Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has awarded the Order of the Flag of the Republic of Serbia to Spanish Senator Antonio Gutiérrez Limones, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening relations between the two countries and his work within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
The decoration was granted on the occasion of Serbia’s National Day, when the state traditionally honours national and international figures for their contribution to the country or to the development of its foreign relations. According to Serbian authorities, the recognition reflects the Spanish parliamentarian’s engagement in fostering institutional cooperation and his support for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity upheld by Belgrade in international forums.
Gutiérrez Limones, a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), chairs the Spanish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, one of the continent’s key pan-European bodies dedicated to overseeing the rule of law, democracy, and human rights. The Assembly brings together parliamentarians from the Council of Europe’s 46 member states and serves as an important platform for political dialogue beyond the framework of the European Union.
The award comes at a time when Serbia continues its gradual alignment with European institutions while maintaining an active diplomatic strategy aimed at strengthening bilateral ties across the continent. Spain and Serbia maintain stable political relations, supported in part by converging positions on sensitive issues such as the principle of territorial integrity, a central pillar of Serbian foreign policy.
Decorations granted on National Day form part of Serbia’s established diplomatic practice and reflect the importance Belgrade attaches to institutional and parliamentary engagement across Europe. In this case, the recognition underscores the role of parliamentary channels as a vehicle for political dialogue within the broader European framework.