Spain at the head of Europe

On 1st  January, Spain will take the rotating presidency of the EU for 6 months.

The European Union will inaugurate a management never seen: the permanent President , the Belgian Herman Van Rompuy will coexist with the system of six-monthly rotating presidency country.

In announcing the priorities of the Spanish Presidency, Mr Zapatero wants to ensure economic recovery and take over the Union for the Mediterranean, and restart relations between the EU and Latin America (Association Agreement with Central America , negotiations with Mercosur).

For the agricultural sector, Spain will begin to develop new bases of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2013. In February, the ministers will meet to discuss the market mechanisms, the role of environment and rural development policy. A Council of Ministers is scheduled for May in Spain.