Royal Decree 1823/2011 of 21 December, restructured the ministerial departments in order to develop the political program of government reforms, achieve maximum austerity and effectiveness in their action and the greatest efficiency in the operation of the General Administration of the State. This royal decree assigns to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation the direction of foreign policy and international development cooperation, in accordance with the guidelines of the Government and in application of the principle of unit of action on the outside.

For its part, Article 1 of Royal Decree 1887/2011 of 30 December 2011, approving the basic organic structure of the ministerial departments, in the wording given to that precept by Royal Decree 2/2012, 5 of January, establishes the basic organic structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Its second final provision states that the Minister of Finance and Public Administrations, on the initiative of the ministries concerned, will raise to the Council of Ministers the projects of royal decrees adapting the organic structure of the the different ministerial departments and autonomous bodies to the forecasts in the contained ones.

In accordance with Article 18.2 of Law 6/1997 of 14 April of the Organization and the Functioning of the General Administration of the State, Royal Decree 1887/2011 of 30 December 2011, excepted from the reserve functionarial the appointment of the head of the General Directorate of Media and Public Diplomacy, an exception that remains to be continued for the reasons that justified it.

In the framework established by the actual decrees cited, the basic organic structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation should be developed, up to the level of general sub-direction or equivalent, taking into account the criteria for the containment of expenditure and rationalisation of the structures in the General Administration of the State, which is concrete in the abolition of various management bodies with a rank of general sub-directorate, which is carried out by this royal decree.

In its virtue, at the initiative of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, on a proposal from the Minister of Finance and Public Administrations and after deliberation by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on 10 February 2012,

DISPONGO:

Article 1. General organization of the Department.

1. It is for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, 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 and the international cooperation policy for development, with special attention to those related to the European Union and to Latin America, and to coordinate and supervise all actions in these areas, in the implementation of their respective powers, the other Departments and Public Administrations.

Also, it is up to him to promote economic, cultural and scientific international relations; to participate, in the sphere of his own actions, in the proposal and implementation of migration and foreign policies; promote cross-border and interterritorial cooperation; protect Spanish abroad; and prepare, negotiate and deal with the international treaties of which Spain is a party.

2. The powers conferred on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in this royal decree shall be exercised in coordination and without prejudice to those corresponding to other ministerial departments.

3. The holder of the Ministry is responsible for the exercise of the functions provided for in Article 4 of Law 50/1997 of 27 November of the Government and Articles 12 and 13 of Law 6/1997 of 14 April of the Organization and the Functioning of the General Administration of the State.

4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is structured in the following higher and managerial bodies, directly dependent on its holder:

(a) The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

b) The Secretariat of State for the European Union.

c) The Secretariat of State for International Cooperation and for Latin America.

(d) The Secretariat for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

e) The Directorate General for International Economic Relations.

f) The Directorate-General for Media and Public Diplomacy.

g) The Diplomatic Information Office, with a general address range.

5. As an organ of political and technical support to the holder of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation there is a Cabinet, whose holder has the rank of Director General, with the structure set out in Article 14.2 of Royal Decree 1887/2011, of 30 December, establishing the basic organic structure of the ministerial departments.

6. Assists the holder of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Higher Council of Foreign Affairs, whose composition and functions are governed by specific provisions and whose activities are coordinated by an organic unit. General Subdirection.

7. The Chair of the Department of the International Cooperation for Development is responsible for the Department's Chair.

Article 2. State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

1. The Secretariat of State for Foreign Affairs is the senior body directly responsible, under the direction of the head of the Department, for the formulation and implementation of foreign policy in its global approaches and objectives, as well as in its concreteness for the various geographical and thematic areas.

2. The Secretariat of State exercises the powers set out in Article 14 of Law 6/1997 of 14 April, in respect of the units of the State, and in particular it is responsible for:

(a) The coordination and monitoring of the participation of Spain in the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, including the Common Security and Defence Policy.

(b) The formulation and implementation of the foreign policy corresponding to the United Nations system and international bodies.

c) The conduct of international affairs of terrorism, international security and peace-building, and peacekeeping operations, nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and human rights.

d) The formulation and implementation of Spain's foreign policy in the geographical areas of Eastern Europe, Maghreb, Africa, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North America, Asia and the Pacific.

e) The management, coordination and monitoring, in the field of their competences, of the obligatory contributions to international agencies and for peacekeeping operations. In the field of its competences, it implements the budget for voluntary contributions to international bodies and institutions, and other contributions to entities and activities related to foreign policy.

3. The following management bodies are responsible for the Secretariat of State for Foreign Affairs:

a) The General Directorate of Foreign Policy and Multilateral, Global and Security Affairs.

b) The Directorate-General for the Maghreb, Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

c) The General Direction for North America, Asia, and Pacific.

Of these Directorates-General, they will in turn depend on the Special Mission Ambassadors to be designated in the respective areas of competence.

4. As an organ of political and technical support of the head of the Secretariat of State, there is a Cabinet, with an organic level of general sub-direction, and with the structure set out in Article 14.3 of Royal Decree 1887/2011 of 30 December 2011.

5. It is directly dependent on the head of the Secretariat of State, with the organic level of Subdirección General, the Office of Analysis and Forecast to which the study and assessment of foreign policy issues correspond.

Article 3. Directorate-General for Foreign Policy and Multilateral, Global and Security Affairs.

