THE UK’s newly appointed Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, met with his Spanish counterpart, Jose Manuel Alvares in Madrid this week.

They signed an agreement ‘to move forward together’ in the fight against climate change as the serious forest fires continued to rage in Spain.

The two ministers agreed that this summer’s wildfires demonstrated that climate change was now a national security emergency facing Europe and threatening people’s way of life. 

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Both parties agreed that tackling the climate crisis was an urgent policy priority for all countries- to tackle the cost of living, protect health and wellbeing, and to ensure European economic and energy security.

The two Ministers also noted that climate action was essential to protect not just current generations, but ‘our children and grandchildren too’.

This meeting at the Spanish Foreign Ministry, took place after Miliband assumed his new role last week under PM Andy Burnham, who took over from Sir Keir Starmer.

Albares appreciated that Miliband had chosen Paris and Madrid for his first official trip and stressed that bilateral relations are ‘at an absolutely extraordinary moment’.

He also referred to the recent signing of the ‘historic agreement’ over Gibraltar, which opens a new stage ‘of shared future’.

“Today we are going to continue advancing,” said Albares who commented on two agreements to combat climate change and another about equality focusing on violence against women.

He also said that the United Kingdom is an ‘absolutely privileged’ partner for Spain and gave as an example that this country is the main destination for Spanish exports outside the EU-

The UK is also the fourth largest investor in Spain and between the two countries they have communities of Spaniards in the United Kingdom and vice versa that add up to one million citizens, added Albares, along the fact that British visitors lead the overseas tourist list.

The minister also insisted that both nations share values ¡of international law, the values of peace and democracy’ and consider that war ‘can never replace foreign policy’.

Ed Miliband showed his solidarity with Spain ‘for the devastating fires’ that are ravaging the country, including the one in June in Almeria, which caused fourteen deaths, including several Britons.

He thanked Spain for the support that has been given to British nationals, stressing that he will work with the country to tackle climate change.

He also highlighted Albares’ ‘leadership’ over the agreement that was finally possible for Gibraltar.

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