Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation

Coordination and follow-up of the participation of Spain in the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, including the Common Security and Defence Policy.

The formulation and implementation of foreign policy pertaining to the United Nations system, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (hereinafter, OSCE) and international agencies.

The promotion and protection of Human Rights and the transversal application of Human Rights, including that of gender equality in foreign policy.

The conduct of international affairs of terrorism, international security and peace-building, and peace operations and missions, nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

The formulation and implementation of Spanish foreign policy in the geographical areas of the Maghreb, the Mediterranean and the Middle East; Africa; and North America, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

The management, coordination and follow-up, within the scope of its competences, of the obligatory contributions to international agencies and for peace operations. Within its remit, it implements the budget for voluntary contributions to international agencies and institutions, and other contributions to entities and activities related to foreign policy.

The promotion of the cross-cutting implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Spanish foreign policy, in close coordination and without prejudice to the competences of the other bodies of the Ministry and other competent ministerial departments.

The exercise of the coordination of migration policy at the multilateral level; at the level of the European Union, without prejudice to the competences of the General Directorate of Integration and Coordination of General Affairs of the European Union; and at the level of bilateral relations with other countries; together with other ministerial departments competent in the matter.

The coordination of the actions carried out, within the framework of their competences, by the public administrations in the European Union and the maintenance for this purpose of the necessary relations with the competent bodies and agencies of the General Administration of the State and with the autonomous and local administrations.

To instruct the Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 260/1986, of 17 January, establishing the permanent representation of Spain to the European Communities.

The formulation and execution of Spain’s foreign policy with Europe.

The definition and coordination of the position and institutional representation of Spain in the Council of Europe, as well as the follow-up of the activities derived from membership of that international organization.

The formulation and implementation of Spanish foreign policy in the geographical areas of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The preparation and coordination of the Ibero-American Summits and the planning and promotion of the activities of the Ibero-American Community of Nations; collaboration and support for the functions of the Ibero-American General Secretariat; and the promotion and coordination of Spain ' s presence in the Organization of American States (hereinafter referred to as OAS) and in the various multilateral organizations and entities at the Ibero-American level, without prejudice to the competencies of other departments.

The formulation, coordination and execution of foreign policy for the defense, promotion, and expansion of Spanish in the world.

The proposal, direction and coordination, as well as the implementation, without prejudice to the competences of other departments, of the policy of international cooperation for sustainable development, in compliance with the principle of the unity of action of the State abroad, as established by Law 23/1998, of 7 July.

The administration of international cooperation resources for sustainable development managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.

Ensuring Spanish participation in international organizations of international cooperation for sustainable development and defining Spain’s position in the formulation of the European Union’s international cooperation policy for sustainable development.

The evaluation of the policy of international cooperation for sustainable development and of the operations financed with public funds, as well as the accountability of the activities and results of international cooperation for sustainable development in Spain to the Cortes General and to Spanish society.

Institutional presence and participation in the governing bodies of funds and entities of international cooperation for sustainable development in accordance with their statutes, without prejudice to the competences of other departments.

Technical support and advice to the head of the Ministry in the preparation and approval of the Department ' s action plans.

The direction and coordination of the common services of the Ministry; the planning and management of the patrimonial, economic-financial, budgetary and human and material resources of the Department; the development and management of information and communication systems, and the promotion and development of e-government.

The establishment of personnel and service inspection plans, and the improvement of planning, management and organizational systems for the rationalization and simplification of procedures and working methods.

The coordination and supervision of the data protection policy, in compliance with the applicable regulations in this matter, within the scope of the competences of the Department and, in particular, exercise the competences relating to the data protection delegate, provided for in Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 27 April 2016, for the scope of the Ministry, excluding its public bodies, and in Organic Law 3/2018, of 5 December, on the Protection of Personal Data and guarantee of digital rights.

The exercise of the functions of the Transparency Information Unit of the Ministry, as foreseen in article 21 of Law 19/2013, of 9 December, on transparency, access to public information and good governance, and support in the coordination of the initiatives of this Department in the field of Open Government.

The development of the functions of the Equality Unit of the Department, foreseen in article 77 of Organic Law 3/2007, of March 22, for the effective equality of women and men, and in Royal Decree 259/2019, of April 12, which regulates the Equality Units of the General Administration of the State.

The processing of draft general provisions promoted by the Ministry and requests for reports from other departments. The processing of property liability files, the formulation of proposals for the resolution of administrative appeals, and relations with jurisdictional bodies.

The promotion and coordination of institutional relations with other departments, public administrations and bodies and entities related to the Ministry.

The preparation, processing, monitoring and deposit of the international treaties to which Spain is a party.

The selection and training of officials of the Diplomatic Career Corps and the Translators and Interpreters Corps.

Assistance to the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation in the formulation and implementation of Spanish foreign policy in the areas of foreigners, protection of Spaniards abroad, management of emergency and crisis situations affecting Spaniards abroad and supervision of the actions of Spanish consular offices in the management of the services of the General Administration of the State provided abroad.

The coordination of activities related to the exercise of the right of petition.

The Presidency of the Pious Work of the Holy Places and of the Board of Trustees of that organization.

Relations with the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta.

The coordination of the evaluations of the public policies of competence of the Department and, where appropriate, the realization of those determined by the person in charge of the Ministry, in accordance with the plan of public policy evaluations approved by the Council of Ministers, with the support of the Institute for the Evaluation of Public Policies of the Ministry of Finance and Public Function.

The planning, coordination and follow-up of the measures aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the Ministry in compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda in the areas of competence of the Undersecretariat.

The exercise, semi-annually and on a rotating basis, of the Presidency or the Vice-Presidency of the Interministerial Commission for Coordination in the Field of Treaties and Other International Agreements, in the form established in article 3.1 of Royal Decree 598/2019, of 18 October, regulating the composition and operation of the Interministerial Commission for Coordination in the Field of Treaties and Other International Agreements.