The Tangwall Campagin. How did you react to the rejection by the Spanish Senate ? Some commentators and representatives of the opposition see it as a new snub for the president, despite being present on site alongside Pedro Sánchez.
Karl Olive. To speak of a defeat of French diplomacy or of a rejection of France by Spain would be excessive. The treaty was signed by Emmanuel Macron and the head of the Spanish government in Barcelona in 2023. France completed its procedure in 2025 and their Congress of Deputies authorized its ratification in June 2026. It was the Senate which blocked the last stage on September 29, in a context of strong internal political confrontation. However, the courts found the text to be consistent with the Constitution. Like us, our Spanish friends will experience new elections next spring. The polarization is already very palpable… and the reactions are irrational!
I was present during this trip as a deputy and president of the France-Spain friendship group of the National Assembly since 2024. Throughout the political and economic exchanges, I was able to measure the depth and sincerity of these links. This Senate vote is bad news for the treaty, but it alone does not sum up the relationship between our two countries.
What are the key principles of this text?
The treaty aims to provide a lasting framework for cooperation that already exists. In particular, it provides for an annual bilateral summit, a regular political dialogue and a multi-annual road map. It organizes cooperation in many areas: foreign policy, defense, justice, security, economy, education, culture, youth, cross-border relations in the Pyrenees, etc. In addition, it encourages youth mobility and educational exchanges, in particular thanks to the Erasmus+ program.
Our links are also economic and human: in 2024, exchanges of goods between France and Spain will reach 91.4 billion euros. To be precise about the ranking, France is Spain’s first customer while Spain is France’s fourth customer. We should therefore not invert the two figures, but that does not detract from the considerable weight of our commercial relationship. Tourist exchanges also testify to this proximity: nearly 12.8 million French tourists visited Spain in 2025. France, for its part, welcomes just over 8 million stays by Spanish tourists, or around 30 million overnight stays.
“Approving a bilateral treaty does not mean approving the management of the Ceuta crisis”
Above all, this treaty is part of a broader European approach. France has already structured its cooperation with Germany around the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle and with Italy around the Treaty of the Quirinal. We must bring these partnerships to life and make them converge. Faced with sometimes fierce American competition and the rapid rise of China, no European country can carry enough weight alone. We must act together to strengthen our security, protect our businesses and institutions and defend our interests. This is not closing us off from the world or establishing blind protectionism. It is about giving Europe the means to defend its strategic capabilities and demand fair competition. This cooperation should allow us to work together better, but it in no way removes the sovereignty of each country.
Would an adoption really have been a good signal sent to the French at the time of the Ceuta migration crisis, why the left-wing government remains highly criticized in Spain?
Yes, adoption would have sent a useful signal of European cooperation and solidarity. But approving a bilateral treaty does not mean approving the management of the Ceuta crisis by the Spanish government of Pedro Sanchez. These are two separate subjects. The crisis has sparked strong criticism, particularly regarding anticipation, coordination and the response provided. Allegations of mistreatment are also being investigated and must be seriously investigated. They should neither be minimized nor confused with the debate on the treaty.
The treaty provides for cooperation on migration management, control of external borders and the fight against irregular immigration and smuggling networks. This cooperation does not exempt any government from being accountable for its choices. However, the Ceuta crisis also shows that these issues are European and that they call for coordinated responses, as well as solidarity between States.
What possible outcomes?
This rejection does not necessarily close the case. A joint commission bringing together representatives of Congress and the Senate can seek a compromise. Its text must then be submitted to both chambers. If they cannot reach an agreement, Congress can decide by absolute majority. Presumably this will take place after our respective elections. In any case, the historical and fraternal cement between our two countries, like our cooperation with Germany and Italy, remains essential to better protect our citizens and exert our influence together in Europe. That’s the main thing. The accessory can wait!
