The Spanish Presidency's strategy to combat the economic crisis and promote new policies, in a coordinated fashion, which consolidate recovery and begin the path towards sustainable growth and job creation today received the support of its European partners and the EU institutions.

The 27 ministers responsible for European affairs met for two days in La Granja (Segovia) to tackle some of the proposals of the work programme drafted by the Spanish government for the six months, specifically issues related to the application of the Treaty of Lisbon and tackling the economic crisis.

The meeting was also attended by the Vice President of the European Commission, Margot Wallstrom, and the Director-General of the General Secretariat of the EU Council, Jim Cloos.

The debate on EU 2020 strategy was the final point for the first informal meeting of ministers for Europe organized by the Spanish Presidency in La Granja (Segovia), which has already get the agreement of the states on the conditions for the citizens' legislative initiative, among other issues. None the less, as this has not been a formal meeting, its results are not legally binding yet.

The Spanish Secretary of State, Diego López Garrido spoke specifically of the five points that have received explicit support from their European partners:

• The launch of the European External Action Service before April 2010
• Regulating the citizens' legislative initiative
• Beginning negotiations with the Council of Europe regarding accession to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
• Putting in place all the instruments necessary for implementing the solidarity clause of the Treaty of Lisbon
• The need to replace the Lisbon strategy, which expires in 2010, with a new, less bureaucratic strategy for economic growth, which is aimed at the highest level of politics and which presents clear and realistic objectives.

He highlighted the following points agreed on at the meeting regarding the new EU 2020 strategy for economic recovery and job creation:

• It will be the responsibility of the European Council to guide and direct the strategy in close collaboration with the European Commission and Parliament and the Presidency of the European Council.
• The objectives must be clear and realistic and aimed at growth and the creation of high-quality jobs.