Joint Declaration by the United States of America and Spain
Madrid, 01/11/01

The United States of America and Spain,

Bearing in mind the historic bonds of friendship between their two peoples and their traditional relations of political, cultural, economic, and scientific and technical cooperation;

Sharing the objectives of the Transatlantic Agenda and, specifically, a common strategic vision of security in Europe;

Reaffirming the strong alliance between their two countries under the North Atlantic Treaty and their close relations in the area of defense;

Desiring to contribute to peace, security, and stability in the world and recognizing the efforts they are making to reach those ends;

Mindful that both countries share the same values of respect for democracy, human rights, fundamental liberties, and the rule of law;

Recognizing Spain’s growing economic and financial role in Europe, Latin America, and elsewhere;

Recalling our political cooperation and shared interests, particularly recent joint endeavors to help make Europe whole and free, including NATO’s historic Madrid Summit, which invited the first new members into the Alliance since the fall of the Berlin Wall; joint efforts to restore peace and stability in southeast Europe; and staunch mutual support for democratic renewal in Latin America;

Recognizing that the development of a bilateral dialogue in various areas of common interest will help to strengthen their solidarity;

In order to consolidate and enhance their bilateral relations, establish the following general framework for cooperation in the areas listed below:

I. Political Cooperation

1. The United States and Spain seek to institutionalize regular consultations between the two governments. Consultations between the two governments will be intensified, including at the Presidential and Ministerial levels. Special emphasis will be placed on consultations between the Secretary of State and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Both countries intend to hold consultations between the Secretary of State and the Minister of Foreign Affairs at least on an annual basis.

2. The mechanisms provided for the enhanced dialogue between the foreign policy leaders of both countries shall be strengthened, particularly in areas of common interest such as Latin America, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and democracy and human rights.

3. The United States and Spain shall engage in more frequent exchanges of information concerning issues of mutual interest that arise in fora in which they participate and may hold consultations, at the request of either Party, sufficiently in advance of the meeting of said fora.

II. Defense Cooperation

1. The United States and Spain underscore their commitment to the 1989 Agreement on Defense Cooperation (ADC) and the basic principles which inspired it. The two Parties will soon begin discussions for its technical review in light of their close and deepening bilateral relationship.

2. As an organ for policy consultation on defense matters, the United States and Spain intend to establish a Bilateral High Level Defense Committee (BHLDC). The BHLDC is to meet regularly.

3. Both Parties intend to cooperate closely to facilitate the modernization of military facilities, including at Rota and Moron bases.

4. Recognizing the mutual benefits accrued under Complementary Agreement Four, Defense Industrial Cooperation, both Parties agree to review this agreement with an eye towards improving bilateral and transatlantic cooperation and establishing the basis for further cooperation between the United States and Spain

1. The Governments of the United States and Spain have a longstanding tradition of cooperation in the international financial institutions and other international economic fora and of holding bilateral consultations on issues of mutual interest. They pledge to continue and foster such cooperation and consultations, including, for example, on issues related to global and regional economic and financial stability and representation in international economic fora.

2. Both Parties affirm the principle that representation in international economic fora should increasingly reflect evolution in the international economy.

3. The Parties shall continue to support the activities of the U.S.-Spain Council.

IV. Scientific, Industrial, and Technological Cooperation

1. Both Parties intend to advance Agreements in force between the two countries in the area of scientific, industrial and technological cooperation. For this purpose, funding for joint cooperative projects shall be encouraged from a full range of bilateral sources, both public and private sector.

2. Both countries intend to facilitate close cooperation between the Spanish bodies responsible for scientific and technological research and appropriate U.S. Government agencies and non-governmental institutions.

3. Both countries intend to consider the establishment of private entities, such as foundations, to channel cooperation in the area of scientific and technological research.

V. Cultural Cooperation

1. The United States and Spain intend to give impetus to existing agreements between the two countries in this field. For the purpose of promoting mutual understanding, the exchange programs of the Fulbright Commission provided for in the Agreement on Educational, Cultural and Scientific Cooperation of 1994 shall be strengthened. The two Parties intend to seek ways, including in the context of the Fulbright Exchange Program, to increase funds for scholarships and promote the creation of university professorships specializing in the study of the respective countries.

2. The teaching of Spanish in the United States and of English in Spain is to be promoted; venues for continued cultural exchange are to be sought along with support for existing and new cultural centers in each respective country.

VI. Cooperation in Combating New Threats and Security Risks

1. The two Parties are determined to build on their high-level counter terrorism dialogue, including the exchange of information. They intend to cooperate in developing and promoting practical measures to counter terrorist financing. The two Parties, working together, will seek to deny safe haven and material support to international terrorist networks.

2. Both Parties intend to exchange information and cooperate in the fight against drug trafficking, environmental destruction, organized crime, pandemic disease and other global threats.

3. The Parties wish to provide each other necessary technical assistance to counter these risks effectively. As part of this effort, the two Parties intend soon to negotiate an updated bilateral Treaty of Extradition.

VII. Looking Forward

In the spirit of this Joint Political Declaration, the United States and Spain will give due consideration to proposals concerning any of the above-mentioned chapters that either of the Parties might present in order to enhance further our bilateral relations.

Signed at Madrid, January 11^th, 2001

The Secretary of State of the United States
Madeleine K. Albright

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Spain, Josep Piqué I Camps