1. It is for the Directorate-General for Foreign Policy and Multilateral, Global and Security Affairs to exercise the following powers:

a) Assistance to the Secretary of State in the proposal and implementation of foreign policy in its global approaches and objectives.

b) Coordination, as a Political Director, and without prejudice to the competences of each of them, the Directorates-General for the Maghreb, Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East; for North America, Asia and Pacific; Bilateral Relations with European Union Countries, Candidate Countries and European Economic Area Countries; and for Latin America.

(c) Coordination and monitoring, as a Political Director, of Spain's participation in the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, including the Common Security and Defence Policy, the preparation of and the follow-up of the meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the Political and Security Committee of the European Union, and the representation of Spain in the latter's sessions when it meets in the formation of Political Directors.

d) The strategic definition of Spain's position on international security issues, in both multilateral and bilateral areas.

(e) The coordination of the institutional representation of Spain in the multilateral fora in which non-proliferation and disarmament is addressed, the political and legal activities related to these matters, both the main organs of the United Nations as its subsidiary bodies, committees and dependent working groups; the overall coordination of the Department's action in the initiatives and the monitoring of related strategic issues; with non-proliferation, disarmament and new threats; the monitoring of activities and disarmament and arms control negotiations within the framework of the United Nations and other specific fora in which Spain participates; and the monitoring of the general verification of the disarmament and arms control agreements of which Spain is a party, in collaboration with the other competent departments.

coordination of the institutional representation of Spain in the multilateral fora in which the issues of terrorism are addressed, the political and legal activities related to this matter, both of the organs The European Commission, which is responsible for the implementation of the European Union's policy on international terrorism, will be responsible for the implementation of the European Council of the European Union and the Council of the European Union. continuing terrorism as a strategic element in the definition of actions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

g) The definition and coordination of the position of Spain in relation 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.

(h) The monitoring and analysis of issues of a global nature that affect the international community as a whole and require a concerted response from it, and the definition and coordination of the position of Spain, together with the ministerial departments concerned.

i) The management of institutional relations with international technical bodies and, in collaboration with the various units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, with other ministerial departments, and with the organs of other Spanish public administrations, the coordination of the Spanish position in those, as well as in its subsidiary organs, in the specialized agencies of the United Nations system and in the economic and social sector the organization.

j) Planning, in coordination with the relevant Directorates-General, of Spain's foreign policy in the field of protection and promotion of human rights.

k) The proposal and implementation of Spain's foreign policy towards Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and the impetus of bilateral relations with the countries of the area.

l) The proposal and follow-up of the position of Spain regarding the dispute of Gibraltar, in coordination with the organs of the Ministry, other ministerial departments and other public administrations.

m) The proposal and implementation of the Spanish policy towards the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe, in coordination with other bodies of the Ministry and other departments with competence in the activities of these organisations.

n) Participation in peacekeeping operations, and the coordination of the various organs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and other acting Departments in the field of construction peace.

2. The Directorate-General for Foreign Policy and Multilateral, Global and Security Affairs is structured in the following management bodies with an organic level of general sub-direction:

(a) The Subdirectorate-General for Foreign Policy, Council of Europe and OSCE to which the exercise of the functions listed in points (a), (b) and (m) of the previous paragraph corresponds.

(b) The Subdirectorate-General for Common Foreign and Security Policy, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (c) of the previous paragraph.

(c) The General Security and Peacekeeping Operations Subdirectorate, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in points (d) and (n) of the previous paragraph.

(d) The Subdirectorate-General for Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (e) of the previous paragraph.

(e) The Subdirectorate-General for International Affairs of Terrorism, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (f) of the previous paragraph.

(f) The United Nations and Global Affairs Subdirectorate-General, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in points (g) and (h) of the previous paragraph.

g) The General Subdirectorate of Technical International Organizations, to which the exercise of the functions listed in point (i) of the previous paragraph corresponds.

(h) The Office of Human Rights, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (j) of the previous paragraph.

i) The General Subdirectorate of Eastern Europe and Central Asia to which the exercise of the functions listed in point (k) of the previous paragraph corresponds.

(j) The Office of Gibraltar Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (l) of the previous paragraph.

Article 4. Directorate-General for the Maghreb, Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

1. It is for the Directorate-General for the Maghreb, Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East to exercise the following powers:

a) The proposal and implementation of the foreign policy of Spain in its corresponding geographical area.

b) The impetus of bilateral relations with the countries it encompasses.

c) Monitoring of multilateral initiatives and forums in the geographical area of their competence.

2. The Directorate-General is structured in the following management bodies with an organic level of general sub-direction:

(a) The General Subdirectorate of the Maghreb, to which the exercise of the functions referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of the preceding paragraph corresponds in its geographical scope.

(b) The General Sub-Directorate of the Middle East, to which the exercise of the functions referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of the previous paragraph corresponds in its geographical scope.

(c) The Sub-Saharan Africa General Sub-Directorate, to which the exercise of the functions referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of the previous paragraph, falls within its geographical scope.

Article 5. Directorate General for North America, Asia and Pacific.

1. It is for the Directorate-General for North America, Asia and the Pacific to exercise the following powers:

a) The proposal and implementation of the foreign policy of Spain in its corresponding geographical area.

b) The impetus of bilateral relations with the countries it encompasses.

c) Monitoring of multilateral initiatives and forums in the geographical area of their competence.

