Embassy of Spain in the United Kingdom

The Embassy of Spain hosted the presentation of the Hub Defensa Andalucía (Andalusian Defence Hub) with institutional and business leaders. Ambassador Emma Aparici Vázquez de Parga underlined the relevance of initiatives such as the Andalusia Defence Hub at a moment of increasing defence investment by Spain and its Allies, and growing industrial collaboration between Spain and the United Kingdom. As she noted, “we are at a particularly important moment for strengthening economic and industrial relations between Spain and the United Kingdom, and sectors such as defence and aeronautics offer enormous potential.” Carlos Jacinto Marin, President of FEDEME - Federación de Empresarios del Metal de Sevilla, reviewed the origins and objectives of the Hub, created by the private sector and largely composed of SMEs. Experts from GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas, MBDA Spain, and Rolls-Royce highlighted the need for stable frameworks for bilateral cooperation and the role of the Hub as a catalyst for new strategic alliances. Promoted by FEDEME in collaboration with FEDERACION DE EMPRESAS DEL METAL CADIZ FEMCA, the Andalusia Defence Hub aims to foster cooperation among stakeholders in the defence and security sectors in Andalusia. It seeks to develop a robust industrial ecosystem by leveraging the region’s industrial tradition, aerospace capabilities, R&D centres, universities and highly skilled workforce. #AndalusiaDefenceHub #DefenceIndustry #SpainUK #IndustrialCooperation #EconomicDiplomacy #Defence #Aerospace #Andalusia #Innovation #StrategicPartnerships #SecuritySector

Ambassador Emma Aparici Vázquez de Parga visited the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, internationally recognised for their pioneering work in cardiac and respiratory care, as well as their leadership in medical research and innovation. The Ambassador learned about the hospital's latest technologies and advances in patient care. Ambassador Aparici highlighted Spain's contribution to the British NHS and met with some of the more than 60 Spaniards working at the hospital. The visit underscored the close healthcare collaboration between Spain and the United Kingdom. More than 5,000 Spaniards currently work throughout the NHS, contributing their expertise to one of the world's leading public healthcare systems while strengthening cooperation between both countries in research, training and professional exchange. The Embassy of Spain is proud to recognise the dedication and professionalism of Spanish healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom and their invaluable contribution to both the NHS and the longstanding partnership between our two countries. #SpainInTheUK #NHS #Healthcare #MedicalResearch #SpainUKRelations #PublicDiplomacy

Congratulations to Fernando Bartolome Usieto, Education Attaché at the Embassy of Spain in the United Kingdom, on being named Education Attaché of the Year by Embassy Network Magazine. The award recognises his outstanding contribution to strengthening educational cooperation between Spain and the United Kingdom and was presented during the Embassy Education Conference, held at King's College London. Receiving the award, Fernando Bartolomé underlined that this recognition belongs to the entire team of the Spanish Education Office for the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as to the many institutions and partners whose commitment continues to expand opportunities for learning Spanish, promote Spanish culture and deepen collaboration between schools and universities in both countries. This distinction also acknowledges the long-standing work of Spain's Educational Action Abroad programme, led by the Unit for Educational Action Abroad (UAEE) of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, in promoting the Spanish language, fostering international educational cooperation and enhancing the global presence of Spain's education system. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition. #SpainInTheUK #Education #SpanishLanguage #EducationalCooperation #SpainUKRelations

Tim Atkin was awarded La Orden de Isabel la Católica (the Order of Isabella the Catholic). 🍷 The Embassy of Spain was honoured to present the Order to British wine journalist Tim Atkin. Ambassador Emma Aparici Vázquez de Parga praised Tim's long-standing relationship with Spain, particularly its wine regions, and his outstanding contribution to raising the international profile of Spanish wines while strengthening the cultural ties between Spain and the United Kingdom. Tim Atkin expressed his gratitude and reaffirmed his commitment to continuing to promote and share the richness of Spain's wine culture with audiences around the world. La Orden de Isabel la Católica is one of Spain's highest civil honours, recognising individuals and institutions whose work has made an exceptional contribution to strengthening Spain's relations with other countries. #SpainInTheUK #SpainUKRelations #WineDiplomacy #SpanishWine #OrdenDeIsabelLaCatólica

