Albert Rivera’s campaign poster./ Photo: Ciudadanos
The Diplomat. 21/06/2016
Ciudadanos commits to set in motion a new Plan for the Foreign Strategy, to reform the Law on Foreign Policy and to review the diplomatic service. These are some of the proposals included in the electoral programme of the orange party facing the general election of 26 June.
“We will support the foreign policy and that of international cooperation to have a strategic and transparent planning, taking into account the Spanish values and interests, but also the European and global ones through a new Plan of the Foreign Strategy”, begins the programme. “Actions with those countries maintaining historical ties with Spain and those of special geostrategic interest will be granted special priority”, it continues.
Besides, the party of Albert Rivera defends a reform of the Law on Foreign Policy “to clarify the competences of the Presidency of the Government and the Ministries, under the coordination of the Foreign Ministry”.
“The Council of Foreign Policy will be transformed into a real body of permanent strategic planning dependent on the Presidency”, points out the orange party, which also promises to reform the regulations of the Congress “to establish the obligatory nature of the appearance of the Government before and after each European Council”.
Ciudadanos asks a State Agreement for the new Millennium Goals and a real European defence policy
Ciudadanos also intends to review the diplomatic service “so that diplomats are appointed and promoted according to merit”, and to promote “a State Agreement on Foreign Policy, accepting the new Millennium Goals defined by the UN for 2030 and the 0.7 of the GDP in Official Development Assistance”.
It also means to reform the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID in its Spanish acronym) “to make it more professional, efficient and independent”, to create a rapid response system to face humanitarian crises open to all actors, and to defend, “within the European Union, a fair and solidary solution to the refugee tragedy”.
Regarding Europe, Ciudadanos will try to review the European treaties “to achieve an authentic European Constitution”, and will defend stronger European institutions to assume “a real Common Foreign and Security Policy that benefits everyone”. “We will back the construction of a common, integrated and coherent European Defence, and we will support initiatives aimed at creating a European common defence force”, it continues.
Rivera’s party commits to confront “jihadism with determination and through the implementation of the national strategic plan of fight against violent radicalization, police and judicial cooperation”, and to strengthen the collaboration in the fight against terrorism with other European powers. Besides, Ciudadanos would assume the commitment corresponding to Spain “as regards security and defence” with its European partners and those of the NATO”.
