Royal Decree 553/2004, of 17 April, for which the ministerial departments are restructured, issued under the authorisation granted to the President of the Government in Article 2.2.j of Law 50/1997, of 27 November, the Government, modified the organic structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in order to achieve the maximum effectiveness in its action and to enhance the capacity of the ministry in the international field.

For its part, the Royal Decree 562/2004, dated April 19, established the structure of the higher bodies and directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in order to strengthen the international projection of Spain.

In the framework of the necessary restructuring process, this royal decree develops the structure of the higher bodies and directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, up to the level of sub-management. In general, some modification is introduced with respect to the basic organic structure initially planned, all in order to achieve the objectives of rationality and improvement of the efficiency in the area of competence and management of the department.

In its virtue, at the initiative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, on a proposal from the Minister of Public Administration and after deliberation by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on 11 June 2004,

D I S P O N G O:

Article 1. General organization of the department.

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is the department of the General Administration of the State to which it corresponds, in accordance with the guidelines of the Government and in application of the principle of unity of action abroad, to plan, direct, execute and evaluate the foreign policy of the State; to coordinate and strengthen its relations with other States and international organizations; to defend the interests of Spain and to carry out an adequate and effective policy of protection of Spanish citizens abroad; to direct the international cooperation policy for the development and coordination of the bodies of the General Administration of the State which, in the field of their competences, carry out action in this field; promote the economic, cultural and scientific relations of Spain and participate in the This is a matter of course, in the proposal and implementation of the foreign policy.

2. The powers conferred on this royal decree will be understood in coordination and without prejudice to those corresponding to other ministerial departments.

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, under the direction of the head of the department, is structured in the following upper and managerial bodies:

(a) The Secretariat of State for Foreign Affairs and for Latin America, on which the following management bodies depend:

1 The General Directorate of Foreign Policy.

2nd The Directorate General of Foreign Policy for Europe and North America.

3rd The Directorate General of Foreign Policy for Latin America.

4th The Directorate-General for Foreign Policy for the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa.

5th The General Directorate of Foreign Policy for Asia and the Pacific.

6th The Directorate-General for International Affairs on Terrorism, the United Nations and Multilateral Organizations.

7th The Directorate-General for International Economic Relations.

b) The Secretariat of State for the European Union, on which the following management bodies depend:

1st General Secretariat for the European Union, with a rank of sub-secretary.

2nd The European Union's Directorate-General for Integration and Coordination of General and Economic Affairs.

3rd The Directorate-General for the Coordination of the Internal Market and other Community Policies.

(c) The Secretariat of State for International Cooperation.

(d) The Secretariat for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, on which the following management bodies depend:

1 The Technical General Secretariat.

2nd The Directorate General of the Foreign Service.

3The Directorate General for Consular Affairs and Assistance.

e) Depends directly on the head of the department of the Directorate General of Foreign Communication.

f) As an immediate assistance body to the Minister there is a Cabinet, with an organic level of general direction, with the structure set out in Article 17 of Royal Decree 562/2004 of 19 April.

g) Assistants to the head of the department a Higher Council of Foreign Affairs, whose composition and functions are regulated by specific provisions and whose holder has an organic level of deputy general manager.

Article 2. Secretariat of State for Foreign Affairs and for Latin America.

1. The Secretariat of State for Foreign Affairs and for Ibero-America assists the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy in its global approaches and objectives and, in particular, in the fields of the common foreign and security policy of the European Union and the common European security and defence policy; the United Nations system and international technical bodies, and international terrorism, security and security international and disarmament, human rights and peacekeeping operations, international economic relations and international air, sea and land cooperation.

In addition, it assists the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the formulation and implementation of Spain's foreign policy in the geographical areas of Europe, North America, Latin America, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia and Pacific.

2. As a body of immediate assistance to the Secretary of State there is a Cabinet, with an organic level of sub-directorate general, with the structure set out in Article 17 of Royal Decree 562/2004 of 19 April.

3. It is also up to the Secretary of State to have a Cabinet for Analysis and Forecasting of Foreign Policy, with an organic level of general sub-directorate, to which the study and evaluation of issues related to foreign policy correspond.

Article 3. Directorate-General for Foreign Policy.

1. The Directorate-General for Foreign Policy collaborates with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and for Latin America, who directly depends on the functions of assistance to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the formulation and implementation of the external policy in its global approaches and objectives, and in particular in the areas of the European Union's common foreign and security policy, and the common European security and defence policy, ensuring consistency of the Spanish foreign policy with the common strategies, the common positions and the joint actions taken by the European Union.

