In this post desgranaré some of the milestones that I consider the Spanish Presidency has, during the six months that have elapsed since its inception. In another post I will outline, in my perspective, obviously, what were the issues that have been omitted or have not been projected during the semester.
We assume that the presidency is born with two major storm fronts: first l to world economic situation and the serious lack of credibility of our financial system and sovereign debt, and secondly the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon a new institutional framework which I mentioned earlier, since it represents, in a previous post .
This fourth President (1989, 1995 and 2002 were the others), was preceded by an intense work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and especially the Secretariat of State for the European Union. One of the successes, which are not apparent, nor are of gloss in the media is the implementation of what has been called Trio : a set of rotating presidencies working on a joint agenda, so that issues are progressing in time or the resumption of the agenda marked by events. The first trio is composed by the Spanish Presidency, the Belgian and Hungarian the first half of 2011. This apparently that seems empty, is a challenge to the methodology of community work that was being developed and no doubt, will, better coordination between the rotating Council presidency, the European Commission and the President of the EU.
In fact the Spanish Presidency, has already taken action under its umbrella measures coming from the Swedish Presidency, as the European Recovery Plan , which has marked the rest of the proceedings) and shares of long-term measures, as has been the momentum of the Strategy 2020 , another topic that has gone almost unnoticed by the editors of the continent, perhaps by the perception of inane concept, derived from the failed Lisbon Strategy for the decade is seeing an end.
The new figures emerging in the Lisbon Treaty have been incorporated into the structure so placid and smooth, thanks in large part to the efforts of the Spanish Presidency and its involvement in developing the new agreements under scaffolding. In addition efforts have been seen to give more role to the European Parliament, as defined by the new Treaty, although in this area is long way to go and a lot of opacity in the face of European public opinion. The information capacity of the Commission and majestic, sailing too much educational efforts of the EP.
The main milestones of the Presidency are:

• Starting at the General Affairs Council of the European External Action Service . Cuatrílogo was intensified with the EP, there were amendments to the text and in June the CAG endorsed the progress of negotiations with the EP. The four parties have approved the initial resolution, so that he knows will come into force this year.
• The Commission submitted the proposal for a Regulation of the European Citizens' Initiative on March 31, thanks to the work of the presidency in June CAG already started work on the PE for processing and approval in 2011, to be possible at first reading. Great news for European citizenship.
• The 2020 Strategy has been the Stake Presidency. This is the path of work to determine the strategy for Growth and Employment in Europe for the next decade. That is, the future of the EU.
• The Presidency has chosen the pending enlargement processes, especially in Croatia (it has opened the process of the remaining chapters - 5 - of the negotiating process) and opened a new negotiation chapter with Turkey, preparing with others the Belgian Presidency will start in the new semester.
• It has established the Strategy for the Atlantic Arc to come into force in 2011, marine research, maritime surveillance and the challenges of economic and environmental sustainability, one of the largest regions in Europe.
• The CAG June introduced the Strategic Report on Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 , which through the conclusions of the Council shall establish the strategic focus of the ESF, the Cohesion Fund and 2020 Strategy for the future evolution of the European Union.
• The ECOFIN has defined the Integrated Guidelines which will be two major instruments of the EU economy: the Broad Economic Policy (GOPES) and the Guidelines on Employment. The first were approved at the June Council. All states must draw up National Reform Programmes according to these guidelines, thus advancing the economic and fiscal harmonization in the EU.
• The ECOFIN also have laid the groundwork for a future European Economic Governance, linked to the 2020 Strategy, based on art. TFU 136 and the listener has created a European Financial Stability Mechanism and a European Facility for Financial Stability (better known as Rescue Fund).
• The Spanish Presidency has been a strong promoter of the European Order of Protection, a valuable mechanism to combat gender violence, and their inclusion in the national agendas of the states. Pending ratification by the European Parliament and the Council concerned.
• The Competitiveness Council has agreed to implement actions leading to the electric vehicle as a model for mobility. This implies profound reforms in the R + D + i for manufacturers and suppliers, a new set of connectivity and creating new employment niches, as well as the reorganization of production on which Europe does not add value. This is a new opportunity.
• Also has decided to create a European Research Area and the momentum of the project experimental fusion reactor ITER , all within the lines of the 2020 Strategy.
• They have launched the first initiatives of the European Digital Agenda EU2020 marked by the Strategy.
• In the energy issues Energy Action Plan 2010-2020 and the regulations that will develop the Mediterranean Solar Plan and Plan Mediterranean Ring Gas and Electricity.

