The Diplomat
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabel la Católica to Emilio Lamo de Espinosa, former president of the Elcano Royal Institute, at the proposal of the minister, Arancha González Laya.
According to the Royal Decree 482/2021, published in the BOE, the decoration has been granted “in view of the merits and circumstances of Mr. Emilio Lamo de Espinosa, at the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, and after deliberation of the Council of Ministers at its meeting of June 29, 2021”.
Emilio Lamo de Espinosa (Madrid, 1946) holds a PhD in Law from the Complutense University, a PhD in Sociology from the University of California-UCSB (1979) and, since 1982, Professor of Sociology at the Complutense University. In 1982, he was appointed Director General of Universities and, the following year, first Secretary General of the Council of Universities, a position from which he assumed the drafting of the University Reform Law. Between 1992 and 2001, Lamo de Espinosa was director of the Instituto Universitario Ortega y Gasset. In 2001 he participated in the founding of the Elcano Royal Institute, of which he was director between that year and 2004. Apart from that, he was president of this institution between 2012 and 2021.
“Throughout these years Emilio Lamo has worked with three administrations and five foreign ministers, ensuring the continuity and stability of the Institution,” assured the Elcano Royal Institute. Lamo de Espinosa said that this recognition is made “to the entire Elcano Institute” in his person, for “the great work it has done over the years”.