2. In his capacity as Political Director, the Director General for Foreign Policy represents Spain at the meetings of the Political and Security Committee, when he meets in the formation of Political Directors, and he also exercises coordination. on the Directorate-General for Foreign Policy for Europe and North America, the Directorate-General for Foreign Policy for Ibe Roamerica, the Directorate-General for Foreign Policy for the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa, the Directorate-General Foreign Policy for Asia and the Pacific, the Directorate-General for International Affairs of Terrorism, United Nations and Multilateral Organizations and the Directorate General for International Economic Relations.

In this condition, it drives the achievement of the objectives and the execution of the own projects of the foreign policy of Spain in these areas.

3. They are directly dependent on the Director-General for Foreign Policy, in addition to the management bodies listed in the previous paragraph, the following bodies, with an organic level of sub-directorate-general:

(a) The Subdirectorate General for Foreign Policy, which is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the issues related to Spanish foreign policy.

(b) The Subdirectorate-General for Common Foreign and Security Policy, which corresponds to the coordination and monitoring of the participation of Spain in the common foreign and security policy of the European Union, and the preparation and follow-up of meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council and the Political and Security Committee, both of the European Union, on matters relating to the common foreign and security policy.

4. The Ambassador to the Special Mission for Peacekeeping Operations, with the functions of assisting in the design and execution of the participation of Spain in these operations, and of coordination, also depends on this Directorate General. with the different units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and with other government departments, relevant to the effect.

5. The Unit for the Coordination of the Participation of Spain in the United Nations Security Council, created by Royal Decree 1289/2002, of 5 December, is attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation through the Directorate General of Foreign Policy, and will exercise its functions in the terms and during the period provided for in the aforementioned royal decree.

Article 4. Directorate-General for Foreign Policy for Europe and North America.

1. It is up to the Directorate-General for Foreign Policy for Europe and North America to draw up, propose and implement Spain's foreign policy in its geographical area.

2. For compliance with the above mentioned functions, the Directorate-General is structured in the following bodies:

a) The General Subdirectorate of Western Europe.

(b) The Central and Southern European Subdirectorate General.

c) The General Subdirectorate of Eastern Europe.

d) The General Subdirection of North America.

These Subdirectorates General are responsible for the elaboration and promotion of the interests of the foreign policy of Spain in their areas of responsibility, and the promotion of bilateral relations with the countries that comprise.

3. The following units also depend on the Directorate-General for Foreign Policy for Europe and North America:

(a) The Office of Gibraltar Affairs, with an organic level of general sub-direction, to which it is responsible for the elaboration and monitoring of the positions of Spain in respect of the dispute of Gibraltar. To this end, it shall carry out the necessary coordination with the various units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and other ministerial departments, as well as with the corresponding bodies of other public administrations. in the matters relating to the dispute in Gibraltar.

(b) The Division of Multilateral Affairs and the OSCE, which will have the level to be determined in the employment relationship, which is responsible for the elaboration, proposal and implementation of the Spanish policy with regard to the Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the Council of Europe, in coordination with other units of the ministry, and other departments with competence in the activities of these organizations.

Article 5. Dirección General de Política Exterior para Iberoamerica.

1. It is up to the Directorate-General for Foreign Policy for Latin America to draw up, propose and implement Spain's foreign policy in its corresponding geographical area.

2. It is also responsible for the preparation and coordination of the Ibero-American Summits, the promotion of the Ibero-American Community of Nations and the political support to the functions of the General Secretariat for Ibero-American Cooperation. It is also the responsibility of the Secretariat of State for the European Union, the preparation and follow-up of the European Union-Latin America and the Caribbean Summits, and to encourage the increase of the presence of Spain in the multilateral arena. In particular, the Organization of American States (OAS).

3. For compliance with the above mentioned functions, the Directorate-General is structured in the following bodies:

a) The General Subdirectorate of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

(b) The General Subdirectorate of the Andean Community.

c) The General Subdirectorate of the MERCOSUR and Chile Countries.

These Subdirectorates General are responsible for the elaboration and promotion of the interests of the foreign policy of Spain in their areas of responsibility, and the promotion of bilateral relations with the countries that comprise.

Article 6. Directorate-General for Foreign Policy for the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa.

1. It is up to the Directorate-General for Foreign Policy for the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa to draw up, propose and implement Spain's foreign policy in its geographical area.

2. For compliance with the above mentioned functions, the Directorate-General is structured in the following bodies:

a) The North African Subdirectorate General.

b) The General Subdirectorate of the Middle East.

c) Sub-Saharan Africa's General Subdirectorate.

These Subdirectorates General are responsible for the elaboration and promotion of the interests of the foreign policy of Spain in their areas of responsibility, and the promotion of bilateral relations with the countries that comprise.