These political achievements have been made by the Spanish Presidency, I let others in the pipeline who have had more media coverage or have been of a specific meeting.
The question is, dear reader / a, why most of the issues referenced above hardly sound (especially the non-financial) and that they all will affect our lives. One reason is because l a European agenda has no place in the media. I still do not understand why any newspaper of national importance was still not a section that is called Europe and Euronews, between National and International, where the report of the "core" of political action of the Commission and the European Parliament. I have already, in vain hope that this will change, but this requires that citizens make our voice heard, our interests and in this era we can achieve 2.0, making transmission belts for what interests us and that we detected as reliable and trustworthy source.
I hope the EU will lead this change in the future, through the direct involvement of its highest pillar, the Citizenship

I do not want to make a post about which, very obviously opinion, were the highlights of the Spanish Presidency and what are their weaknesses. I do not think it's time before it will read, sift and reason all the information about already being broadcast and will air both institutional channels, the press or media.
I think such an assessment deserves a detailed analysis later, and even fields. A point of interest for me regarding cultural policies, of which I'll talk a later post.
Now I want to make a thinking aloud about what has made this presidency, which has had a double feature for which has been special. The fate and destiny have wanted two things come together very noticeable in it, from one side of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and other global crisis stage and the special situation of our country on the world stage.
Starting at the end, no doubt, the crisis has been a very minor factor of the ambitious project of work that the Government of Spain had prepared for this semester just ended. The disaster of the Greek economy which put at risk the very survival of the EMU and the financial imbalance produced by the continuous speculative attacks on Spanish sovereign debt (among which are those of the Deutsche Bank!) and I must say , poor credit you have when our government to act strongly to these dollar vultures who are eager to put in check at Euro .
But in addition, this semester started with another, "problem?. I refer to the arrival on the scene of another counter in the complex EU institutional structure, far beyond the committee to use. I refer to the existence of a three-headed political power: the President of the European Commission, Durao Barroso, the President of the Council of the rotating presidency, José Luis R. Zapatero and the President of the European Union, Van Rompuy. In this complex way of managing the power of the EU, I think the Spanish presidency marked an important milestone, there has been no fanfare, no outbursts, everything has flowed in semblance of normality for all European citizens (though I imagine, that printing will not be the same in the services of Cabinet and Protocol paths institutions). However, despite the problems, that there must have been, this has not been an issue of the Spanish Presidency, so this marked the path of how it has to work with the new structure. Imagine for a moment what would have happened if the launch had been in the hands of Berlusconi, Polish President Sarkozy or (shiver, right?).
Another question would be talking about the continued absence of the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, Baroness Ashton. Does anyone know what they do?, You know it you have to do?
But to return to this brief analysis of views. There are two issues I want to stress. An excessively worrying. At a time when the public is increasingly away from politics, and also see it as an evil to be endured (feeling sick concern), this was an opportunity to bring the concept of citizenship in Europe . But this has failed main thing, the communication link between citizens and institutions: the media. Continue ignoring the role of European institutions in the daily political work. There is no pan-European vision of the measures and news coming out of Brussels. Only when reports of meetings of the European Council or the Ecofin, the rest does not matter. Big mistake, in Europe everything is decided affects us daily, and this message does not reach the public. Only when the public perceives that sense, the EU will leap forward in the democratic deficit that has yet.
I can not conclude without pointing out two things about this presidency. Within the activity that has been deployed, people have tried to create nodes in the 2.0 space to try to move opinion on Europe. Initiatives such as: We talked about Europe , European or Challenge 2030 , are an attempt to socialize the European policies in civic networks . It is a road that has marked this presidency and I hope to continue the rest of the Presidencies, especially those of the rest of the Trio , now the Belgian and the first half of 2011 the Hungarian. Furthermore, this work not only remained in the section on digital agitation, was a hit to make a special call for the Third Sector European Malaga last May in the European Civic Days 2010 , an action which I hope will be repeated future presidencies.
Finally I want to remember a milestone of this presidency to respect for citizen participation and involvement in Europe. The impetus for the start-up, definitely the European Citizens' Initiative . A real opportunity to bring Europe closer to citizens, giving the word effectively and openly.