🎓 The Embassy welcomed Cañada Blanch Foundation students The Embassy of Spain was delighted to welcome a group of students from Burriana (Castellón), visiting the United Kingdom through scholarships awarded by the Cañada Blanch Foundation in recognition of their academic excellence. During their visit, the students met with Ambassador Emma Aparici Vázquez de Parga, who shared insights into the longstanding relationship between Spain and the United Kingdom and explained the role and work of a diplomatic mission. Their stay in the UK offers a valuable opportunity to improve their English while experiencing British culture firsthand. We wish them every success and hope this visit has inspired their international outlook. #SpainUK #Education #Youth #Diplomacy #CañadaBlanchFoundation #UKSpain

🇪🇸🇬🇧 Strengthening relations between the Embassy and the think tank community in the United Kingdom. Ambassador Emma Aparici Vázquez de Parga met with representatives of Best for Britain to discuss the organisation's work and the evolving relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. During the meeting, Best for Britain CEO Naomi Smith FCMA presented the report Is it time to talk about EU membership, exploring recent developments in UK–EU relations and possible future pathways. Ambassador Aparici reaffirmed Spain's commitment to strengthening cooperation between the European Union and the United Kingdom, highlighting the close economic, cultural and people-to-people ties that unite Spain and the UK. #SpainUK #UKSpain #Diplomacy #EuropeanUnion #InternationalRelations

📈 The IMF confirms Spain as the fastest-growing major economy in the euro area. The latest IMF projections reaffirm the strength and resilience of the Spanish economy: 🔸 GDP growth forecast of 2.1% in 2026 and 1.8% in 2027. 🔸 Spain remains one of the few major economies whose growth outlook has not been revised downwards. These figures reflect Spain's solid economic resilience and continued contribution to growth across the euro area. #Spain #Economy #IMF #EuroArea #EconomicGrowth

Spanish: a language that connects the world More than 600 million people around the world are Spanish speakers, making Spanish the second most spoken native language globally and one of the world's leading languages for diplomacy, culture, education or international relations. Its global reach extends well beyond the Spanish-speaking world. Spanish is one of the most widely used languages on social media, the third most translated language, and in 2023 it accounted for 21% of the world's 500 most-streamed songs on Spotify. As a shared language across continents, Spanish fosters dialogue, strengthens cultural ties and creates opportunities for collaboration across borders. Spanish is not only a global language. It is a language that brings the world closer together. Source: Instituto Cervantes. #Spanish #SpanishLanguage #InstitutoCervantes #Spain #Culture #Diplomacy #InternationalRelations #Education #GlobalCommunication

Celebrating the enduring friendship between Spain and the United Kingdom. The Embassy of Spain hosted the annual BritishSpanish Society Summer Party, bringing together members and friends of an organisation that has promoted closer relations between Spain and the United Kingdom for more than a century. Ambassador Emma Aparici Vázquez de Parga highlighted the British-Spanish Society's valuable contribution to strengthening bilateral ties through its cultural, educational and scholarship initiatives. The event featured remarks by Sir Anthony Cooke-Yarborough, President of the British-Spanish Society, who reflected on the Society's achievements over the past year, and Maria Panayiotou, Director of Careers and Students at the IE University Alumni & Careers Club, who underlined the importance of the British-Spanish Society's scholarship programme in supporting future generations. The Embassy of Spain values the British-Spanish Society's longstanding commitment to fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and educational exchange between Spain and the United Kingdom, and looks forward to continuing this close collaboration. #SpainUK #SpainInTheUK #BritishSpanishSociety #CulturalDiplomacy #Education #Scholarships #UKSpain #Diplomacy #BilateralRelations

The Embassy of Spain hosted an event to promote the excellence and cultural heritage of sherry wine. The gathering brought together producers, importers, journalists, and industry experts. Ambassador Emma Aparici Vázquez de Parga highlighted the deep tradition of sherry and its centuries long connection to the United Kingdom, a bond so enduring that Shakespeare himself referenced the drink in his works. César Saldaña, President of the Sherry Wine Regulatory Council, led a tasting session featuring new sherries from this designation of origin, offering attendees a closer look at the diversity and quality of these wines. Sherry enjoys an outstanding international reputation, particularly in the United Kingdom, which remains its most important export market. #SherryWine #SpainUK #CulturalDiplomacy #SpanishWine #Sherry #WineIndustry #DesignationOfOrigin #EmbassyOfSpain #TradeAndInvestment #UKMarket