3. It is also for this Directorate-General, in coordination with the General Secretariat for the European Union, to prepare and monitor the issues relating to the Barcelona Process.

Article 7. Directorate-General for Foreign Policy for Asia and the Pacific.

1. It is up to the Directorate-General for Foreign Policy for Asia and the Pacific to draw up, propose and implement Spain's foreign policy in its geographical area.

2. For compliance with the above mentioned functions, the Directorate-General is structured in the following bodies:

a) The General Subdirectorate of Continental Asia.

b) The Pacific, Southeast Asia, and the Philippines General Subdirectorate.

These Subdirectorates General are responsible for the elaboration and promotion of the interests of the foreign policy of Spain in their areas of responsibility, and the promotion of bilateral relations with the countries that comprise.

Article 8. Directorate-General for International Affairs of Terrorism, United Nations and Multilateral Organizations.

1. It is up to the Directorate-General for International Affairs of Terrorism, the United Nations and Multilateral Agencies to draw up, propose and implement the interests of Spain's foreign policy in the field of international affairs. The European Union is committed to the fight against terrorism, human rights, international security and disarmament, as well as the United Nations and multilateral organizations. In particular, it is for the exercise of the following functions:

(a) The political and legal activities related to the performance of both the main organs of the United Nations and the subsidiary bodies, committees and working groups that are dependent on them.

b) The coordination of the Spanish position in the international technical agencies and their subsidiary bodies, in the specialized agencies of the United Nations system and in the economic and social sector of the organisation.

(c) Coordination, together with the relevant Directorates-General, of Spain's foreign policy in the field of the protection and promotion of human rights.

d) The elaboration of the positions of Spain on international security and defense issues, both at the multilateral and bilateral level.

e) Monitoring of disarmament and arms control activities and negotiations within the framework of the European Union, the United Nations and other specific fora in which Spain participates, as well as the monitoring of the general verification of the disarmament and arms control agreements of which Spain is a party.

2. For the performance of the functions identified, the Directorate-General is structured in the following organs, with an organic level of general sub-direction:

(a) The United Nations Subdirectorate-General, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in subparagraph (a) of the previous paragraph.

(b) The General Subdirectorate of Technical International Organizations, to which the exercise of the function set out in subparagraph (b) of the previous paragraph corresponds.

(c) The Office of Human Rights, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in paragraph (c) of the previous paragraph.

(d) The Subdirectorate-General for International Security Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in paragraph (d) of the previous paragraph.

(e) The Subdirectorate-General for International Affairs of Disarmament, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in paragraph (e) of the previous paragraph.

3. It is also up to this Directorate-General to be the Ambassador to the Special Mission for International Affairs on Terrorism.

Article 9. Directorate-General for International Economic Relations.

1. It is the responsibility of the Directorate-General for International Economic Relations, within the framework of the general powers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the advisory and drafting function, proposal and implementation of the policy outside Spain, in the following areas:

(a) Bilateral international economic relations.

(b) Multilateral economic relations, ensuring the institutional representation of Spain vis-à-vis integration systems and other bodies, including the OECD, and the relevant multilateral conventions, without prejudice to the competences of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Industry, Tourism and Trade in the field. It is also up to him to coordinate, in collaboration with the competent departments, the representation of Spain before the committees and special bodies of these conventions and agencies, ensuring in these the defense of the interests of Spain.

c) International relations in the field of air, sea, land, and space and ocean cooperation.

2. For compliance with the above mentioned functions, the Directorate-General is structured in the following bodies:

(a) The Sub-Directorate-General for Bilateral Economic Relations with Europe and the OECD, which corresponds to the exercise of the function provided for in paragraph (a) of the previous paragraph, in its geographical area of competence.

(b) The Sub-Directorate-General for Bilateral Economic Relations with Developing Countries, which corresponds to the exercise of the function provided for in paragraph (a) of the previous paragraph, in its geographical area of competence.

(c) The Subdirectorate-General for Multilateral Economic Relations and Air, Maritime and Terrestrial Cooperation, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions provided for in paragraphs (b) and (c) of the previous paragraph.

3. It is also up to the Directorate-General to negotiate and deal with international, bilateral and multilateral agreements, in relation to the areas of responsibility.

Article 10. Secretary of State for the European Union.

1. The Secretariat of State for the European Union assists the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the formulation and implementation of Spain's foreign policy in the field of the European Union.

2. The Secretariat of State for the European Union also coordinates all actions which, within the framework of its powers, are carried out by the administrations.

public in the European Union. To this end, through the normally established channels, it maintains the necessary relations with the competent organs and agencies of the General Administration of the State, and with the autonomous and local administrations.

It also coordinates the actions which the other higher bodies and directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation are required to carry out in the exercise of their powers in the exercise of their powers.

