International relations institute says Spain has a ‘great’ opportunity to expand its EU role

THERE is a demand for “more Spain” in the EU and the country has a great opportunity to be front and centre in the bloc going forward, analysts have said.

A report from the Royal Elcano Institute of International and Strategic Studies stated that Spain should know how to take advantage of opportunities within the EU.

The country has a “great responsibility” to push for a greater role within the bloc, the Spain in The World in 2019: Perspectives and Challenges report added.

Sobre la UE y España en 2019 acabamos de publicar también este análisis prospectivo de @sllaudes: https://t.co/7Jk0bP3mWG #PolExt2019 pic.twitter.com/Y5I6e1N4bx

— Real Instituto Elcano (@rielcano) February 14, 2019

Researchers at the Institute said: “There is a great demand for more Spain. Spain must assume that it is one of the largest and most diplomatic countries in the EU and must assume its responsibilities.”

Ignacio Molina, of the Institute, said Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell could be an “excellent” High Representative for EU foreign policy.

Federico Steinberg, an economic analyst with the Institute, said political instability caused by government’s budget being rejected and April’s election would not be detrimental to Spain’s long term growth.

The rise of populist parties on both the left and the right on the back of internal and external issues such as Brexit was a cause for concern, Steinberg said.