The Diplomat
The Council of Ministers referred this past Tuesday to the Spanish Parliament the agreement between Spain and Denmark on reciprocal protection of classified information in the field of defense, while authorizing the manifestation of Spain’s consent to be bound by the aforementioned agreement.
The purpose of this agreement is to guarantee the protection of classified information generated or exchanged between the parties, or by natural or legal persons under the jurisdiction of either party. Its ratification will contribute to the preservation of Spain’s interests in its international relations, which sometimes require the exchange of information which, because it affects security or national interests, must have a degree of classification and be subject to special processes of use and handling in order to preserve its integrity.
In particular, manufacturing, assembly or supply contracts, in the field of the defense and armaments industry, often involve the sharing of confidential devices or procedures. It is therefore necessary to establish rules to enable States to share such classified information without risk.
This agreement is therefore an essential legal instrument that will promote the development of the Spanish defense industry and bilateral trade in this sector. The agreement was signed in Madrid on March 22, 2022, after authorization by the Council of Ministers on February 11, 2020. The consent of the State to be bound by the agreement requires the prior authorization of the Spanish Parliament due to the fact that it affects defense and official secrets legislation.