As established by Royal Decree 260/1986 of 17 January establishing permanent representation of Spain to the European Communities, the Secretary of State gives instructions to the Ambassador Permanent from Spain to the European Union.

3. As a body of immediate assistance to the Secretary of State there is a Cabinet, with an organic level of sub-directorate general, with the structure set out in Article 17 of Royal Decree 562/2004 of 19 April.

4. The Secretariat of State is attached to the Inter-Ministerial Commission for European Union Affairs, which is governed by its specific provisions.

Article 11. General Secretariat for the European Union.

1. The Secretary-General for the European Union is working with the Secretary of State for the European Union, who directly depends on the functions of assistance to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the formulation and implementation of the Spain's foreign policy at the level of the European Union, coordinating action in this area of the competent bodies of the General Administration of the State.

It is also up to the European Union institutions to monitor and coordinate actions on justice and home affairs.

2. The Secretary-General exercises the powers inherent in his or her responsibility for management and those delegated to him by the Secretary of State and, in particular, promotes the achievement of the objectives and the execution of the own projects of the foreign policy of Spain in the field indicated above, controlling its compliance, supervising and coordinating the activity of the governing bodies attached to it and giving instructions to its members.

3. They are directly dependent on the Secretary-General, in addition to the management bodies listed in Article 1.3.b) .2.o and 3.o, the following bodies with a general sub-directorate level:

(a) The Technical Cabinet, which is the immediate assistance body to the Secretary General in the performance of his duties.

(b) The European Union's Subdirectorate-General for Institutional Affairs, which is the body responsible for the monitoring and coordination of the institutional issues of the European Union, and in particular of the reforms of the European Union. The European Union, relations with the European institutions and the participation of the autonomous communities in European affairs, without prejudice in the latter case of the powers conferred on the Ministry of Public Administrations in the provisions in force.

(c) The Subdirectorate-General for Justice and Home Affairs, which is responsible for the coordination of initiatives and the monitoring of matters arising in the field of the European Union in the field of police cooperation, judicial cooperation, asylum, immigration and borders, terrorism and drugs.

4. It is attached to the General Secretariat for the European Union, without prejudice to its dependence on the Ministry of Justice, the State Advocate before the Court of Justice of the European Communities, with the functions that the rules in force attribute.

Article 12. Directorate-General for Integration and Coordination of General and Economic Affairs of the European Union.

1. Under the Secretary-General's dependence on the European Union, the Directorate-General for Integration and Coordination of General and Economic Affairs of the European Union is responsible for coordinating action in the European Union. Ministerial departments responsible for financial, economic, trade and related matters, and in particular the following functions:

(a) The preparation of the meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union.

(b) monitoring of the actions of the European Union in financial and economic matters, as well as cooperation in the process of establishing the Spanish position in the European Union in such matters, without prejudice to the powers of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance in the committees directly preparing the Council of Ministers for Economic and Financial Affairs of the European Union.

(c) The coordination of the process of establishing the Spanish position in the European Union in the field of trade, tariff and customs policy and related tax matters.

2. For the performance of these functions, the Directorate-General is structured in the following bodies:

(a) The General Subdirectorate General for General Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in subparagraph (a) of the previous paragraph.

(b) The Subdirectorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in paragraph (b) of the previous paragraph, in collaboration with the National Audit Office General of the State Administration in the role of control of financial relations with the European Union.

(c) The Subdirectorate-General for Customs and Commercial Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in paragraph (c) of the previous paragraph.

Article 13. Directorate-General for the Coordination of the Internal Market and other Community Policies.

1. Under the Secretary-General's dependence on the European Union, the Directorate-General for the Coordination of the Internal Market and other Community Policies is responsible for preparing the Competitiveness Council of the European Union; monitoring of the actions by the European Union in agricultural and fisheries matters; industrial, energy, transport and communications; and the environment; social, educational, cultural and health and consumer affairs. It is also up to the European Union to coordinate the actions of the relevant ministerial departments in these areas, through the normal channels established.

It also corresponds to the monitoring function of the process of transposition of directives in Spanish legislation, and of the notifications of the proposals for State aid to the European Commission; the instruction of the The European Commission's proposal for a Council Directive on the protection of the environment and the protection of the environment (COM (2002) 29-Doc.

In particular, it is up to you to exercise the following functions:

(a) The coordination of the process of establishing the Spanish position in the European Union's Agriculture and Fisheries Councils, in the agri-food issues of the Internal Market Council and in the various Community committees on agriculture and fisheries, as well as the process of submitting applications for European Union aid in these areas.

b) The coordination of the process of establishing the Spanish position in the European Union in industrial, energy, transport and communications, and in the environment.