2. The Directorate-General is structured in the following management bodies with an organic level of general sub-direction:

(a) The Subdirectorate General of North America, to which the exercise of the functions listed in points (a), (b) and (c) of the previous paragraph corresponds, in its geographical scope; that of the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee Spanish-North American; coordination of the implementation and follow-up of the Cooperation for Defense Convention between the Kingdom of Spain and the United States of America; the impetus to the Fundación Consejo Espana-United States; and the elaboration and Implementation of the Plan of Action for the Hispanic Community in the United States.

(b) The South and East Asian Subdirectorate General, which corresponds, in its geographical scope, to the exercise of the functions listed in points (a), (b) and (c) of the previous paragraph.

(c) The General Sub-Directorate of the Pacific, Southeast Asia and the Philippines, to which the exercise of the functions listed in points (a), (b) and (c) of the previous paragraph, in its geographical scope, corresponds to the monitoring of the ASEAN issues and other regional fora in Asia-Pacific, and the ASEM process.

Article 6. Secretary of State for the European Union.

1. The Secretariat of State for the European Union is the highest body directly responsible, under the direction of the head of the Department, for the formulation and implementation of the policy of Spain at the level of the European Union. It also assists the holder of the Ministry in the formulation and implementation of Spain's foreign policy in the geographical area corresponding to the countries of the European Union, candidate countries, countries of the European Economic Area and other countries.

2. The Secretariat of State exerts on the units of it dependent on the attributions set out in article 14 of Law 6/1997, of April 14, and in particular, it is the responsibility of the Secretariat:

(a) The coordination of actions which, within the framework of their powers, will be carried out by public administrations in the European Union and the maintenance of the necessary relations with the competent bodies and bodies The General Administration of the State and the Autonomous and Local Administrations.

b) The imparting of instructions to the Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 260/1986 of 17 January establishing permanent representation of Spain before the European Communities.

3. The following management bodies are dependent on the Secretariat of State for the European Union:

(a) The Directorate-General for the Coordination of Common Policies and General Affairs of the European Union.

b) The Directorate-General for Bilateral Relations with Countries of the European Union, Candidate Countries and European Economic Area Countries.

4. As an organ of political and technical support of the head of the Secretariat of State, there is a Cabinet, with an organic level of general sub-direction, and with the structure set out in Article 14.3 of Royal Decree 1887/2011 of 30 December 2011.

5. It is attached to the Secretariat of State 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 Union, with the functions conferred on it by the rules in force.

Article 7. Directorate-General for the Coordination of Common Policies and General Affairs of the European Union.

1. It is for the Directorate-General for the Coordination of Common Policies and General Affairs of the European Union to exercise the following tasks:

(a) The follow-up of the actions of the European Union in its various policies, the monitoring and coordination of the actions of the Ministries in these policies and the coordination of the process of setting the position Spain and the European Union in the same way.

b) 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.

(c) The management of the application and notification of public aid to the institutions of the European Union.

(d) the coordination, monitoring and notification of the transposition into national law of the European Union directives, as well as the preparation, monitoring and coordination of actions before the Court of Justice of the European Union; European Union, without prejudice to the powers of the General Subdirectorate for European and International Affairs of the State Advocate General.

e) The instruction of the infringement procedures initiated by the European Commission before the Kingdom of Spain, and the elaboration and coordination of the Public Administrations interested in the responses to them in their phases prelitigation, with the collaboration of the General Secretariat for European and International Affairs of the State Advocate General.

(f) General advice on the legal issues of the European Union, without prejudice to the powers of the General Secretariat for European and International Affairs of the State Advocate General.

g) The preparation of the part concerning the Internal Market in the Competitiveness Council of the European Union.

h) The preparation of the Internal Market Council of the European Union.

i) The preparation of the Internal Market Advisory Committee.

j) The preparation of meetings of the General Affairs Council of the European Union.

k) The coordination of the process of establishing the Spanish position in the work groups of the Council of Legal Content.

(l) Monitoring and coordination of the institutional issues of the European Union, and in particular of the reforms of the European Union, relations with the European institutions and the participation of the Communities Autonomous in European affairs, without prejudice in the latter case of the powers conferred on the Ministry of Finance and Public Administrations in the existing provisions.

2. The Directorate-General is structured in the following management bodies with an organic level of general sub-direction:

(a) The Subdirectorate-General for External Relations and Trade (s), which is responsible for the exercise of the functions listed in points (a) and (b) of the previous paragraph with regard to the external relations of the Union European, and without prejudice to the powers conferred on the Directorate-General for Foreign Policy and Multilateral, Global and Security Affairs.

(b) The Subdirectorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, which corresponds to the performance of the tasks listed in point (a) of the previous paragraph in economic and financial matters, without prejudice to the powers of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the Ministry of Finance and Public Administrations in the committees that directly prepare the Council of Ministers for Economic and Financial Affairs of the European Union, and the collaboration with the National Office of Audit of the General Intervention of the State Administration in relations financial with the European Union.

(c) The Subdirectorate-General for Justice and Home Affairs, which is responsible for the exercise of the functions listed in point (a) of the previous paragraph in matters of police cooperation, judicial cooperation, asylum, immigration and borders, terrorism and drugs.

(d) The Subdirectorate-General for Industrial, Energy, Transport and Communications, and the Environment, which is responsible for the exercise of the functions listed in point (a) of the previous paragraph in cases industrial, energy, transport and communications, and the environment, and coordination within the Directorate-General of the functions listed in point (h) of the previous paragraph.

