Felipe VI wanted to speak forcefully about what happened in Ceuta on July 30 once again. On this occasion, the Monarch has taken advantage of the state visit of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, to demand the need for the European Union to get involved in the defense of Europe's southern border.
"We must also be more effective and supportive in protecting the external border of the Union," the Monarch began during the speech at the gala dinner. The King recalled that what happened in Ceuta "is unacceptable" and has described it as "the massive intrusion of tens of thousands of people violating a Spanish border that is also a European border," the Monarch stressed. Therefore, what happened "poses a major challenge from the point of view of security and public order."
Without leaving the question of the attempted violation of territorial sovereignty, the King has insisted that this situation must result in a reinforcement of collaboration between the member states, in resources and cooperation. The Monarch recalled that "the European countries that bear greater pressure for being on the external border of the EU cannot face alone a responsibility that belongs to everyone."
His words come at a decisive moment, when two months after the massive crossing of people by swimming, there are still thousands of migrants on the streets of Ceuta. And also while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs carries out the necessary procedures in the EU to have a permanent institutional presence of Frontex in the two autonomous cities.
The King also recalled the need to have "the best version of Europe" and to continue "working together so as not to lose this great heritage and at the same time strengthen our capacity for influence." He also recalled the urgency of "directing the drifts of history without losing our principles and values."
At a time of threat to Europeans, both due to the advance of Vladimir Putin, who is increasingly launching hybrid war attacks, the King has recalled the urgency of "having the capacity" to "defend our infrastructures and supply chains."
All this was pronounced by Don Felipe in the gala dining room of the Royal Palace, in a ceremony that was delayed half an hour and while a few meters away, in the Senate, dominated by the absolute majority of the Popular Party, he reserved an unpleasant surprise for Macron and Sánchez, coinciding with the state visit that the former makes to Spain.
The Upper House put an end to the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Kingdom of Spain and the French Republic, signed three years ago by Sánchez and Macron in Barcelona. The debate and vote on the Treaty occurred just when the guests attending the gala dinner presided over by the Kings to entertain the French head of state and his wife began to gather at the Palacio de Oriente in Madrid. The result of the vote was 142 votes against, compared to 106 in favor and one abstention.
The Senate's rejection also occurred despite the recent ruling of the Constitutional Court, in response to the appeal presented by the PP, considering that the Treaty did not violate the Magna Carta since the controversial article, which contemplated the participation of a minister from the neighboring country in the Council of Ministers of Spain, had been sufficiently qualified and interpreted through an exchange of notes by the Foreign Ministers of both countries. These notes clarified that said presence would be "on the margins" and in a "separate" meeting of the Council.
This setback means the definitive fall of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. This would not have been the case if it had been a text that allowed for amendments, but it was a closed document that could not be modified. If it had been possible to amend it, a way would have been opened to end up approving it with the creation of a mixed Congress-Senate commission to reach an agreement that would subsequently have to be voted on by both chambers. In the event of a discrepancy between them, Congress could prevail with a vote by absolute majority.
Now, there is only one possibility: the Government will send the text to Congress again - modifying, after agreement with France, the controversial article, with the precision established by the ministerial exchange of notes - and undertake the entire parliamentary procedure again.
The PP insisted, during the debate, that an international Treaty that commits Spain cannot be determined by an exchange of letters between ministers that "has not been debated by anyone." The Popular Party claims not to question the strategic importance of France or the close relationship with Spain, but they emphasize that the Treaty did not meet the required requirements and, furthermore, did not address some of the most important problems that exist between the two countries, in reference to railway and energy connections. The socialists accused them of being a "disgrace" for Spain.