(c) The coordination of the process of establishing the Spanish position in the European Union in social, educational, cultural and health and consumer affairs, as well as the process of submission of European Union aid in these materials.

d) Community legal advice to public administrations; management before the institutions of the European Union in the notification of State aid; the elaboration of responses to infringement procedures opened against Spain in its pre-litigation stages, as well as the preparation of responses in the investigation procedures.

e) The coordination, monitoring and notification of the transposition into national law of the Community directives, as well as the preparation, monitoring and coordination of actions before the Court of Justice of the Union European.

(f) The coordination of the process of establishing the Spanish position in the Council working groups, of legal content, and in the Advisory Committee on the Internal Market.

2. For the fulfilment of these tasks, the Directorate-General is structured in the following Subdirectorates-General:

(a) The Subdirectorate-General for Agricultural and Fisheries Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in subparagraph (a) of the previous paragraph.

(b) The Subdirectorate-General for Industrial, Energy, Transport and Communications, and the Environment, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in subparagraph (b) of the previous paragraph, as well as the coordination of the rest of the General Directorate-General for the preparation of the Internal Market Council of the European Union.

(c) The Subdirectorate-General for Social, Educational, Cultural, and Health and Consumer Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in paragraph (c) of the previous paragraph.

(d) The General Secretariat for the Coordination of Community Legal Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions set out in paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of the previous paragraph.

Article 14. Secretary of State for International Cooperation.

1. The Secretariat of State for International Cooperation assists the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the direction, formulation and implementation of the international development cooperation policy.

To this effect, as established by Law 23/1998, of 7 July, of international cooperation for development, it exercises the powers conferred on the Minister in the direction, formulation and implementation of the policy of cooperation for the development; in its planning and coordination; it manages the cooperation resources managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; ensures Spanish participation in international aid organizations; development and defines the position of Spain in the formulation of the Community policy of development. It also evaluates the development cooperation policy, and the programs and projects financed by state funds.

2. As a body of immediate assistance to the Secretary of State there is a Cabinet, with an organic level of sub-directorate general, with the structure set out in Article 17 of Royal Decree 562/2004 of 19 April.

3. The following bodies are also directly dependent on the Secretary of State for the organic sub-directorate general level:

(a) The Subdirectorate-General for Planning and Evaluation of Development Policies, to which it is appropriate to assist in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Spanish development cooperation policy international cooperation, the preparation of the international cooperation plan and the annual plans; the advice on the implementation of Law 23/1998 of 7 July, international cooperation for development, and its development; monitoring of thematic and geographical strategies; evaluation of programmes and projects of international cooperation; to participate in collaboration with the organs of the State Administration which have assigned powers in this field in the preparation of the Spanish position in the OECD Development Assistance Committee and in the international development organisations, as well as the development of the European Union's external cooperation policy. Its functions also include the monitoring and coordination of official Spanish development assistance, as well as the secretariat of the consultative bodies-Cooperation Council, Inter-Ministerial Commission and Inter-territorial Commission, and coordinate the relations among its members.

Of this Subdirection General depends on the Development Policy Assessment Division, with an organic level to be determined in the relation of jobs, with the function of evaluating the strategies of cooperation, as well as the international development cooperation programmes and projects.

b) The General Subdirectorate of Cultural and Scientific Programs and Conventions, which performs the following functions:

1.a Planifies and evaluates Spain's external relations in the field of culture, science, technology and the environment, with other countries and with international organizations.

2.a Coordinates the external relations of Spain with the different ministerial departments and other administrations and public and private entities, in the areas mentioned.

3.a Prepara, negotiates and proposes international agreements and agreements, organizes the joint commissions that develop them in the field of their competences and manages the actions derived from them.

4.a Asegura and coordinates the institutional presence of Spain in international organizations of cultural or scientific nature.

4. It is attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, through the Secretariat of State for International Cooperation, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation, which is governed by its specific provisions and whose presidency corresponds to the Secretary of State.

5. It is also attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, through the Secretariat of the State of International Cooperation, the Instituto Cervantes, which is regulated by its specific provisions.

6. The Inter-Ministerial Commission for International Cooperation and the Development Cooperation Council are attached to the Secretariat of State, which are governed by their specific provisions.

7. It is functionally and organically dependent on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, through the Secretariat of State for International Cooperation, the Academy of Spain in Rome, which is regulated by its specific provisions.

Article 15. Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

1. The Secretariat for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, under the authority of the Minister, is responsible for the performance of the functions listed in Article 15 of Law 6/1997 of 14 April of the Organization and the Functioning of the Administration. General of the State, as well as the direction, impetus and supervision of the management bodies and units in which the Secretariat is structured.