(e) The Subdirectorate-General for Agricultural and Fisheries Affairs, which is responsible for the exercise of the functions listed in point (a) of the previous paragraph in the Agriculture and Fisheries Councils of the European Union, on agri-food from the Internal Market Council and the various committees on agriculture and fisheries.

(f) The Subdirectorate-General for Social, Educational, Cultural, and Health and Consumer Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (a) of the previous paragraph in social, educational, cultural and health and consumption.

(g) The Subdirectorate-General for Legal and Institutional Affairs, to which the exercise of the functions listed in points (c), (d), (e), (i), (k) and (l) of the previous paragraph corresponds.

Article 8. Directorate-General for Bilateral Relations with Countries of the European Union, Candidate Countries and Countries of the European Economic Area.

1. The Directorate-General for Bilateral Relations with Countries of the European Union, Candidate Countries and Countries of the European Economic Area corresponds to the exercise of the following powers:

a) The proposal and implementation of the foreign policy of Spain in its corresponding geographical area.

b) The impetus of bilateral relations with the countries it encompasses.

2. The Directorate-General is structured in the following management bodies with an organic level of general sub-direction:

(a) The General Subdirectorate of Countries of the European Union, to which the exercise of the functions listed in points (a) and (b) of the previous paragraph corresponds in its geographical scope.

(b) The General Subdirectorate of Candidate Countries, Countries of the European Economic Area and other European Countries, to which the functions listed in points (a) and (b) of the previous paragraph correspond, in their geographical scope.

3. It is attached to the Directorate General of Bilateral Relations with Countries of the European Union, Candidate Countries and Countries of the European Economic Area the Commission of Limits with France and Portugal.

Article 9. The Secretariat of State for International Cooperation and for Latin America.

1. The Secretariat of State for International Cooperation and for Ibero-America is the top body directly responsible, under the direction of the head of the Department, for the formulation, direction, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the policy. In the case of Latin America, international cooperation for development, and the coordination of external cultural action.

2. The Secretariat of State exercises in respect of the units of it dependent the attributions set out in article 14 of Law 6/1997, of April 14, and, in particular, according to Law 23/1998, of July 7, of International Cooperation Development, it is up to you:

a) The proposal, direction, coordination and implementation of the development cooperation policy.

b) The administration of the cooperation resources managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

c) The assurance of Spanish participation in international development aid organizations and the definition of Spain's position in the formulation of the European Union's development policy.

d) The evaluation of the development cooperation policy and of the operations financed with public funds, and the accountability of the activities and results of the Spanish cooperation to the General Cortes and the Spanish company.

e) The preparation and coordination of Ibero-American Summits and the planning and promotion of the activities of the Ibero-American Community of Nations; collaboration and support for the functions of the General Secretariat Ibero-American; and the promotion and coordination of the presence of Spain in the Organization of American States (OAS) and in the various multilateral organizations and entities of Ibero-American scope, without prejudice to the competences of others Departments.

3. The following management bodies are responsible for the Secretariat of State for International Cooperation and for Latin America:

(a) The General Secretariat for International Cooperation for Development, with the rank of Undersecretary.

b) The General Directorate for Latin America.

4. As an organ of political and technical support of the head of the Secretariat of State, there is a Cabinet, with an organic level of general sub-direction, and with the structure set out in Article 14.3 of Royal Decree 1887/2011 of 30 December 2011.

5. They are attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, through the Secretariat of State for International Cooperation and for Ibero-America, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development and the Instituto Cervantes.

6. It is functionally and organically dependent on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, through the Secretariat of State for International Cooperation and for Ibero-America, the Spanish Academy in Rome.

Article 10. General Secretariat for International Cooperation for Development.

1. It is for the General Secretariat of International Cooperation for Development to assist the Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Latin America in the formulation, direction, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the policy of international cooperation for the development and coordination of external cultural action.

2. The General Secretariat exercises the powers set out in Article 16 of Law 6/1997 of 14 April, and in particular the exercise of the following powers, in respect of the units dependent on it:

a) The elaboration of the Director Plan and the Annual Plans of International Cooperation.

b) The development and monitoring of sectoral and cross-cutting policies for development and bilateral and multilateral strategies, in accordance with the international principles of aid effectiveness.

(c) Participation, in collaboration with the organs of the General Administration of the State which have responsibilities in this field, in the development of the European Union's development cooperation policy.

d) Participation, in collaboration with the organs of the General Administration of the State that have responsibilities in this field, in the elaboration, coordination and follow-up of the Spanish policy in the multilateral development organisations and initiatives, in particular the United Nations system, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the G20.

e) The analysis and contribution to the elaboration of the financing proposals to the multilateral development agencies, in coordination with other units of the Department, with the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development and other ministerial departments with competence in this field.

f) Participation in international fora on the effectiveness and quality of development aid, such as the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC).

g) The impetus of development policies in the whole of the Public Administrations, without prejudice to the competences corresponding to other ministerial departments.

h) The impetus of education, research and studies on and for the development and coordination of actors in the field of development cooperation.

i) The implementation of the budget of the General Secretariat for International Cooperation for Development, in coordination with the units of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development with competencies in the management of the relevant financial instruments.

j) The development of the work of counting and monitoring of official Spanish development assistance, as well as the communication of the data to the OECD Development Assistance Committee.

k) The programming, coordination and monitoring of the evaluation of international cooperation strategies, instruments, interventions, programmes and projects; the issuing of recommendations for the improvement of interventions; the management of knowledge and the publication of evaluation reports; the strengthening of the system of evaluation of Spanish cooperation and the promotion of the culture of evaluation among the actors of the system; and participation in the networks International evaluation of development policies, in particular the network of Evaluation of the CAD.

