Peter Cosgrove.
The Diplomat. 04/07/2018
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Peter Cosgrove, starts today the most important official visit in the history of the southern country’s diplomatic relations with Spain, during which he will be granted an audience by King Felipe VI.
The visit will last until tomorrow, Thursday. In terms of protocol, the governor-general is Australia’s most important figure after Queen Elizabeth II, whom he represents in this country. He presides over the Executive Council and he is the commander-in-chief of the Australian Defense Force.
Cosgrove’s arrival to Spain puts an end to the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries, although these have not had the finishing touch expected in Madrid with the contract of nine frigates that Navantia aspired to get, since the Australian Government finally chose the British firm BAE Systems.
The governor will head a delegation of top business representatives of the European Australian Business Council (EABC) during his visit to Madrid. Furthermore, he will be accompanied by the Australian Minister of Regional Development, Territories and Local Government, John McVeigh.
The agenda includes meetings and round work tables with the CEOE, including the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, María Reyes Maroto, as well as representatives of Navantia, Acciona and the Bank of Spain. The Spain-Australia Council Foundation will also offer a work lunch for the Australian delegation, which will be attended by the Foreign Minister, Josep Borrell.
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Australian companies have invested more than 3,000 million in infrastructures and Spanish assets
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The visit takes place in an “important” moment for bilateral relations between Australia and Spain in which both countries “are going more deeply into their cooperation and extending it”, according to the Australian Embassy in Madrid. Proof of that is the start of business negotiations between Australia and the European Union, which offer “more opportunities for Australia and Spain to defend a business order based on regulations strengthening the economic architecture between us”.
Australian companies have recently invested more than 3,000 million euros in Spanish water management infrastructures and assets and more than 80 Spanish companies operate in Australia at the moment. During the visit, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission and the Center for the Development of Industrial Technology will sign a declaration of intent to collaborate in the promotion of technological development and innovation between companies of both countries. “Australia and Spain are similar partners and they share their commitment to multilateralism and the order based on international regulations”, the Australian Embassy emphasized in a statement.
Both Australia and Spain are members of the UN Human Rights Council between 2018-20 and closely cooperate in favor of the world peace and security in other international forums. Moreover, the visa program ‘Work and Holiday’ offers 1,500 Spanish and Australian youth, every year, the opportunity of working and enjoying holiday periods in both countries. The period of applications for 2018 was opened on July 1.