2. In particular, it is up to the Secretariat, provided that they are not expressly attributed to other senior bodies or managers of the department, the following functions:

(a) The performance of the top leadership of all the personnel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and the management and administration of human resources.

b) The control and inspection of the department's activity.

c) Institutional relations with other departments and public administrations.

d) The management of general administrative services and the dispatch of matters not attributed to the competence of other higher bodies of the ministry.

e) The elaboration and coordination of the department's general plans for budgetary policy.

f) Wealth management, economic and financial management.

g) The elaboration, processing and supervision of draft general provisions, permanent legal advice to those responsible for administrative management, the formulation of proposals for the resolution of resources administrative, as well as relations with the courts.

h) The development of the department's IT plan, and the management of infrastructure and communications, as well as the supervision of technical advice and assistance in information technology.

i) The protocol functions of the department.

j) The selection and training of diplomatic career officials.

k) Those expressly attributed by specific provisions.

3. The following units are directly dependent on the Subsecretariat, with an organic level of general sub-direction:

(a) The Technical Cabinet, as an organ of support and direct assistance to the Assistant Secretary.

(b) The General Inspection of Services, to which the functions laid down in the corresponding provisions of internal order are responsible.

(c) The Office of the Budget, which corresponds to the implementation of the tasks referred to in Royal Decree 2855/1979 of 21 December 1979 establishing the Budgetary Offices.

d) The International Legal Counsel, as an advisory body for the entire department on international law.

4. It also depends directly on the Assistant Secretary of the Ambassador, who will have the consideration and treatment of director general, with an ambassador rank, and who will coordinate the following protocol units, which have an organic level of General sub-direction:

a) The General Subdirection of Travel and Official Visits, Ceremonial and Orders.

b) The General Secretariat of the Foreign Ministry.

The organs listed in the above section correspond to the following functions:

(a) To the General Subdirectorate of Travel and Official Visits, Ceremonial and Orders, the holder of which receives the name of the Second Ambassador of Ambassadors, the preparation, coordination and execution of official acts and ceremonies The Spanish Foreign Minister's Office of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia, and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Colombia, and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Colombia, are also present at the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the United States. powers to be exercised by other bodies.

It is also the responsibility of the processing of the records of decorations of the Orders of Isabel the Catholic and of the Civil Merit.

b) The General Secretariat of the Foreign Ministry is responsible for the management and control of all matters related to diplomatic missions accredited in Spain, its consular offices and international organizations with headquarters or office in our country, which are coming in compliance with the Vienna Conventions on diplomatic and consular relations, and other relevant regulations.

5. They are attached to the Secretariat, with the functions assigned to them by the provisions in force, and without prejudice to their dependence on the Ministries of Justice and the Economy and Finance, respectively, the following organs with a range of General sub-direction:

a) State Attorney in the department.

b) The Delegated Intervention of the General Intervention of the State Administration.

6. It is also up to the Undersecretary of the Diplomatic School, with an organic level of general sub-direction, to be governed by its specific provisions.

7. The Secretariat is also attached to the Lnteristerial Committees of Limits with Portugal and France, whose composition and operation are governed by their specific provisions.

8. The Under-Secretary is the chair of the following collegiate bodies, as well as those whose specific provisions are attributed to him:

a) Committee on Remuneration.

b) Budget Committee.

c) Publications Advisory Commission.

d) Computer Commission.

Article 16. Technical General Secretariat.

1. It is up to the Technical General Secretariat, under the immediate dependence of the Undersecretary, to perform the functions attributed to it by Law 50/1997 of 27 November, of the Government, and of Article 17 of Law 6/1997, of April 14, of Organisation and functioning of the General Administration of the State, and in particular the following:

(a) The elaboration, where appropriate, and the processing of the general provisions in the materials themselves

of the department, the report of the provisions prepared by other ministries and the actions related to the publication of provisions and administrative acts of the department in the "Official Gazette of the State".

(b) The study and report of the subjects to be submitted by the various ministerial departments to the deliberations of the General Commission of Secretaries of State and Undersecretaries, and of the Council of Ministers, as well as the preparation and processing of the cases proposed in those bodies by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

c) The drafting of legal reports, in particular those provided for in Article 24.2 of Law 50/1997 of 27 November of the Government.

d) The processing, custody and follow-up of international treaties of which Spain is a party, as well as the evacuation of consultations and the issuance of reports in relation to them.

e) The collaboration with other public administrations, constitutional bodies, ministerial departments and agencies of the General Administration of the State in the development of the external activity of these, coordinating, in their case, and to monitor it.

f) The monitoring and reporting of the acts and provisions of the autonomous communities affecting the department's competences.

g) The management of the overflights and scales of foreign aircraft and military vessels in Spain and Spain abroad, as well as the renewal of the agreements signed in this area.

h) The direction and coordination of the department's editorial activity; the management of the library and documentation services; the management of the general archive, the coordination of the remaining archives and the conservation of the Documentary heritage of the department.

i) The exercise of the functions attributed to the ministry in the field of translation and interpretation of foreign languages.

j) The processing and proposal for the resolution of the administrative resources; of the prior complaints to the judicial, civil or labor route, and of the procedures for the review of the administrative acts of the department.