(l) The relationship with the advisory and coordinating bodies of Spanish cooperation; the preparation of the issues and the implementation of the agreements of the Sectoral Conference on Development Cooperation, of which he will exercise his The Secretariat and its support bodies; the accountability of the activities and results of Spanish cooperation to the Spanish Courts and the Spanish society; and the development of the communication policy in this field.

3. The General Secretariat of the General Secretariat depends on the General Development Policy Subdirectorate, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in points (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (j) of the previous paragraph.

4. It also depends on the General Secretariat of the Division of Policy Assessment for Development and Knowledge Management, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (k) of paragraph 2 above.

5. As an organ of direct support and assistance to the head of the General Secretariat, there is a Cabinet with an organic level of general subdirection.

Article 11. Directorate General for Latin America.

1. The Directorate-General for Latin America is responsible for the exercise of the following powers:

a) The proposal and implementation of Spain's foreign policy in its area of responsibility.

b) The impetus of bilateral relations with the countries it encompasses.

c) Assistance to the head of the Secretariat of State in the preparation and coordination of the Ibero-American Summits.

d) Assistance to the head of the Secretariat of State in the design and promotion of the activities of the Ibero-American Community of Nations.

e) Assistance to the head of the Secretariat of State in collaboration and support for the functions of the Ibero-American General Secretariat.

(f) Assistance to the head of the Secretariat of State in the promotion and coordination of the presence of Spain in the OAS and in the various multilateral organizations and entities in the Ibero-American sphere, without prejudice to the powers of other departments, as well as the follow-up of other multilateral initiatives and forums in this geographical area.

2. The Directorate-General is structured in the following management bodies with an organic level of general sub-direction:

(a) The General Subdirectorate General of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, to which the exercise of the functions listed in points (a) and (b) of the previous paragraph corresponds, in its geographical scope.

(b) The General Subdirectorate of Andean Countries, to which the exercise of the functions listed in points (a) and (b) of the previous paragraph corresponds, in its geographical scope.

(c) The General Subdirectorate of the MERCOSUR countries and Latin American Multilateral Organizations, to which the exercise of the functions listed in points (a) and (b) of the previous paragraph corresponds, in their geographical scope, and the listed in points (c), (d), (e) and (f) of the previous paragraph.

Article 12. Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

1. It is for the Secretariat for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, under the direction of the head of the Department, for the performance of the functions listed in Article 15 of Law 6/1997 of 14 April, as well as the direction, impetus and supervision of organs directly dependent on it.

2. In particular, it is for the Secretariat, without prejudice to the functional powers assigned to the Secretaries of State and the General Secretariat, the following powers:

a) Support and technical advice to the Minister in the elaboration and approval of the department's action plans.

b) The direction and coordination of the Ministry's common services; the wealth and financial, economic, financial, budgetary and human resources planning and management of the Department; the development and management of the information and communication systems, and the impetus and development of e-government.

(c) The establishment of plans for the inspection of personnel and services, and the improvement of planning, management and organization systems for the rationalization and simplification of procedures and methods of job.

d) The handling of draft general provisions promoting the ministry and requests for reports from other departments. The processing of the records of patrimonial liability, the formulation of proposals for the resolution of administrative resources, and the relations with the courts.

e) The impetus and coordination of institutional relations with the other Departments, public administrations and agencies and entities related to the Ministry.

f) The preparation, processing, monitoring and deposit of international treaties of which Spain is a party.

g) The selection and training of officials from the Diplomatic Career Corps and the Translators and Interpreters Corps.

(h) Assistance to the holder of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the formulation and implementation of Spain's foreign policy in the fields of foreign affairs, protection of the Spanish abroad, management of emergency and crisis situations affecting Spaniards abroad and supervision of the actions of the Spanish consular offices in the management of the services of the General Administration of the State which are provided abroad.

i) The planning, implementation and management of the social issues of international content derived from migration, as well as the communities affected by international migration, including both the Spanish abroad as well as new migratory flows from Spaniards abroad.

j) The coordination of activities related to the exercise of the right of petition.

2. The following management bodies depend on the Secretariat:

(a) The Technical General Secretariat.

b) The Directorate General of the Foreign Service.

c) The Spanish Directorate General for Foreign Affairs and Consular and Migration Affairs.

3. The following units are also dependent on the Sub-Secretariat, 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, which corresponds to the exercise of the powers listed in paragraph 1 (c) of this Article, as well as those provided for in the Royal Decrees 799/2005 of 1 July, for which the services inspections of the ministerial departments and 951/2005 of 29 July, establishing the general framework for the improvement of quality in the General Administration of the State are regulated.

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

(d) The Diplomatic School, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions referred to in royal decree 1475/1987 of 27 November, of reorganization of the Diplomatic School.

e) The International Legal Counsel, as an advisory body to the General Administration of the State in matters of international law.

4. 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 Finance and Public Administrations, respectively, the following bodies with General Subdirection range:

a) State Advocacy in the Department.

