Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union

Last updated
Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union
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Spanish Permanent Representation
Marcos Alonso Alonso 2025 (cropped).jpg
since 21 July 2021
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Secretariat of State for the European Union
Style The Most Excellent
Member of Committee of Permanent Representatives
Reports to Secretary of State for the European Union
Residence Boulevard du Régent, 52
1000 Brussels
Nominator The Foreign Minister
Appointer The Monarch
Inaugural holder Carlos de Miranda y Quartín, 4th Count of Casa Miranda
Formation9 December 1960;64 years ago (9 December 1960)
DeputyDeputy Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union
Website Spanish Mission to the EU

The ambassador permanent representative of Spain to the European Union is the official representative of the Kingdom of Spain to the institutions of the European Union. As such, it is the official responsible for carrying out the guidelines established by the Minister of Foreign Affairs or, by delegation, by the Secretary of State for the European Union. [1]

Contents

Permanent Representation

The Permanent Representation depends administratively and economically on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Secretariat of State for the European Union. The law defines it as "the accredited body, representative and management, by Spain to the European Union and ensure the presence of Spain in the institutions and bodies dependent on it."

The mission is headed by the Ambassador Permanent Representative. As a collaborator and substitute for the Ambassador, there is a Deputy Ambassador Permanent Representative, who is also appointed by the Government, at the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and after hearing the Interministerial Committee for the European Union Affairs. The representation is also made up of the Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the Political and Security Committee (PSC).

Apart from the aforementioned senior positions, the representation is composed of lesser diplomatic personnel such as advisers, embassy secretaries and attachés, who are freely appointed by the minister. Non-diplomatic personnel are appointed by the foreign minister at the proposal of the ministerial department that requests it. [1]

Interministerial Committee for the European Union Affairs

Following Spain's accession into the European Communities, the Interministerial Committee for European Union Affairs was established in September 1985. The committee's work focuses on coordinating the actions of the General State Administration in matters related to the European Union and examining and resolving, where appropriate, EU affairs that affect more than one ministerial department and do not require referral to the Government Delegated Committee for Economic Affairs. If any of these issues arise, due to their importance or because a member of the committee requests it, they must be referred to the aforementioned delegated committee. [2]

The Interministerial Committee is chaired by the Secretary of State for the European Union, while the First Deputy Chair is the Secretary of State for Economy and Business Support. This committee also includes the other senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responsible for European policy, as well as the undersecretaries of all government departments. [2]

History

Origin

Ambassador Carlos de Miranda y Quartin, 4th Count of Casa Miranda (left), presenting credentials to President Walter Hallstein. 1960 Spain-EU early relations (3).jpg
Ambassador Carlos de Miranda y Quartín, 4th Count of Casa Miranda (left), presenting credentials to President Walter Hallstein. 1960

The origin of the Spanish Representation to the European Union dates back to 1960, when Carlos de Miranda y Quartín, 4th Count of Casa Miranda, ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, was entrusted with representing Spanish interests within the European Economic Community. He also represented Spain within the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.

Since 1965, this position was separated from the Embassy in Brussels, with the former trade minister, Alberto Ullastres, being appointed ambassador. [3] Ullastres enjoyed great autonomy in managing European diplomatic relations [4] and, under his leadership, important treaties such as the Preferential Trade Agreement between Spain and the European Economic Community of 1970 were negotiated.

Later, prime minister Adolfo Suárez entrusted Raimundo Bassols with representing and negotiating, together with minister Marcelino Oreja, 1st Marquess of Oreja, Spain's entry into the organization. It was they who, in July 1977, formally requested accession to the Communities, [5] initiating long negotiations that would culminate years later, during the mandate of ambassador Gabriel Ferrán de Alfaro.

