<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, chaired the launch meeting of the Spain-Africa Advisory Council this Thursday, one of the 100 measures planned for the Spain-Africa Strategy 2025-2028 presented last December by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.</strong></h4> During the constitutive meeting of this Advisory Council, the minister explained that the objective of this body will be to reflect and contribute practical ideas to strengthen the relationship between Spain and Africa, with special emphasis on common challenges, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Albares also announced that this Advisory Council will assist in the implementation of the Strategy and will meet annually in person, alternating between an African country and Spain each year. The Advisory Council will have 54 members: 34 African figures from all regions of the continent and 20 Spanish members, all from academia, business, institutional, and civil society. Following the launch, the Council held four working sessions this Thursday on economic diplomacy, public diplomacy, security, and governance. The "Spain-Africa Strategy 2025-2028. Working together through a strategic relationship," presented in December by Pedro Sánchez at the Moncloa Palace, differs from previous Africa Plans in that it has a continental dimension, without categories of countries or priority partners, although it pays special attention to the immediate vicinity. The plan has five main strategic objectives: to strengthen a Spanish-African relationship that consolidates and deepens mutual understanding and dialogue and facilitates joint action; to grow through inclusive and sustainable African development fostered by the involvement of Spanish, European, and international institutions, companies, and organizations, but above all, the involvement of young people; to connect through closer ties between the societies and economies of Africa, Spain, and the world; to protect through cooperation to strengthen capacities in justice and security; and to coexist with open African societies and strong, inclusive institutions. It also contemplates an increase in diplomatic deployment in the region, reinforcing the network of Embassies and Consulates and boosting the activities of Casa África, Casa Árabe, and Casa del Mediterráneo. It also includes 100 measures, including the creation of new collaboration instruments, such as the Advisory Council inaugurated this Thursday, and the reinforcement of existing ones.
