Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union

The Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union is a senior diplomat of the Spanish government representing the Kingdom of Spain before the Institutions of the European Union. As such, it is the official responsible for carrying out the guidelines established by the Minister of Foreign Affairs or, by delegation, by the Secretary of State for the European Union.[1]

Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union
Spanish Permanent Representation
Incumbent Juan Pablo García-Berdoy since 3 December 2016
Style	The Most Excellent
Member of	Committee of Permanent Representatives
Reports to	Secretary of State for the European Union
Residence	Boulevard du Régent, 52 1000 Brussels
Nominator	Foreign Minister
Appointer	Monarch
Inaugural holder	Carlos Westendorp
Formation	December 31, 1985
Deputy	Deputy Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union
Website	Spanish Mission to the EU

Origin

In late 1985, Spain and the European Communities finalized the negotiations for the admission of Spain in the Communities. At the same time, the Spanish government created the position of Ambassador Permanent Representative to the European Communities to represent the Kingdom and defend the interests of Spain before the European Institutions, although the Permanent Mission was officially created on January 17, 1986.[1]

With the signing of the Treaty of the European Union in Maastricht in 1992, the European Communities disappear and the current European Union is properly created, so the name of the permanent mission is changed to Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union in December 1995.

Permanent Representation

The permanent representation depends administratively and economically on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Secretariat of State for the European Union. The law defines it as "the accredited body, representative and management, by Spain to the European Union and ensure the presence of Spain in the institutions and bodies dependent on it."

The mission is headed by the Ambassador Permanent Representative. As a collaborator and substitute for the Ambassador, there is a Deputy Ambassador Permanent Representative, who is also appointed by the Government, at the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and after hearing the Interministerial Committee for the European Union Affairs. The representation is also made up of the Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the Political and Security Committee (PSC).

Apart from the aforementioned senior positions, the representation is composed of lesser diplomatic personnel such as advisers, embassy secretaries and attachés, who are freely appointed by the minister. Non-diplomatic personnel are appointed by the Foreign Minister at the proposal of the ministerial department that requests it.[1]

Ambassadors

No.	Name	Start	End	Ref.
1	Carlos Westendorp	31 December 1985	16 March 1991	[2]
2	Camilo Barcia García-Villamil	28 March 1991	27 July 1994	[3][4]
3	Francisco Javier Elorza Cavengt	27 July 1994	24 June 2000	[5][6]
4	Francisco Javier Conde de Saro	24 June 2000	7 September 2002	[7][8]
5	Carlos Bastarreche Sagües	7 September 2002	18 September 2010	[9][10]
6	Luis Planas Puchades	5 October 2010	31 December 2011	[11][12]
7	Alfonso Dastis	31 December 2011	4 November 2016	[13]
8	Juan Pablo García-Berdoy	3 December 2016	Incumbent	[14]

References

1. "Royal Decree 260/1986, of January 17, by which the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Communities is created". www.boe.es. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
2. "ROYAL DECREE 2448/1985, of December 27, by which Don Carlos Westendorp and Head Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Communities are appointed" (PDF).
3. "ROYAL DECREE 390/1991. of March 22, by which Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain before the European Communities is designated, Mr. Camilo Barcía García-Villamil" (PDF).
4. "ROYAL DECREE 1698/1994, of July 22, which provides for the cessation of Don Camilo Barcia García-VilIamll as Ambassador Representative of Spain to the European Communities" (PDF).
5. "ROYAL DECREE 1701/1994, of July 22, by which Don Francisco Javier EJorza Cavengt is appointed Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Communities" (PDF).
6. "ROYAL DECREE 1197/2000, of June 23, which provides for the cessation of Mr. Francisco Javier Elorza Cavengt as Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union" (PDF).
7. "ROYAL DECREE 1197/2000, of June 23, which provides for the cessation of Mr. Francisco Javier Elorza Cavengt as Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union" (PDF).
8. "ROYAL DECREE 928/2002, of September 6, which provides for the cessation of Mr. Francisco Javier Conde de Saro as Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union" (PDF).
9. "ROYAL DECREE 933/2002, of September 6, by which Ambassador Carlos Bastarreche Sagües is designated permanent representative of Spain to the European Union" (PDF).
10. "Royal Decree 1166/2010, of September 17, which provides for the cessation of Mr. Carlos Bastarreche Sagües as Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union" (PDF).
11. "Royal Decree 1230/2010, of October 4, which appoints Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union to Mr. Luis Planas Puchades" (PDF).
12. "Royal Decree 1924/2011, of December 30, which provides for the cessation of Mr. Luis Planas Puchades as Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union" (PDF).
13. "Royal Decree 1925/2011, of December 30, which appoints Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union to Mr. Alfonso María Dastis Quecedo" (PDF).
14. "Royal Decree 611/2016, of December 2, which appoints Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union to Mr. Juan Pablo García-Berdoy y Cerezo" (PDF).