“Sport has the extraordinary ability to unite us and make us vibrate together,” said the French ambassador, Kareen Rispal, as she began her speech on the occasion of the July 14 celebration. But, she added, “it can also highlight our differences and give rise to chauvinism or manifestations of violence, both verbal and physical.” In Paris, Rajoy’s words are not taken lightly. The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation is in the middle.
No guest, of the approximately 600 who attended the reception held in the gardens of her official residence —among them the ministers of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and of Equality, Ana Redondo— missed the polite reference to the, at the very least, unfortunate article by the former Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, who has not bothered to apologize, who implied that no French players are in the French national football team, simply based on their skin color.
Rispal, after recalling that many footballers from both countries play in the other, closed the sports chapter by stating that the match played between the French and Spanish teams “we will view with respect, admiration, and above all joy, because football is a celebration of talent, shared effort, and the values that unite people.” And so it was. French and Spanish guests enjoyed the match together on two giant screens without major issues.
But the ambassador also did not let pass the most important bilateral issue, the ratification by the Spanish Cortes of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, which has placed the People’s Party in an uncomfortable and poorly managed position in front of the French Government. In this context, in which Rajoy’s words make more sense, Rispal did not hide her Government’s discomfort by stating that, as the Treaty of Friendship is the expression of Hispano-French friendship, “we patiently await its ratification.” And she detailed the reasons: “it is a source of progress for our citizens, for our companies, and for Europe, which needs more than ever united member states.”
Rispal recalled that in 2026, the 40th anniversary of Spain’s entry into the European Union will be celebrated, adding that “we value the path traveled and the mutual benefits it has brought both to Europe and to Spain.” But she warned that “Europe must be stronger, more sovereign, and more innovative,” for which “it must strengthen its defense, its industry, its critical technologies, and its economic security.” Something that depends largely on the ratification of the Treaty signed in Barcelona in 2023.
The ambassador, who had a special remembrance for the victims of two tragedies —the recent fire in Los Gallardos and the Nice attack, which was exactly 10 years ago on Tuesday— emphasized at all times that “France knows it can count on Spain as a friend, partner, and ally, especially when the challenges in the world are so numerous.” After listing Iran, the Middle East, and Ukraine, among others, she firmly advocated for “the cooperation” of two countries, France and Spain, which “are much more than neighbors sharing a common border.”
of the commercial director, Andrea Giraldo (on the left), and Silvi Buytaert, International Sales Manager
