David Davis makes first trip to Spain
Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis has made his first trip to Spain to engage with senior members of the Government.
He held an hour long meeting today in Madrid with Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, and Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis.
Mr Davis updated the Spanish Ministers on the Government’s preparations ahead of triggering Article 50 and both sides agreed on the importance of ensuring a smooth and orderly process.
There was also a clear commitment to strengthen the bilateral relationship in a wide range of areas.
Mr Davis will also participate in the British-Spanish Tertulias (“debates”), the most important bilateral event of the year, in Seville.
David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, said:
I want to ensure we have positive, strong, and productive relations with our closest neighbours.
We approach the negotiations in a spirit of goodwill and a desire to see the EU succeed politically and economically.
The people of the UK have made a clear decision to leave the EU, and that is one the Government will respect and implement.
But Britain will continue to be the same outward-looking country that it has always been.
Britain and Spain have a historic and deep relationship which will endure.
The visit by the Secretary of State comes ahead of the Prime Minister’s second European Council meeting this month and will build on the cross-government work already done to prepare for exit negotiations.