National Security Council (Spain)

National Security Council

Consejo de Seguridad Nacional
Agency overview
Formed	July 11, 2013
Jurisdiction	Spain
Agency executives	Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister Carmen Calvo, Deputy Prime Minister See full members in Members
Child agencies	National Maritime Safety Council National Cybersecurity Council Specialized Immigration Committee Specialized Committee on Energy Security Specialized Situation Committee

The National Security Council of Spain is the principal advisory body used by the Prime Minister for considerations of national security and foreign policy matters with senior ranks of the Administration with competencies in these matters. It was created in 2013 with the unanimous agreement of all political forces in the Cortes Generales within the framework of the National Security Strategy.^[1]

NSC meetings are only held when are convened by the Prime Minister.^[2]

Functions

According to the National Security Act 36/2015 (LSN), NSC has the following functions:^[3]

• To dictate the necessary guidelines in the planning and coordination of the National Security policy.
• To direct and coordinate by Royal Decree the actions of management of crisis situations in the terms foreseen in Title III of the LSN.
• To supervise and coordinate, by Royal Decree, the National Security System.
• Verify the degree of compliance with the National Security Strategy and promote its revisions.
• Promote and encourage the development of the necessary second level strategies and, if necessary, proceed to their approval, as well as their periodic reviews.
• Organize ,by Royal Decree, the contribution of resources to National Security in accordance with the provisions of the LSN.
• To approve the Annual National Security Report before its presentation in the Cortes Generales.
• Agree the creation and strengthening of the necessary support organs for the performance of their functions.
• To promote the necessary normative proposals for the strengthening of the National Security System.
• Carry out the other functions attributed to it by the applicable legal and regulatory provisions.
• To advise and inform, at least once a year, the King of Spain in his capacity as Supreme Commander of the armed forces. The king is Chairman of the Council when he attends its sessions.

In case of crisis:

• The National Security Council shall determine the liaison and coordination mechanisms necessary for the National Security System to be activated in a preventive manner and to monitor the situations likely to arise in a situation of National Security interest.
• In the situation of interest to the National Security, the President of the Government will call the National Security Council to exercise the functions of management and coordination of the management of said Situation, all without prejudice to the application of the legislation in matters of National Defense and of the powers that correspond to the Council of Ministers. In cases where the President of the Government decides to designate a functional authority for the promotion and coordinated management of the actions, the National Security Council will advise on the appointment of such authority.
• The National Security Council shall advise the President of the Government when the situation requires the application of exceptional measures provided for in the crisis management instruments of the international organizations of which Spain is a member, without prejudice to the powers of the Ministers and of the provisions in the legislation on National Defense.

Members

• Felipe VI, King of Spain
• Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister
• Carmen Calvo Poyato, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidency
• Josep Borrell, Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Dolores Delgado, Minister of Justice
• Margarita Robles, Minister of Defence
• María Jesús Montero, Minister of the Treasury
• Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Minister of the Interior
• José Luis Ábalos Meco, Minister of Development
• Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry
• Nadia Calviño, Minister of Economy
• María Luisa Carcedo, Minister of Health
• Iván Redondo, Moncloa Chief of Staff
• Fernando Martín Valenzuela, Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs
• Ana Botella Gómez, Secretary of State for Security
• Fernando Alejandre Martínez, Chief of the Defence Staff
• Félix Sanz Roldán, Director of the National Intelligence Center
• Miguel Ángel Ballesteros, Director of the Homeland Security Department

Meetings

Since its inception, the National Security Council has convened 14 times.^[4]

• Meeting of the National Security Council of July 11, 2013.^[5]
• Meeting of the National Security Council of September 20, 2013.^[6]
• Meeting of the National Security Council of December 5, 2013.^[7]
• Meeting of the National Security Council of February 14, 2014.^[8]
• Meeting of the National Security Council of April 25, 2014.^[9]
• Meeting of the National Security Council of July 10, 2014.^[10]
• Meeting of the National Security Council of October 31, 2014.^[11]
• Meeting of the National Security Council of January 23, 2015.^[12]
• Meeting of the National Security Council of April 24, 2015.^[13]
• Meeting of the National Security Council of July 20, 2015.^[14]
• Extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council November 14, 2015.^[15]
• Meeting of The National Security Council of November 20, 2015.^[16]
• Meeting of The National Security Council of May 27, 2016.^[17]
• Meeting of The National Security Council of January 20, 2017.^[18]
• Meeting of The National Security Council of July 16, 2018.^[19]

Referencias