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

5. It is attached to the Ministry, through the Secretariat, the Work of the Holy Places.

Article 13. Technical General Secretariat.

1. The Technical General Secretariat is responsible for the performance of the powers conferred on it by Law 50/1997 of 27 November of the Government, and Article 17 of Law 6/1997 of 14 April of the Organization and the Functioning of the Administration General of the State, and in particular the following:

(a) The processing of the general provisions to be promoted by the department and, when provided for, its preparation; the issuance of the reports provided for in Articles 22 and 24 of Law 50/1997 of 27 November; and the processing of the publication of provisions and administrative acts of the Department in the Official Gazette of the State.

b) The report of the cases that other Departments submit to the Council of Ministers and the General Commission of Secretaries of State and Undersecretaries, and the processing of those proposed by the Department's organs.

c) The processing, monitoring, custody and publication of international treaties to which Spain is a party.

d) The monitoring and reporting of non-regulatory agreements that are signed with foreign entities by the General Administration of the State and its public bodies, as well as by the bodies of other public administrations.

e) The coordination and monitoring of the development of the external activity of the ministerial departments and public bodies of the General Administration of the State, of the other public administrations and of the organs constitutional.

f) The report and follow-up of the acts and provisions of the Autonomous Communities that affect the competences of the Department, and the processing of the collaboration agreements that the Department celebrates with those.

g) The processing of the report required by the Ministry provided for in Article 5 of Royal Decree 37/2008 of 18 January concerning the creation of European groupings of territorial cooperation, that of the reports on cross-border cooperation agreements, and the keeping of the register of European Territorial Cooperation Groups which are set up under Spanish legislation.

(h) The processing of requests for overflights and calls for aircraft and of foreign military and military vessels in Spain and Spain abroad, the communication of the decision to be addressed to the competent bodies adopt, as well as the processing of the renewal of the agreements signed in this field.

i) The processing and proposal for the resolution of administrative resources, prior to judicial, civil or employment complaints, procedures for the review of trade and the declaration of lesivity of acts (a) the administrative department of the department, the liability claims arising from the operation of its services, and the relations with the courts.

j) The direction and coordination of the editorial and dissemination activity of the Department's publications.

k) The management of library and documentation services and the general archive, the coordination of the remaining archives and libraries of the Department, and the preservation of their documentary heritage.

(l) The exercise of the functions attributed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the field of translation into Spanish or other foreign languages of international treaties and conventions and other documents of diplomatic, consular or administrative character; the collation of translations of the same; interpretation in acts involving representatives of the higher bodies of the State Administration, participation in conferences or commissions international agreements, agreements and international conventions; and granting of the titles of Traductor-Interpreter Jurado and the management of the register of these professionals.

2. The Technical General Secretariat, with an organic level of General Subdirectorate, is responsible for the exercise of the functions listed in points (a), (b), (j) and (k) of the previous paragraph.

3. The following units are also dependent on the Technical General Secretariat with the organic level to be determined in the employment relationship:

(a) The Division of Institutional Relations and of Collaboration with the Autonomous Communities, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in points (e), (f), (g) and (h) of paragraph 1 above.

(b) The Division of International Treaties and Non-Normative Agreements, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in points (c) and (d) of paragraph 1 above.

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

(d) The Office for the Interpretation of Languages, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in paragraph 1 (l) above, as well as those attributed to it by Royal Decree 2555/1977 of 27 August.

Article 14. Foreign Service General Address.

1. It is for the Directorate-General of the External Service to exercise the powers relating to the management of human resources, internal arrangements, economic and financial management, works and furnishing, management control, planning and IT assistance and communications. In particular, the following:

a) Lease, maintenance and works of the buildings of the Department in the central services, security of the department in central services and in the representations abroad, acquisition of vehicles in the foreign, internal regime, general registration, office of administrative information, diplomatic mail and works of art.

b) The management of civil servants and employees, both in central and outside services.

(c) The budgetary monitoring of current revenue and expenditure abroad, the acquisition and leasing of buildings of the representations of Spain abroad, the management of credit for supplies, material, including the consular, as well as the compensation for the service.

d) The functions of enabling and paying the Central Paying Fund, managing the bank accounts of income and payments to be justified abroad, as well as the management of the appropriations corresponding to the Department in concept of protocolary and representative attention.

e) The management of the works, rehabilitation, maintenance and furnishing of the buildings of the representations of Spain abroad, as well as the equipment of beings, useful and menaje in the representations in the outside.

f) The impetus, planning, development, implementation and management of: IT and telecommunications plans and infrastructures, voice and data; the Internet portal and the administrative intranet for central and central services external; the electronic administrative services associated with them; the satellite network; international technical networks of visas, consular assistance, regulated information; the security of information; and technical assistance to users.

g) Control of expenditure and revenue of the Ministry and consular collection.

2. They depend on the General Directorate of the External Service with an organic level of general sub-direction:

(a) The Major Office, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (a) of the previous paragraph.

(b) The General Staff Subdirectorate, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (b) of the previous paragraph.

(c) The General Financial Management Subdirectorate, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in points (c) and (d) of the previous paragraph.

(d) The Subdirectorate-General for Works and Furnishing Of Furniture in the Exterior, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (e) of the previous paragraph.

(e) The Subdirectorate-General for Informatics, Communications and Networks, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (f) of the previous paragraph.

