INSTITUTIONAL STATEMENT BY THE SPANISH PRIME MINISTER, MR MARIANO RAJOY, FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BRITISH REFERENDUM RESULT 24th June 2016 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ladies and gentlemen, Good morning and thank you for your attendance. I will now proceed to read a statement from the Spanish Government. The British Government has just announced the results of the consultative referendum on whether the United Kingdom should leave or remain in the European Union. The Government of Spain notes with sadness the result in favour of the departure of Britain from the European Union. Now it is the British Government who needs to decide, where appropriate, how and when to formally notify to the European Council the United Kingdom’s decision of leaving the European Union. Only then will the procedure provided for in article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union on the voluntary departure of a Member State be applicable. The first message I want to send with regard to Britain’s decision is that we need to maintain calm and serenity. Whilst this is the first time that a Member State decides to leave the European Union, the Treaties provide for a smooth negotiation-based way-out procedure. Such procedure will last, in all likelihood, at least two years since the moment the formal notification is submitted. In the meanwhile –I would like to emphasize, in no way will the legal bonds existing between the European Union and the United Kingdom be altered. This means that all the Treaties of the 2 European Union; the EU legal acquis; the free movement of workers, goods, services and capital; the rights derived from European citizenship and, in general, all the network of relations between the United Kingdom and the rest of Members of the European Union and its institutions are fully in force. That is why I want to send a message of serenity and calm to all the Spanish citizens, and in particular to those who are residents of or do business with the United Kingdom and may have concerns following Britain’s decision. All rights derived from their Spanish citizenship and thus their European citizenship are and will be fully in force, without any restrictions, until the United Kingdom’s negotiation-based departure procedure is completed, according to the Treaties. This means that Spanish citizens’ rights remain the same in the framework of their relations with the United Kingdom. Their rights to move freely; to work; to contribute; to draw a pension; to invest; or to vote or to be elected, where appropriate, in local elections of the district they reside in will remain completely unaffected at least, foreseeably, during the two years to come. The same applies for the rights of British citizens residing and working in our country or in any other Member State of the European Union. This message of calm and serenity goes also to companies and economic operators. Freedom of establishment, freedom to provide services, freedom of contract, freedom of investment and freedom to export and import are fully in force. And, finally, with regard to Spanish citizens working in Gibraltar, their rights remain completely unaltered. Therefore, they can keep on working, contributing and moving as usual in that territory. 3 During the last weeks, the Spanish Government has held inter-ministerial coordination meetings with the aim of preparing itself for the present scenario. Our diplomatic and consular representations in the United Kingdom have been instructed to inform and assist Spanish citizens residing in Britain, in order to clear up any doubts they may have in relation to the implications of this decision. Having said that, I would like to stress that in no way have been their rights and their legal situation altered. The Spanish Government has also held meetings with the main Spanish companies operating in the United Kingdom. Moreover, the Spanish Government is in constant contact with its European partners and the European institutions, and is ready for every eventuality. I would like to extend this message of calm and serenity to the markets. Fortunately, today’s Spanish economy has solid foundations. The current situation, characterized by economic growth, job creation, balanced external accounts and a healthy financial system, together with the fact that Spain has already covered a large portion of its financing needs, will allow us to vigorously face any financial turmoil that may come. Only a couple of years ago, an external event such as this one could have pushed Spain towards bankruptcy or bailout. This is not the case today. In these moments, it is of paramount importance to transmit a message of institutional and economic stability. This is not a good time to increase or fuel uncertainty. Next week, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the European Council will meet as planned. Before attending that meeting, I will contact the leaders of the main Spanish parties in order to gather their views and approaches on the matter and to provide them with the information I have at that stage. That European Council meeting will serve to hear about the British Prime Minister’s plans and, accordingly, to discuss and decide on the next steps. 4 When, prospectively, the negotiation procedure starts, the Government of Spain will have to defend two fundamental sets of interests: the Spanish citizens’ and the European Union’s. As you know, we Spanish citizens have a very important appointment at the polls next Sunday. Irrespective of the result, I think I will be representing most of the Spanish people while defending Spain’s commitment to the European integration process, the importance of the stability and integrity of the Eurozone, the continuation of the economic and monetary union reform and a more profound economic and political integration. On the other hand, the result of the British referendum must give rise to reflexion in all the Member States so we all make every effort to win back the vigour of the European integration project’s founding spirit and to reengage our citizens with it. Now we are leaving the crisis behind and the time has come for us to make the European Union actions match the needs of our citizens. To do so, we must focus on growth and employment as the way to improve and secure the welfare state, which is one of the pillars of the European socioeconomic model; the best- performing model in history when it comes to provide European citizens with security and wellness. I firmly believe that Spain must remain at the forefront of the European integration and that that is the general feeling of all the Spaniards. Despite of its ups and downs, the European Union is still the greatest project since the end of World War II in terms of historical significance. In little more than half century, we Europeans have created the biggest area of peace, freedom and prosperity in the history of mankind and, despite serious setbacks such as the one we are facing now, you can be sure that we will keep on working to build our future. 5 Thank you very much for your kind attention. .