Spain and UK sign joint declaration on climate, reaffirm commitment to strengthening bilateral relations
Madrid, July 29 (KUNA) -- Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell and his British counterpart, David Miliband, signed a joint declaration today to enhance cooperation in combating climate change, as well as an agreement on gender equality cooperation, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the signing took place during a bilateral meeting of the two ministers at the ministry headquarters in the capital, Madrid, as part of Miliband’s first official visit to Spain since assuming his office, in the context of London’s efforts to strengthen its ties with European partners.
The statement added that the joint declaration on climate change prioritizes addressing climate change in the foreign policies of both countries, amid record heatwaves and wildfires sweeping across Europe. It also underscores their commitment to leading the green transition, enhancing decarbonization, ensuring energy security, and protecting the environment as fundamental elements for achieving economic prosperity and competitiveness.
The declaration further emphasized that climate change represents a global challenge requiring a response based on effective multilateralism and respect for international law, with sustainable financing mobilized commensurate with the scale of the challenges.
It clarified that the two sides also signed an agreement on gender equality cooperation aimed at combating violence against women and girls, advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda, and increasing women’s representation in decision-making positions, particularly in diplomatic work.
The statement noted that the two sides also discussed ways to strengthen relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and to expand political, economic, and security cooperation. The talks also covered European defense issues, the outcomes of the recent North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, and continued support for Ukraine.
It mentioned that the two sides addressed developments in the Middle East, noting that Borrell stressed the necessity of respecting international law and reopening the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted international navigation without fees or restrictions, emphasizing that achieving this requires a stable ceasefire and the return of all parties to negotiations.
In this context, he said that both sides stressed during the meeting that the treaty signed by the UK and the EU regarding Gibraltar, which Spain participated in earlier this month, represents a “historic opportunity” to move beyond existing cooperation and enhance the bilateral partnership, alongside continuing to implement the bilateral strategic framework signed in London last September.
Borrell affirmed that relations between Spain and the UK are based on close economic and human ties, noting that Britain is Spain’s largest export market outside the EU and the second-largest destination for Spanish direct investments. (End) H.N.D./S.A.M.