3. It also depends on the Directorate-General of the External Service, the Division of Management Control, with the organic level to be determined in the employment relationship, which corresponds to the exercise of the function provided for in point (g) of the Previous section.

Article 15. General Directorate of Spanish Foreign Affairs and Consular and Migration Affairs.

1. The coordination and supervision of all the actions of the Spanish consular offices in the management of the services of the General Administration is the responsibility of the Directorate General of Spanish Foreign Affairs and Consular and Migration Affairs. of the State which are provided abroad.

it is also the responsibility of the proposal, the elaboration and implementation of the policy on protection and assistance to Spanish citizens abroad, as well as on migration and asylum, in the sphere of action of the Ministry of 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.

2. In particular, it is for the exercise of the following powers:

a) The proposal and implementation of the policy of protection of Spaniards abroad, with particular attention to the Spanish migrants; the coordination of the action of the consular offices in the management of the services that the General Administration of the State provides abroad; as well as the supervision of the honorary consulates of Spain.

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

c) Emergency management and crisis situations affecting Spaniards abroad.

d) 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 relating to consular action, and the coordination of consular functions in the fields of public notice and consular civil registration.

e) The assistance, through the consular offices of Spain, to the Spaniards who integrate the new migratory flows as well as those who are displaced abroad.

f) Coordination of the processing by the consular offices of uniform visas, as well as the management of national visas, in the terms laid down in the Spanish legislation, the issuing of passports in the and, in the field of the competences of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the proposal and implementation of the policy on immigration and asylum.

g) The coordination of migration policy at the multilateral level, in the EU, without prejudice to the competences of the Directorate-General for the Coordination of Common Policies and General Affairs of the Union European, and in that of bilateral relations with other countries, including new migratory movements affecting the Spanish, along with other ministerial departments competent in the matter.

3. They depend on the Directorate General of Spanish on Foreign Affairs and Consular and Migration Affairs with organic level of general sub-direction:

(a) The General Subdirectorate for Consular Protection and Assistance, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in points (a), (b) and (e) of the previous paragraph.

(b) The Subdirectorate-General for Consular Legal Affairs, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (d) of the previous paragraph.

(c) The General Subdirectorate for Foreign Affairs, to which the exercise of the functions listed in point (f) of the previous paragraph corresponds.

(d) The Subdirectorate General for Migration, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (g) of the previous paragraph.

4. 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 for the assessment of the management of visas governed by Community legislation by consular offices.

Article 16. Directorate-General for International Economic Relations.

1. It is for the Directorate-General for International Economic Relations, under the direction of the holder of the Department, to exercise the following powers:

(a) The proposal and implementation of Spain's foreign policy in the field of international economic relations of a bilateral nature, without prejudice to the competences of other departments in the field.

b) The proposal and implementation of Spain's foreign policy in the area of multilateral economic relations; the institutional representation of Spain in the face of integration systems and other bodies, including the OECD; and in the relevant multilateral conventions and the coordination of the representation of Spain to the special committees and bodies of these conventions and bodies, without prejudice to the powers of other departments in the field.

c) The proposal and implementation of Spain's foreign policy in the field of international relations in the field of air, sea, land, and space, ocean and polar issues.

d) Participation, together with other agencies and entities of the General Administration of the State, in the field of economic diplomacy and in the elaboration of plans of action interveners to the best management and projection of the image Spain's economic activity abroad, without prejudice to the powers of other ministerial departments and entities of the General Administration of the State.

e) The preparation, report, processing and proposal of the issues to be submitted to the Government's Delegation for Economic Affairs.

f) The negotiation and internal processing of international, bilateral and multilateral agreements related to the areas of their responsibility.

2. They depend on the Directorate-General for International Economic Relations with organic level of general sub-direction:

(a) The General Sub-Directorate of Bilateral Economic Relations, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (a) of the previous paragraph.

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

(c) The Subdirectorate-General for Economic Diplomacy, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in point (d) of the previous paragraph.

Article 17. Directorate-General for Media and Public Diplomacy.

1. It is the responsibility of the Directorate-General for Media and Public Diplomacy, under the direction of the head of the Department, to exercise the following powers:

a) The elaboration of the communication strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

b) The management of the contents, appearances and interventions of the Department holder and other senior officials in the media.

c) The coordination of the communication tasks carried out by the Secretaries of State and other organs of the Department.

d) The elaboration of action plans that contribute to the best management and projection of the external position of Spain.

e) The coordination of the agencies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, of the entities linked to it and of the agencies of the General Administration of the State, responsible for managing the Spain's image abroad.

f) The proposal and implementation of the Department's social networking strategy.

2. They are dependent on the Directorate-General for Media and Public Diplomacy for the Public Diplomacy Subdirectorate, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in points (d), (e) and (f) of the previous paragraph.

3. In accordance with the provisions of Article 18.2 of Law 6/1997 of 14 April 1997, the holder of the Directorate-General for Media and Public Diplomacy shall not be required to be an official, in the light of special characteristics. of this organ and according to Royal Decree 1887/2011, of December 30.

Article 18. The Diplomatic Information Office.

