01 June 2021, Paris (France)
Visit of Mr José Manuel ALBARES BUENO Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Republic of France at the CIHEAM
The Secretary General of the, Mr Plácido PLAZA, has welcomed H.E José Manuel ALBARES BUENO, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Republic of France at the CIHEAM, as well as Mrs María José Hernández Mendoza, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Advisor at the Embassy of Spain in France and Delegate of Spain to the CIHEAM.
Plácido PLAZA SG of the CIHEAM and H.E José Manuel ALBARES BUENO
The visit was held in Paris, at the Headquarters of the Intergovernmental Organisation and particularly allowed to recall the significant support provided by Spain to the Centre and to affirm the support of the authorities for its priority areas of action, especially those relating to gender inclusion and women empowerment in food systems and rural areas. In this regard, Ambassador Albares recalled the importance of this issue for his country and for the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Luis Planas Puchades who has placed the strengthening of the role of women in agriculture among priorities.
Cooperation and dialogue in the Mediterranean
The Ambassador congratulated the CIHEAM for its commitment to this subject, but also for the inclusion of youth - recalling that CIHEAM has been acting as a Mediterranean Erasmus for nearly 60 years - and in the fields of plant and animal health. He wished to assure the Secretary General of his full support for these essential themes for Mediterranean cooperation and dialogue, and for the European Neighbourhood Policy.
The process of accession of the CIHEAM to the delegated cooperation mechanism of the European Union was also discussed. This ambition to become an operator for the EU has led the CIHEAM, in particular, to initiate several projects relating to good governance, in terms of transparency, accountability and responsibility and finally in the areas of ethics. These efforts were commended by the Ambassador.
An online exchange was also held with the Director of the CIHEAM Institute of Zaragoza, Mr Raul Compes. The latter was able to present the many activities of the Institute, especially in the fields of water, plant and animal health and youth employment.
Mr Raul Compes seized the occasion of this discussion to inform the Ambassador that on 8 June, he will receive a Delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of the Spanish Cooperation and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, because cooperation and development will be particularly strengthened in the coming years.
Spain is one of the funding countries of the CIHEAM and hosts one of its Institutes in Zaragoza, in the region of Aragon.