Representation to the EU

Spanish ambassador to the EU, Francisco Javier Elorza Cavengt, handshaking Commissioner Hans van den Broek, 1995 Visit of Grete Knudsen, Norwegian Minister for Trade, to the EC (5).jpg
Spanish ambassador to the EU, Francisco Javier Elorza Cavengt, handshaking Commissioner Hans van den Broek, 1995

In late 1985, Spain and the European Communities finalized the negotiations for the admission of Spain in the Communities. The Accession Treaty was signed on 12 June 1985. At the same time, the Spanish government transformed the Mission of Spain to the European Communities into the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Communities, similar to the diplomatic missions of the rest of the member states of the European Union. [1]

With the signing of the Treaty of the European Union in Maastricht in 1992, the European Communities disappear and the current European Union is properly created, so the name of the Permanent Representation is changed to the current Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union in December 1995. [6]

Spain has presided over the Council of the European Union on five occasions: January–June 1989, July–December 1995, January–June 2002, January–June 2010 and July–December 2023. [7]

List of ambassadors

For the purposes of this list, the date of publication of the appointment or dismissal in the Official State Gazette is taken into account.

Ambassador
(Birth–Death)		Term of office Prime Minister
(Tenure)		Head of State
(Tenure)		Ref.
Took officeLeft officeDuration
1 Carlos de Miranda y Quartin 1960 (cropped).jpg Carlos de Miranda y Quartín
Count of Casa Miranda
(1895–1968)		9 December 1960 [a] 11 November 19643 years and 338 days Personal Coat of Arms of Franco (Gules Variant).svg
Francisco Franco
RETRATO DEL GRAL. FRANCISCO FRANCO BAHAMONDE (adjusted levels).jpg
(1939–1975)		 [8]
2 Jose Nunez Iglesias 1965 (cropped).jpg José Núñez Iglesias
(1897–1984)		21 November 19648 October 1965321 days [9] [10]
3 Alberto Ullastres 1965 (cropped).tif Alberto Ullastres
(1914–2001)		8 October 196513 November 197611 years and 35 days [11] [12]
Luis Carrero Blanco
(1973)
Carlos Arias Navarro
(1973–1976)
Corona real espanola.svg
Juan Carlos I
Busto de Juan Carlos I de Espana (2009).jpg
(1975–2014)
Adolfo Suárez
Adolfo Suarez 1980 (cropped).jpg
(1976–1981)
4 Raimundo Bassols 1980 (cropped).jpg Raimundo Bassols
(born 1926)		13 November 197628 February 19814 years and 107 days [13] [14]
5 Gabriel Ferran de Alfaro 1981 (cropped).jpg Gabriel Ferrán de Alfaro
(born 1932)		12 June 198128 November 19854 years and 169 days Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo
Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo 1978 (cropped).jpg
(1981–1982)		 [15] [16]
Felipe González
Felipe Gonzalez 1991 (cropped).jpg
(1982–1996)
6 Carlos Westendorp (2013-03-07).jpg Carlos Westendorp
(born 1937)		31 December 198516 March 19915 years and 75 days [17] [18]
7 Escudo de Espana (mazonado).svg Camilo Barcia García-Villamil
(1937–2018)		28 March 199127 July 19943 years and 121 days [19] [20]
8 Francisco Javier Elorza Cavengt 1995 (cropped).jpg Francisco Javier Elorza y Cavengt
Marquess of Nerva
(born 1945)		27 July 199424 June 20005 years and 333 days [21] [22]
José María Aznar
Jose Maria Aznar 1999 (cropped).jpg
(1996–2004)
9 Francisco Javier Conde de Saro 2005 (cropped)-2.jpg Francisco Javier Conde de Saro
(born 1946)		24 June 20007 September 20022 years and 75 days [23] [24]
10 Carlos Bastarreche Sagues - 2018 (cropped).jpg Carlos Bastarreche
(born 1950)		7 September 200218 September 20108 years and 11 days [25] [26]
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero 2011c (cropped).jpg
(2004–2011)
11 Luis Planas 2020 (cropped).jpg Luis Planas
(born 1952)		5 October 201031 December 20111 year and 87 days [27] [28]
12 Alfonso Dastis 2016b (cropped).jpg Alfonso Dastis
(born 1955)		31 December 20114 November 20164 years and 309 days Mariano Rajoy
Mariano Rajoy in 2018.jpg
(2011–2018)		 [29] [30]
Corona real espanola.svg
Felipe VI
Daiga Mierina tiekas ar Spanijas karali - 53814974005 (cropped)-2.jpg
(2014–present)
13 Pablo Garcia-Berdoy 2017 (cropped).jpg Juan Pablo García-Berdoy
(born 1961)		3 December 201621 July 20214 years and 230 days [31] [32]
Pedro Sánchez
Pedro Sanchez 2023b (cropped).jpg
(2018–present)
14 Marcos Alonso Alonso 2023 (cropped).jpg Marcos Alonso Alonso
(born 1970)		21 July 2021Incumbent4 years and 85 days [33]