1. The Office for Diplomatic Information, under the direction of the holder of the Department, is responsible for the exercise, in coordination with the Directorate-General for Media and Public Diplomacy, of the following powers:

(a) The exercise of the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the dissemination of information on the foreign policy of Spain and the activities of the Department.

b) The analysis and distribution of the information obtained through the various informative channels to the central services of the Ministry and the Representations of Spain abroad, as well as to the Diplomatic Missions foreign accredited in Spain.

c) Planning of the communication activities of the Directorates-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and of the Diplomatic Missions, Permanent Representations and Consular Offices of Spain.

d) The design, updating and management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation portal on the Internet and its contents.

e) The coordination and drafting of information, production and distribution of information, and the carrying out of documentation and technical advice.

f) The preparation of the budget and the economic management of the Office.

2. The Office for Diplomatic Information depends on the General Subdirectorate of the Office for Diplomatic Information to which the exercise of the functions listed in points (d) (e) and (f) of the previous paragraph corresponds.

3. The Office for Diplomatic Information also depends on the Technical Organisation Division, with the organic level to be determined in the employment relationship, to which the exercise of the functions listed in point (e) of the Previous section.

Article 19. Ambassador introducer.

1. Under the direct dependence of the Ministry's holder, it is up to the Ambassador of Ambassadors, who will have the consideration and treatment of Director General, with the rank of Ambassador, the exercise of the following competencies:

(a) The preparation, coordination and execution of official acts and ceremonies related to the foreign policy of the State, taking place in the national territory and abroad, and in particular, official travel of His Majesties the Kings of Spain and the visits of the foreign heads of state.

b) The processing of the records of decorations of the Orders of Isabel the Catholic and of the Civil Merit.

c) 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, in compliance with the Vienna Conventions on diplomatic and consular relations.

2. They depend on the Ambassador's Introductor, with organic level of general subdirection:

(a) The General Subdirectorate of Travel and Official Visits, Ceremonial and Orders, the holder of which receives the name of the Second Introductor of Ambassadors, which corresponds to the exercise of the functions listed in points (a) and (b) of the preceding paragraph.

(b) The General Secretariat of the Foreign Ministry to which the exercise of the functions listed in point (c) of the previous paragraph corresponds.

Additional disposition first. Removal of organs.

The following Department organs are deleted:

a) The General Foreign Policy Subdirectorate.

(b) The European Union's Subdirectorate-General for Common Foreign and Security Policy.

c) The Security General Subdirection.

d) The Gibraltar Office.

e) The Ambassador to the Special Mission for Peacekeeping Operations.

f) The Division of Multilateral Affairs and OSCE.

g) The General Subdirectorate for Institutional Affairs.

h) The General Affairs Subdirectorate General.

i) The General Subdirectorate of Customs and Commercial Affairs.

j) The General Subdirectorate of Countries of the Andean Community.

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

l) The General Subdirectorate of Ibero-American Multilateral Organizations.

m) The General Subdirection of Planning, Policy for Development and Aid Effectiveness.

n) The Subdirectorate General for International Economic Relations.

or) The General Subdirection of Energy and Multilateral Affairs.

p) The General Foreign Communication Subdirectorate.

Additional provision second. Delegation of powers.

1. The delegations of competences granted by the different higher bodies and directors of the Department affected by this royal decree, by the Royal Decrees 1823/2011, of December 21, by which the departments are restructured Ministerial and 1887/2011, of December 30, for which the basic organic structure of the ministerial departments is established, will continue in force until they are expressly revoked or again granted.

2. Where the delegations of powers which maintain their effects under the preceding paragraph have been made in favour of organs removed by any of the actual decrees referred to above, the said delegations shall be deemed to be in force in force. of the bodies in whose field of action the corresponding competence is framed.

Additional provision third. Supply of the heads of the management bodies.

In the cases of vacancy, absence or illness of the holder of a management body, and in default of appointment of an alternate as provided for in Article 17 of Law 30/1992, of 26 November, of the Legal Regime of the Public administrations and the Common Administrative Procedure shall be responsible for the supply to the governing bodies dependent on it in the order in which they appear in the respective structure established in this royal decree.

Additional provision fourth. Units and jobs with lower organic level than general sub-direction.

1. Units and posts with an organic level lower than that of the general sub-directorate in the deleted organs or whose organic dependence has been modified by this royal decree shall be provisionally attached by means of a resolution of the Until the new relationship of jobs has been entered into force, the Secretariat will hold the regulated bodies in this royal decree, depending on the powers assigned to them.

2. Units and jobs with a lower organic level than a general sub-directorate shall continue to remain and shall be paid from the same budgetary appropriations until the corresponding employment relations are approved. adapted to the organic structure established by this royal decree. Such adaptation shall in no case lead to an increase in public expenditure.

Additional provision fifth. No increase in public spending.

The application of this royal decree will be made without an increase in the operating costs of the respective management bodies and will not increase public expenditure.

Additional provision sixth. Regulatory references to deleted organs.

The references that are made in the legal order to the organs that are deleted by this royal decree will be understood to be those that are created, replaced or assume their competences in this same norm.

Single repeal provision. Regulatory repeal.

The Royal Decree 1748/2010, dated 23 December, is repealed and the basic organic structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is developed, and the provisions of the same or lesser range are opposed to the established in this royal decree.

Final disposition first. Powers of development.

The holder of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is hereby authorized to take the necessary measures for the development and execution of this royal decree, prior to the appropriate legal procedures.

Final disposition second. Entry into force.

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

Given in Madrid, on February 10, 2012.

JOHN CARLOS R.

The Minister of Finance and Public Administrations,

CRISTOBAL MONTORO ROMERO