Last April 15 was held La Rencontre de Madrid, an event organized by the European Association of Cities and Regions for Culture, " Les Rencontres ". Organization in which I was honored to participate and be an active member on behalf of the institution he represented: the Diputación de Granada . In the first half of this decade, prompted the publication of the Green Paper on Cultural Policies in Europe . It was a clear attempt to give voice to the traditionally neglected EU institutions: the city councils and administrations in between.
There were many meetings and the meetings, discussions, drafts and put together that led to that text. Now, in 2010 the network is about to complete the next step: the White Paper , with concrete proposals, and I know that the Commission is aware of what results from this collective effort of many people involved, from so many corners of Europe. This will not be the only text, not the only conclusions. There are many organizations working in the cultural sector in the European area (thank goodness), but certainly provide an interesting insight into what is done in the Union, from a different perspective. Besides "Les Rencontres", brings a special vision to be an umbrella organization to which they were, are or will be (or aspire to be) as European Capitals of Culture.
And that was the meeting in Madrid of white European Capital of Culture. or more precisely of applicants to be Spanish and Polish in 2016. Under the Spanish Presidency of the EU there was this meeting (which I was invited to it, having been a member of the Bureau and the Committee of this organization for four years), where 11 candidates were present five Spanish and Polish; and certainly with a parade of mayors and senior representatives of the cities.
This reveals that the European interest. Europe it is identified with modernity, tolerance, social cohesion values. These are epithets systematically used by all applications. Of course there are political interests, who see this opportunity, the possibility of future projects to develop new city. Projects that are under construction for months and years, so that's already positive: Cultural Policy as a factor of Urban and Social Transformation. This is already a breakthrough in itself. It shows that other city and social policy can be developed without the much hackneyed political codes to use.
But the point is that, apart from progress on the White Paper, we heard some interesting things at this meeting. No doubt all around the development was of interest to visualize what it really means a change of political paradigm in which we are, that is, systemic change that is occurring in many aspects of our societies and the economic system. This, in the current situation appears more as a cosmetic, rather than a real change. We need to introduce profound changes in existing trade and cultural relations.
Do not forget that what we call the Digital Revolution, so it can be named in the history books must involve a clear objective: to be a revolution, if new processes and assets that make your time away old processes and old "goods . It is not an original idea of mine, Schumpeter wrote extensively about the meaning of revolutionary change.
Do not forget, we are facing the end of the cultural media that traditionally have kept the economy of cultural industries are no longer important, everything is handled, processed, and this is a problem which the markets are not only accustomed, but also pose even accept it (they are questions relating to the purposes of cycle). We live in an attention economy (it is attracting the attention of a short-lived, but to produce high profits). The Ubiquitous Economy not prepared to survive, it is too changeable, in constant cycles of 24 hours, before a non-economic cultural change.
While that comes in and after an interesting debate about these concepts, we had the opportunity to live an interesting intersection of ideas through the process Pecha Kucha , in which several institutions showed signs of 2.0 concepts and active citizen participation, cultural policy their respective territories and also had the opportunity to experience the presentation of all candidates, all 16 at once, in a joint presentation of the 16, masterfully directed by the great Lluis Bonet .
In the end, the actions being undertaken by the Spanish Presidency on cultural policies rather than being decided, despite my initial disappointment at the absence of a specific agenda , which was subsequently amended and with an agenda more than adequate to the capacity a half of political action , and has developed activities such as the European Forum of Cultural Industries .
You know, dear readers that one of my mottos is More Culture: + Europe.
By the way the event was closed by Carlos Carnero , Ambassador of Spain to the Spanish Presidency. Another element of the formal value that this presidency is giving culture.

One of the issues that the Spanish Presidency of the EU can be presented as a great success of the semester, is the agreement that finally sealed Brussels and Washington this April. This bilateral agreement between the EU and U.S. to initial the Agreement of "Open Skies" , the agreement that further liberalization of the aviation market between the two sides of the Atlantic. This opening began in 2007 with the launch of the first phase of the Convention (which entered into force on March 30, 2008).
This is what is known in the world of aviation as a "seventh freedom" , which is the culmination of a long journey of coordination, integration of rules and regulations and especially deregulation and market liberalization (the most contentious of all agreements developed so far). The map drawn up establishing a start-up period ending next November, and has long seemed to be at risk of becoming worthless, hence for the Spanish Presidency, has been a challenge to their Semester (which can be counted on as a successful management of it to the front of the thrust of the EU in this regard).
"What does it mean this agreement? Are many advantages to bring to the transatlantic aviation market and of course the users of the airlines and the development of new routes and hubs sub. The Seventh Freedom implies the possibility of flying from the U.S. or the EU, as appropriate, to third countries without having to be no scale in the country in which the airline. For example Spanair able to fly between New York and Montreal and American Airlines between Madrid and Warsaw, to give two clear examples (in the agreement enters Canada).
Another issue, not least, is the liberalization of air transport markets, which a priori gives an advantage to "carriers" Americans (FedEx, UPS, etc.) Compared with Europeans (which include KLM and Lufthansa Cargo). But the most important issue and has been more tricky to resolve is referring to the commitment of both sides to remove restrictions that limit shareholdings. Thus, Europe can not now control more than 25% of Americans who, in turn, 49.9% have limited their right to vote in the EU. With the entry into force of this liberalization send these limitations, which will mean a rearrangement of the airline market in future months.
The first thing we see is how the alliance One World , with the majority of American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia (and the latter two in the process of merger), will become the first "mega-carrier" composed of control already Most of the slots between New York and Europe in interesting times. What comes will be a race in which Star Alliance and Sky Team, will converge in new equity to keep lattices influence on the most important air corridor and dynamic world.
The importance of this agreement is given because in case you had not agreed the EU and U.S. have removed all given temporary permits since 2007, which undoubtedly would have caused chaos in the aviation market, precisely at a time when economic recession and the red of the airlines are still a real headache for councils airline management.
Finally, highlight the work of the Minister of Transport of the Government of Spain, Jose Blanco and his involvement in the development and release to all things "eternal" in the aerospace sector, as I bring it up. It is not only an impression, since January, he was responsible for developing the final agreement, which saw the final result this week in Brussels. In fact there have been several bilateral meetings at different levels in Madrid, to develop the same, as the most recognized U.S. representative to sign the agreement, J ohn Byerly Deputy Assistant Secretary of Transportation, who attended the signing in Brussels wearing a commemorative pin and tie the Spanish Presidency, a common gesture of the U.S. administration, with its European partners.
Without doubt, just lay the groundwork for a new aviation markets, not just in the Atlantic. The global aviation market will be reconfigured once it enters into force this Convention.