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Welcome address by the Speakers
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| During the first semester of 2010, Spain is to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the fourth time in its history. To mark the occasion, we would like this website to bring this event closer to European and Spanish citizens and, more particularly, to make information on parliamentary activity during this period readily available. |
| In a democratic Europe, the role to be performed by the Parliament, as seat of popular representation, is of crucial importance. It will only be possible to further deepen and develop the construction of Europe through an ever closer connection between its people, represented in the European Parliament as well as in their respective Parliaments. Hence, the increasing important role of national Parliaments in the future of the EU. |
| The priorities of the Spanish Presidency will revolve around two themes: innovation and equality. In this context, the Cortes Generales - Congress of Deputies and Senate - will focus their work on the fundamental questions enshrined in the Resolution on the Spanish Presidency of the European Union adopted by the Plenary of the Congress of Deputies on May 19, 2009:recovery towards a sustainable economy and the creation of quality employment, within the Framework of the post- Lisbon 2010 Strategy; Europe's development as a global actor, the defence of human rights and the eradication of poverty throughout the world; and provided the Lisbon Treaty enters into force, its effective application and implementation.
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| On this basis, during the first semester of 2010, the Spanish Parliament shall be hosting at the Congress of Deputies the following meetings bringing together the Committees of the European Member States Parliaments: Foreign Affairs, Finance and Treasury and Labour and Migration; the Senate, in turn, shall host the meetings of European Affairs, Science and Innovation, Equality, Justice and Home Affairs Committees. Likewise, it will organise the XLIII Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) and, together with the European Parliament, two more meetings in Brussels. |
| However, our cooperation does not end there. Spain takes on the Presidency of the EU as part, for the first time, of the "Trio Presidency", made up of Spain, Belgium and Hungary, that will cover eighteen months. To this end, we are already working in close cooperation with the current Swedish Presidency and with the rest of EU Member States. |
| We hope this website will be useful, not only to make all our activities during the Spanish Presidency of the EU 2010 known, but also as a boost to europeism and the European values of freedom, political pluralism and democratic ideals reflected by the Chambers. |
| Spain, as it has done historically since its accession to the EC in 1986, will continue to grant an ever increasing importance to the European project, thus contributing to the necessary strengthening of the European sentiment, where the struggle for freedom, equality and justice has been and always will be its deepest defining trait. |
