Article 2.2.j of Law 50/1997 of 27 November of the Government gives the President the power to create, amend and delete, by Royal Decree, the Ministerial Departments and the Secretaries of State.

In order to boost the government's action, facilitate the development of its political program, and make the General Administration of the State more effective, it is considered appropriate to reform the current ministerial structure.

In his virtue, on the proposal of the President of the Government:

D I S P O N G O:

Article 1.

The General Administration of the State is structured in the following Ministerial Departments:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ministry of Justice.

Ministry of Defense.

Ministry of Finance.

Ministry of Interior.

Ministry of Public Works.

Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport.

Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of the Presidency.

Ministry of Public Administration.

Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs.

Ministry of Environment.

Ministry of Economy.

Ministry of Science and Technology.

Article 2.

1. It is up to the Ministry of Finance to exercise the powers so far attributed to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, through the following bodies:

The Secretariat of State of Finance.

The Secretary of State for Budgets and Expenses.

The General Directorate of the State Heritage.

The Treasury and Financial Policy Directorate General on Treasury and Public Debt.

2. The Ministry of Finance, in addition to the State Tax Administration Agency, the National Currency and Timbre Factory-Real Casa de la Moneda, the State Mobile Park, the National Agency for Lotteries and State Gambling, and the Ministry of Finance are assigned to the Ministry of Finance. State Society of Industrial Participations.

3. The Ministry of Finance is structured in the following higher bodies:

Secretary of State for Finance.

Secretary of State for Budgets and Expenses.

Article 3.

1. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Culture, with the exception of those transferred to the Ministry of Science and Technology in the field of scientific research and technological development.

2. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport is structured in the following higher bodies:

Secretary of State for Education and Universities.

Secretary of State for Culture.

Article 4.

1. The Ministry of Economy is responsible for the following:

A) The so far attributed to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, through the following bodies:

The Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, except those of the Treasury and Financial Policy Directorate General in the field of treasury and public debt.

The Secretary of State for Trade, Tourism and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.

B) The so far attributed to the Ministry of Industry and Energy, through the following bodies:

The Directorate General of Energy.

The Directorate General of Mines.

2. The Ministry of Economy is also responsible for the Ministry of Public Works, in connection with the regulation, establishment and control of the telecommunications services.

3. They are attached to the Ministry of Economy, in addition to the entities and bodies currently dependent on the Secretariat of State for Economic Affairs and the Secretariat of State for Trade, Tourism and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, the National Commission of the Stock Market, the Telecommunications Market Commission, and the National Energy Commission.

4. The Ministry of Economy is structured in the following higher bodies:

Secretary of State for Economy, Energy and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.

Secretary of State for Trade and Tourism.

Article 5.

1. It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Science and Technology, as the Department responsible for the policy of promotion and general coordination of scientific and technical research, technological development and the management of communications, the of the competencies so far attributed to the following bodies:

The Secretary of State for Education, Universities, Research and Development, in the field of scientific research and technological development.

The General Secretariat of Communications, of the Ministry of Public Works, except for the privileges corresponding to the Empresarial Empresarial Empresarial and Telegraphs.

The Office of Science and Technology, attached to the Presidency of the Government.

The Directorates-General for Industry and Technology and Information Technology Industries, Ministry of Industry and Energy.

2. The Ministry of Science and Technology, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office and the following entities and scientific and technical research bodies are attached:

Superior Council of Scientific Research.

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias.

Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research.

Institute for Energy Diversification and Savings.

Center for Technological and Industrial Development.

National Institute of Agricultural Research.

Spanish Institute of Oceanography.

Instituto Tecnológico Geominero de España.

3. The Ministry of Science and Technology is structured in the following higher bodies:

Secretary of State for Science and Technology Policy.

Secretary of State for Telecommunications and the Information Society.

Article 6.

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is structured in the following higher bodies:

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Secretary of State for the European Union.

Secretary of State for International Cooperation and for Latin America.

2. The Secretariat of State for Foreign Affairs shall exercise the powers currently conferred on the Secretariat of State for Foreign Policy and for the European Union, with the exception of those conferred on the Secretariat of State for the European Union, as well as those corresponding to the Directorate-General for Legal and Consular Affairs.

3. The Secretariat of State for the European Union shall be responsible for the formulation and implementation of foreign policy at the level of the European Union.

4. The Secretariat of State for International Cooperation and for Ibero-America will maintain its current powers and will assume the responsibility of the General Directorate of Foreign Policy for Latin America.

Article 7.

The Secretariat of State for Territorial Administrations, of the Ministry of Public Administration, becomes the State Secretariat of the State of Territorial Organization. In addition to the powers that it currently has, it will assume those related to the Government Delegations, as provided for in Article 32 of Law 6/1997, of 14 April, of the Organization and the Functioning of the Administration General of the State.

Single repeal provision.

As many provisions of the same or lower rank are repealed, they are contrary to the provisions of this Royal Decree.

Final disposition first.

The following Ministerial Departments and State Secretaries are deleted:

Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Ministry of Education and Culture.

Ministry of Industry and Energy.

Secretary of State for Foreign Policy and for the European Union.

Secretary of State for Education, Universities, Research and Development.

Secretary of State for Industry and Energy.

Secretary of State for the Communication.

Secretary of State for Territorial Administrations.

Final disposition second.

The public bodies will be assigned to the ministerial departments in accordance with the distribution of competences established in this Royal Decree, and in terms to be determined in the Royal Decrees by the the corresponding organic structure is approved.

Final disposition third.

The Ministry of Finance will carry out the deletions, transfers and credit ratings necessary to comply with the provisions of this Royal Decree. In addition, until the implementation of the corresponding Royal Decrees of organic structure, the management bodies, the administrative units, and the posts of the ministerial departments object of suppression or reform.

Final disposition fourth.

This Royal Decree will enter into force on the day of its publication in the "Official Gazette of the State".

Given in Madrid to April 27, 2000.

JOHN CARLOS R.

The President of the Government, JOSÉ MARÍA AZNAR LÓPEZ