Meeting with Mariano Rajoy
During her visit to Santiago de Compostela, the Chancellor praised the work of the Spanish government, which has laid the foundations for Spain’s future successful development. Europe, said the Chancellor, must move closer together.
The Chancellor and the Prime Minister in Santiago de Compostela
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "Spain and Germany believe that economic and monetary union calls for closer cooperation in the economic sector too in future." Europe, especially the euro zone, must move closer together if it is to remain competitive in the long term.
More jobs in the digital economy
Angela Merkel stressed that she will be working for growth and jobs. She mentioned two areas in particular: the expansion of the digital market and the development of the energy market to achieve a single energy market. Angela Merkel and Mariano Rajoy also discussed how to make better use of European programmes, including schemes to support small and medium businesses and the youth employment programme. The coming European Council meeting was also on the agenda. At the end of the press conference, the Chancellor invited Mariano Rajoy to visit her home town of Stralsund.
On the Way of St. James
Together, the Spanish Prime Minister and the Chancellor walked along a section of the Way of St. James, as well as visiting the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
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The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is said to be built above the grave of St. James, one of the twelve disciples. The Way of St. James leads to the cathedral. In 1985 the old town of Santiago de Compostela, including the cathedral, was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Economic relations
According to the German Chamber of Commerce, some 1,200 German businesses operate subsidiaries in Spain or hold stakes in Spanish companies; many have their own production facilities. German tourism is also an important factor in economic relations. In 2013 a total of 9.8 million German tourists visited Spain, making them the second largest group of tourists.
Germany is Spain’s second largest trading partner. In terms of Spanish imports, Germany tops the ranking list. In 2013 Spain exported goods worth 23.7 billion euros and imported goods worth 31.3 billion euros.
Cultural relations
Germany operates Goethe Institutes in Madrid and Barcelona, with branch offices in Granada and San Sebastián. Over 1,500 formal cooperation agreements link universities in the two countries. A large number of joint research projects involving German and Spanish institutions underpin cooperation.