2. The Technical General Secretariat, with an organic level of general sub-direction, shall be responsible for the exercise of the functions listed in paragraph 1 (a), (b), (c), (h) and (i) of the General Technical Secretariat.

3. They also depend on the Technical General Secretariat, with the organic level to be determined in the employment relationship:

(a) The Division of Institutional Relations, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) of paragraph 1.

(b) The Division of International Treaties, to which the exercise of the functions listed in paragraph (d) of paragraph 1 corresponds.

(c) The Division of Resources and Relations with the Courts, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in paragraph 1 (j).

Article 17. Directorate-General of the Foreign Service.

1. It is for the Directorate-General of the External Service, under the immediate dependence of the Deputy Secretary, to exercise the functions relating to internal arrangements, economic and financial management, personnel management, wealth management and works, administrative information, IT planning and assistance, and communications. In particular, it is for the exercise of the following functions:

a) The infrastructure and security of the department.

(b) The management of the affairs of the official and labour staff, with a destination both inside and outside, as well as their remuneration.

(c) The accounting and budgetary management and monitoring of the appropriations in Chapter II, except those of Article 21, of the budget; the control of expenditure and revenue of the ministry, and consular collection.

(d) The management and budgetary control of the items in Chapter VI of the budget, and of acquisitions, works and maintenance of buildings.

e) The elaboration and execution of the department's computer plans, both inside and outside, technical assistance to the users, and the management of the department's communications.

2. The following units, with organic level of general subdirection, depend on the General Directorate of the External Service:

(a) The General Staff, which corresponds to the exercise of the function provided for in paragraph (a) of the previous paragraph.

(b) The General Staff Subdirectorate, which corresponds to the exercise of the function provided for in paragraph (b) of the previous paragraph.

(c) The General Administration and Management Control Subdirectorate, which corresponds to the exercise of the function provided for in paragraph (c) of the previous paragraph.

(d) The Subdirectorate-General for Economic Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the function provided for in paragraph (d) of the previous paragraph.

(e) The Subdirectorate-General for Informatics and Communications, which corresponds to the exercise of the function provided for in paragraph (e) of the previous paragraph.

Article 18. Directorate-General for Consular Affairs and Assistance.

1. It corresponds to the Directorate General of Consular Affairs and Assistance, under the direct dependence of the Undersecretary, the coordination and supervision of all the actions of the Spanish consular offices in the management of the services of the General administration of the State which is provided abroad.

The proposal, elaboration and implementation of the policy on protection and assistance to Spanish citizens abroad and in the field of immigration and asylum, in the sphere of action of the Ministry (a) Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and without prejudice to the powers conferred on other departments in these matters, with which the Directorate-General maintains the necessary coordination.

In particular, it is up to you to exercise the following functions:

(a) The proposal and implementation of the policy of protection of Spaniards abroad, with particular attention to matters relating to consular emergencies; the coordination of the action of consular offices in the management of the services that the General Administration of the State provides abroad, and the issuing of passports abroad; as well as the supervision of the honorary consulates of the Nation.

b) Coordination of consular powers in matters of assistance to civil and criminal judicial cooperation, in particular, the processing of extraditions; the negotiation and implementation of international treaties and conventions concerning the consular action, and the coordination of consular functions in the fields of public notice and consular civil registration.

(c) The proposal and implementation of the actions in the field of social assistance to Spaniards abroad, in particular in terms of the aid and repatriation; the management of the registry of consular registration; coordination in the consular offices of the electoral census of absent residents, and the electoral participation of the Spanish abroad; as well as the follow-up of the advice of Spanish residents.

d) The coordination of the processing by the consular offices of the uniform visas, as well as the management of national visas, in the terms established in the Spanish legislation, and, in the own field of the powers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the proposal and implementation of the policy on immigration and asylum.

2. They depend on the Directorate-General for Consular Affairs and Assistance:

(a) The Subdirectorate General for the Protection of Spanish Overseas Countries, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in paragraph (a) of the previous paragraph.

(b) The Subdirectorate-General for Consular Legal Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in paragraph (b) of the previous paragraph.

(c) The Subdirectorate-General for Social Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in paragraph (c) of the previous paragraph.