List of deputy ambassadors

List of representatives to the Political and Security Committee

Created the Political and Security Committee by the Treaty of Amsterdam, in 2000 it was created a Representation to it, with its officeholder having the rank of ambassador. Since 2012, this Representation is part of the Permanent Representation to the EU. [42]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Office of the Prime Minister (13 February 1986). "Royal Decree 260/1986, of January 17, by which the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Communities is created". www.boe.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  2. 1 2 Office of the Prime Minister (5 September 1985). "Real Decreto 1567/1985, de 2 de septiembre, por el que se crea la Comisión Interministerial para Asuntos Económicos relacionados con las Comunidades Europeas". www.boe.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  3. ↑ Senante Berendes, Heidy Cristina (2002). España ante la integración europea (1962-1967): el largo proceso para la apertura de negociaciones [Spain and European integration (1962-1967): the long process leading to the opening of negotiations] (in Spanish). Alicante: University of Alicante. p. 278. ISBN   84-688-0090-2.
  4. ↑ Pereira Castañares, Juan Carlos (2023). "La administración española ante el proceso de integración en las comunidades europeas (1976-1986)" [The Spanish administration in the process of integration into the European communities (1976-1986)]. Historia Actual Online (in Spanish) (61): 61. eISSN   1696-2060. ISSN   1696-2060 – via Dialnet. Indeed, Ullastres was going to be the central protagonist of a new stage of negotiations until November 1976. According to Solbes, he was a man with great power and influence both in the governments and in Franco himself, of whom he mentions the instructions received by the dictator when he sent him to Brussels: "Ullastres, you do what you want, but above all, do not let them get angry with us."
  5. ↑ Pereira Castañares, Juan Carlos (2023). "La administración española ante el proceso de integración en las comunidades europeas (1976-1986)" [The Spanish administration in the process of integration into the European communities (1976-1986)]. Historia Actual Online (in Spanish) (61): 49. eISSN   1696-2060. ISSN   1696-2060 – via Dialnet.
  6. ↑ Ministerio para las Administraciones Públicas (1995-12-23), Real Decreto 2077/1995, de 22 de diciembre, por el que se modifican los Reales Decretos 1485/1985, de 28 de agosto, por el que se determina la estructura orgánica básica del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y se suprime determinado organismo autónomo del Departamento; 1567/1985, de 2 de septiembre, por el que se crea la Comisión Interministerial para Asuntos Económicos relacionados con las Comunidades Europeas; 1568/1985, de 2 de septiembre, sobre modificación de la Comisión Delegada del Gobierno para Asuntos Económicos, y 260/1986, de 17 de enero, por el que se crea la representación permanente de España ante las Comunidades Europeas (in Spanish), pp. 36797–36799, retrieved 2025-09-26
  7. ↑ "Timeline. Presidencies of the Council of the EU". Consilium. 2023. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "Decreto 3515/1964, de 29 de octubre, por el que se dispone cese en el cargo de Embajador de España en Bruselas don Carlos de Miranda y Quartin, Conde de Casa Miranda, por pase a otro destino" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  9. ↑ "Decreto 3642/1964, de 13 de noviembre, por el que se designa Embajador de España en Bruselas a don José Núñez Iglesias" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  10. ↑ "Decreto 2885/1965, de 21 de julio, por el que se dispone cese don José Núñez Iglesias en el cargo de Embajador de España ante la Comunidad Económica Europea, agradeciéndole los servicios prestados" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  11. ↑ "Decreto 2886/1965, de 21 de julio, por el que se nombra Embajador de España ante la Comunidad Económica Europea a don Alberto Ullastres y Calvo" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  12. ↑ "Real Decreto 2577/1976, de 12 de noviembre, por el que se dispone que don Alberto Ullastres y Calvo cese en el cargo de Embajador Jefe de la Misión de España ante las Comunidades Europeas, agradeciéndole los servicios prestados" (PDF). boe.es. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  13. ↑ "Real Decreto 2581/1976, de 12 de noviembre, por el que se designa Embajador Jefe de la Misión de España ante las Comunidades Europeas a don Raimundo Bassols Jacas" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  14. ↑ "Real Decreto 285/1981, de 27 de febrero, por el que se dispone que don Raimundo Bassols Jacas cese en el cargo de Embajador de España ante las Comunidades Europeas, por pase a otro destino, agradeciéndole los servicios prestados" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  15. ↑ "Real Decreto 1106/1981, de 5 de junio, por el que se designa Embajador-Jefe de la Misión de España ante las Comunidades Europeas a don Gabriel Ferrán de Alfaro" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  16. ↑ "Real Decreto 2226/1985, de 27 de noviembre, por el que se dispone que don Gabriel Ferrán de Alfaro cese en el cargo de Embajador-Jefe de la Misión de España ante las Comunidades Europeas, por pase a otro destino, agradeciéndole los servicios prestados" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  17. ↑ "ROYAL DECREE 2448/1985, of December 27, by which Don Carlos Westendorp and Head Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Communities are appointed" (PDF).
  18. ↑ "Real Decreto 328/1991, de 15 de marzo, por el que se dispone el cese de don Carlos Westendorp y Cabeza como Embajador Representante Permanente de España ante las Comunidades Europeas, por pase a otro destino, agradeciéndole los servicios prestados" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  19. ↑ "ROYAL DECREE 390/1991. of March 22, by which Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain before the European Communities is designated, Mr. Camilo Barcía García-Villamil" (PDF).
  20. ↑ "ROYAL DECREE 1698/1994, of July 22, which provides for the cessation of Don Camilo Barcia García-VilIamll as Ambassador Representative of Spain to the European Communities" (PDF).
  21. ↑ "ROYAL DECREE 1701/1994, of July 22, by which Don Francisco Javier EJorza Cavengt is appointed Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Communities" (PDF).
  22. ↑ "ROYAL DECREE 1197/2000, of June 23, which provides for the cessation of Mr. Francisco Javier Elorza Cavengt as Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union" (PDF).
  23. ↑ "ROYAL DECREE 1197/2000, of June 23, which provides for the cessation of Mr. Francisco Javier Elorza Cavengt as Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union" (PDF).
  24. ↑ "ROYAL DECREE 928/2002, of September 6, which provides for the cessation of Mr. Francisco Javier Conde de Saro as Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union" (PDF).
  25. ↑ "ROYAL DECREE 933/2002, of September 6, by which Ambassador Carlos Bastarreche Sagües is designated permanent representative of Spain to the European Union" (PDF).
  26. ↑ "Royal Decree 1166/2010, of September 17, which provides for the cessation of Mr. Carlos Bastarreche Sagües as Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union" (PDF).
  27. ↑ "Royal Decree 1230/2010, of October 4, which appoints Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union to Mr. Luis Planas Puchades" (PDF).
  28. ↑ "Royal Decree 1924/2011, of December 30, which provides for the cessation of Mr. Luis Planas Puchades as Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union" (PDF).
  29. ↑ "Royal Decree 1925/2011, of December 30, which appoints Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union to Mr. Alfonso María Dastis Quecedo" (PDF).
  30. ↑ "Real Decreto 417/2016, de 3 de noviembre, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno". boe.es. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  31. ↑ "Royal Decree 611/2016, of December 2, which appoints Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union to Mr. Juan Pablo García-Berdoy y Cerezo" (PDF).
  32. ↑ "Real Decreto 604/2021, de 20 de julio, por el que se dispone el cese de don Juan Pablo García-Berdoy y Cerezo como Embajador Representante Permanente de España ante la Unión Europea". boe.es. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  33. ↑ "Royal Decree 618/2021, of July 20, which appoints Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union to Mr. Marcos Alonso Alonso" (PDF).
  34. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (17 March 1986). "Real Decreto 535/1986, de 7 de marzo, por el que se nombra Representante Permanente Adjunto de España ante las Comunidades Europeas a don Francisco Javier Elorza Cavengt" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  35. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (3 April 1991). "Real Decreto 398/1991, de 27 de marzo, por el que se nombra representante permanente adjunto de España ante las Comunidades Europeas a don Carlos Bastarreche Sagües". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  36. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (14 May 1996). "Real Decreto 851/1996, de 10 de mayo, por el que se designa a don Miguel Ángel Navarro Portera Representante Permanente Adjunto de España ante la Unión Europea". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  37. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (11 January 2003). "Real Decreto 39/2003, de 10 de enero, por el que se designa Representante Permanente Adjunto de España ante la Unión Europea a don Cristóbal González-Aller Jurado". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  38. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (4 September 2010). "Real Decreto 1100/2010, de 3 de septiembre, por el que se designa Embajador Representante Permanente Adjunto de España ante la Unión Europea a don José Pascual Marco Martínez". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  39. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (1 August 2015). "Real Decreto 749/2015, de 31 de julio, por el que se designa Embajador Representante Permanente Adjunto de España ante la Unión Europea a don Juan de Arístegui Laborde". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  40. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (12 February 2020). "Real Decreto 339/2020, de 11 de febrero, por el que se designa Embajador Representante Permanente Adjunto de España ante la Unión Europea a don Raúl Santiago Fuentes Milani". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  41. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (3 July 2024). "Real Decreto 639/2024, de 2 de julio, por el que se designa Embajador Representante Permanente Adjunto de España ante la Unión Europea a don Oriol Escalas Nolla". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  42. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (24 May 2012). "Real Decreto 738/2012, de 27 de abril, por el que se suprime la representación permanente de España en el Consejo de la Unión Europea Occidental". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025. Article 2. The Representation of Spain to the Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union is part of the organizational structure of the Permanent Representation to the European Union.
  43. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (18 March 2000). "Real Decreto 378/2000, de 17 de marzo, por el que se designa a don Manuel Lorenzo García-Ormaechea Embajador Representante de España en el Comité Político y de Seguridad Interino del Consejo de la Unión Europea". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  44. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (27 March 2001). "Real Decreto 322/2001, de 24 de marzo, por el que se designa a don Carlos María Casajuana Palet embajador representante de España en el Comité Político y de Seguridad del Consejo de la Unión Europea". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  45. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (1 May 2004). "Real Decreto 947/2004, de 30 de abril, por el que se designa Embajador Representante de España en el Comité Político y de Seguridad del Consejo de la Unión Europea a don Alfonso Lucini Mateo". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  46. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (2 August 2008). "Real Decreto 1400/2008, de 1 de agosto, por el que se designa Embajador Representante de España en el Comité Político y de Seguridad del Consejo de la Unión Europea a don Carlos Enrique Fernández-Arias Minuesa". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  47. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (11 February 2012). "Real Decreto 361/2012, de 10 de febrero, por el que se designa Embajador Representante de España en el Comité Político y de Seguridad del Consejo de la Unión Europea a don Nicolás Pablo Pascual de la Parte". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  48. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (22 April 2017). "Real Decreto 406/2017, de 21 de abril, por el que se designa Embajador Representante de España en el Comité Político y de Seguridad del Consejo de la Unión Europea a don Manuel Antonio Acerete Gómez". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  49. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (23 June 2021). "Real Decreto 442/2021, de 22 de junio, por el que se designa Embajadora Representante de España en el Comité Político y de Seguridad del Consejo de la Unión Europea a doña María Elena Gómez Castro". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  50. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (31 July 2024). "Real Decreto 806/2024, de 30 de julio, por el que se designa Embajador Representante de España en el Comité Político y de Seguridad del Consejo de la Unión Europea a don Guillermo Ardizone García". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.

Notes

  1. ↑ Date on which credentials were presented.
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