SPANISH OBJECTIVES FOR THE 2010 EU PRESIDENCY:

UNCLAS MADRID 000099 SENSITIVE SIPDIS EUR/ERA (JONATHAN KESSLER AND JEFF GIAUQUE) AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECIN KWNN EU SP SUBJECT: SPANISH OBJECTIVES FOR THE 2010 EU PRESIDENCY: FINANCIAL REFORM AND GENDER EQUALITY ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. January 23, Spain's Council of Ministers approved the strategic plan for Spain's January-June 2010 EU Presidency. According to the plan, Spain's Presidency will possess a "marked pro-European character and an open social sensibility, in a year against poverty and exclusion." The Presidency will focus on gender equality, education and tolerance, and the financial crisis. Spain expects to host an EU-US Summit as well as an EU-Latin American Summit during the Presidency as well. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Spain announced the following framework after the January 15 Budapest meeting of the Spanish, Belgian, and Hungarian Secretaries of State in charge of European Affairs to coordinate strategic agendas for the EU Presidency. As approved by the Spanish Council of Ministers, Spain's January-June 2010 Presidency will launch the following EU trio themes and initiatives: a renewed EU social agenda to include equality and the fight against violence; the 2010-2012 Energy Plan; planning and execution of Copenhagen's December 2009 Climate Change package; development of an economic strategy post-Lisbon treaty; promotion of the EU Space for Liberty, Security and Justice (SLSJ) for the period of 2010-2014; sustainable use of natural resources; EU enlargement, to include possible Croatia accession and a push toward Turkish integration; and the stable advancement of the EU neighborhood policy to the Mediterranean and the East. ¶3. (U) Spain's own presidency goals focus on equality issues and the economy, and will address the need for a European policy for Security and Defense. The development of a common European diplomatic core has also been discussed. The Council of Ministers declared that Spain will give special priority to the right of equality, and specifically gender equality. Given the financial climate, Spain will also use its Presidency to help Europe find its way out of the crisis and recover stability in the markets and employment. To this end, Spain foresees the development of a European and global agreement for a new model of social and economic growth that will incorporate financial systems, markets, climate change and energy policies, employment and social cohesion policy, and the fight against hunger. In his January 27 speech to the High Level Meeting on Food Security hosted by Spain, President Zapatero said that a "great priority" for Spain's EU Presidency would be policies "in favor of development and the fight against hunger and misery." During the first semester of 2010, Spain expects to host an EU-US Summit and EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit, giving the Presidency a "euroamerican" dimension. During this time, too, the biannual Summit of the Union of the Mediterranean will take place, and the Spanish Presidency will participate in summits with Japan, Russia, and Canada. Africa, ASEM, and ASEAN Summits will all take place during Belgium's Presidency in the second half of 2010. CHACON