(d) The Subdirectorate-General for Foreign Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the function set out in paragraph (d) of the previous paragraph.

3. It is also up to this Directorate-General, with the organic level to be determined in the employment relationship, the Schengen Affairs Division, which is responsible for monitoring the European Union's Schengen Evaluation Groups, as well as the assessment of the management of visas governed by Community legislation by consular offices.

Article 19. Directorate-General for Foreign Communication.

1. Under the direct dependence of the Minister, the Directorate General of Foreign Communication performs the functions of the official spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, prepares the press conferences of the Minister and senior Department charges and facilitates to its holder the information obtained through the various informative channels, also providing information to the missions and permanent representations of Spain abroad, as well as to the missions Foreign diplomats accredited in Spain.

2. For the purposes of the above tasks, the Directorate-General has a General External Communication Subdirectorate.

In addition to the functions assigned to you by the Director General, this Subdirectorate is responsible for the economic management of the Directorate-General, the preparation of its budget and the management of the publications published by it.

3. They also depend on this Directorate-General, with the organic level to be determined in the employment relationship, the Technical Organization Division, which is responsible for coordinating the reporting, production and distribution of information, and the documentation tasks.

Additional disposition first. Removal of organs.

The following department organs are deleted:

(a) The General Secretariat for Foreign Policy.

b) The Directorate General for International Affairs on Terrorism, Security and Disarmament.

c) The United Nations Directorate-General, Human Rights and Multilateral Organizations.

d) The Directorate-General for Coordination and Integration of General and Technical Affairs of the European Union.

e) The Directorate General of the Internal Market and other Community Policies.

f) The Technical Cabinet of the General Secretariat for Foreign Policy.

g) The General Subdirectorate of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

h) The General Subdirectorate of the Middle East.

(i) The Subdirectorate-General for Legal Affairs.

j) The Office of Planning and Evaluation.

k) The Deputy Director General of the Diplomatic Information Office.

l) The General Subdirection of Informatics.

Additional provision second. Delegation of powers.

The delegations of privileges granted by the various organs of the department and not revoked until the date of entry into force of this royal decree, will continue to be valid and will be able to make use of them competent by reason of the matter that they come to replace the delegates, until they are expressly revoked or again granted to the different organs resulting from the application of this royal decree.

Additional provision third. No increase in public spending.

The application of this royal decree, including the creation and modification of the units without organic level of general subdirection provided for in their articles, will be done without increase of the operating costs of the respective organs (a) management and no increase in public expenditure.

First transient disposition. Units and jobs with lower organic level than general sub-direction.

Units and jobs with a lower organic level than a general sub-directorate will continue to remain and will be paid from the same budgetary appropriations until the corresponding relations of the jobs adapted to the organic structure of this royal decree.

The units and posts of work in the deleted organs, or whose organic dependence has been modified by this royal decree, shall be provisionally assigned, by means of a resolution of the Undersecretary, and after agreement, In his case, the Secretary of State, until the new relationship of jobs, to the bodies regulated in this royal decree, according to the attributions assigned to them.

Single repeal provision. Regulatory repeal.

The Royal Decree 1473/2000 of 4 August, for which the organic structure is developed, is repealed.

basic of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and how many provisions of equal or lesser rank are opposed to what was established in this royal decree.

Article 1 of Royal Decree 562/2004, dated 19 April, is repealed and the basic organic structure of the ministerial departments is approved.

Final disposition first. Amendment of Royal Decree 462/2003 of 25 April establishing the Government Commissioner for the participation of Spain in the reconstruction of Iraq.

The Royal Decree 462/2003 of 25 April, creating the Government Commissioner for the participation of Spain in the reconstruction of Iraq, is amended in the following terms:

One. Article 1 is amended as follows:

" Article 1. Creation of the Government Commissioner for the participation of Spain in the reconstruction of Iraq.

1. Under the functional dependency of the Government's Delegation for Crisis Situations, and organic from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Government Commissioner for Spain's participation in the reconstruction of Iraq.

2. The performance of the duties of the Commissioner referred to in the following Article shall be carried out by the Secretary of State for International Cooperation. "

Two. Article 5 (3), which is worded as follows, is amended as follows:

" 3. The operational expenditure shall be borne by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, which shall be responsible for the Commission's management. "

Final disposition second. Powers of development.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is hereby authorized to adopt the necessary measures for the development and execution of this royal decree, after the necessary legal procedures have been carried out.

Final disposition third. Entry into force.

This royal decree will enter into force on the day following its publication in the "Official State Gazette".

Given Madrid, 11 June 2004.

JOHN CARLOS R.

The Public Administrations, JORDI SEVILLA SEGURA