit Institute because the expenditure would not fit in the general budget. He also proposed a tourism program to encourage retirees from other European countries to visit Spain for three months or more during the low season. He announced he would negotiate with autonomous community governments a reform of laws affecting retail shops in order to comply with an EC services directive (the Bolkenstein Directive),and he announced that his ministry would open five new Spanish commercial offices overseas. (ABC, 6/4; Confidencial, 6/6; El Pais, 6/5, 6/6) MAJOR CHINESE AUDIO-VISUAL PIRACY GANG DISBANDED ¶7. (SBU) The Spanish National Police,s Intellectual Property Rights Group has arrested 32 Chinese nationals involved in the "screening" of movies (illicit use of videocameras to record films at movie theaters); copying of DVDs and CDs; and distribution of such products. The police also confiscated more than 300,000 CDs and DVDs, which were found in factory-like centers in Getafe, Parla and Leganes, as well as large warehouses in Leganes and Alcala de Henares. These sites are all in the greater Madrid area, but the gang also had links with piracy operations in Cordoba, Avila, Guadalajara, Segovia, Burgos, Soria, Aranda de Duero, Irun and Seville. On June 4, the Minister of Culture, Cesar Antonio Molina, and Ministry of Interior Secretary of State for Security, Antonio Camacho, held a joint press conference congratulating the police on the arrests. The Culture Minister said that "citizens should be told not to buy these products because they harm culture," which he said represents 5 percent of the country,s GDP. (Comment: Once again, the Spanish police appear to have conducted an exemplary anti-piracy operation. The question is, what happens next? Rights-holders typically praise Spanish police efforts, but say that the judiciary does not issue deterrent-level sentences. The sheer scale of this particular Chinese gang,s activities, however, should permit Spanish courts to impose stiffer than normal sentences.) (El Pais, 6/5) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND STAFFDEL VISIT ¶8. (U) Department of Transportation officials and House and Senate staff met with prominent Spanish construction companies, Ministry of Infrastructure railroad officials and Madrid city officials during their visit to Spain May 28 to June 2. Included in the visit were Acting Federal Highway Administrator James Ray, Acting Assistant Secretary of Governmental Affairs Simon Gros, and four Senate and House staffers. GOS officials discussed Spain,s focus on expanding its high-speed rail system, particularly as a way of reducing traffic congestion and CO2 emissions in the coming years. In subsequent meetings, Spanish infrastructure companies such as Abertis and Cintra explained public private partnership (P3) agreements to develop toll roads and other infrastructure projects. Spain,s experience in P3 partnerships is extensive, and as a result various Spanish companies have become leaders in the P3 arena. The U.S. connection with P3 projects and Spanish companies is growing. Last month Spanish company Abertis was awarded concession rights to the Pennsylvania turnpike for $12.8 billion. Other MADRID 00000641 003.2 OF 003 Spanish companies, such as Cintra, are also involved in high-profile multi-billion-dollar concessions in the U.S., including the Indiana toll road, Chicago,s skyway toll bridge, and other projects in Texas. This is the sixth official visit post has received in the past 14 months that has focused on road and/or rail transportation. BBVA INCREASES STAKE IN CHINA INVESTMENTS ¶9. (U) There are actually two transactions involving the expenditure of euros 800 million. BBVA will increase its stake in the Hong Kong-listed Citic International Financial Holdings Ltd. from 15% to 30%. The Spanish bank will also increase it presence in China Citic Bank Corp. from 5 percent to 10 percent. BBVA and China Citic Bank Corp. (the Chinese government controls China Citic Bank Corp, which in turn controls Citic International Financial Holdings Ltd.) plan to take Citic International Financial Holdings Ltd. private. (Comment: It is interesting that BBVA would agree to purchase a minority stake in a government-controlled bank. This suggests that BBVA views its investment as a long-term strategic play.) (WSJ, 6/4) Aguirre