The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, is scheduled to make an official visit to Spain on September 29 and 30, during which he will hold meetings with King Felipe VI and with the president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, according to what "La Vanguardia" has reported and confirmed to Europa Press sources from Moncloa.
Macron will travel with his wife, Brigitte Macron, and both will be received by the Kings, eight years after the state visit that Felipe VI and Letizia made to Paris in October 2018. Since then, this trip has been pending, which has been postponed for various reasons, including the lack of definitive ratification of the Treaty of Friendship.
This agreement was signed by Sánchez and Macron at the Hispano-French summit held in Barcelona in January 2023, but the controversy generated around its article 2.4, which states that a minister can integrate into the Council of Ministers of the other country at least once every three months and in a rotating manner, has blocked its ratification so far.
The Spanish Executive tried to push it forward for the first time in 2025, but the attempt failed due to the abstention of Junts and Podemos in Congress. A year later, it submitted the text for a vote again and, to overcome this obstacle, the Government reached an "interpretative agreement" that provides for inviting French ministers to "ad hoc" meetings, but without them being part of the Council of Ministers in the strict sense.
However, the Popular Party of Alberto Núñez Feijóo maintains its opposition and used its absolute majority in the Senate to temporarily halt the entry into force of the Treaty. The Populars argue that the questioned point violates the Constitution and approved in the Upper House a request for the Constitutional Court to rule on the matter.
In the event that the TC endorses the Government's position, the text will return to Congress for a new vote and, presumably, will be approved with the support of the majority that upheld the investiture.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly and the French Senate already ratified the Treaty in March 2025, so Paris is waiting for Spain to complete the process.
"Solidarity" of Macron with Spain over the Ceuta crisis
The official visit of Macron will also take place in a context marked by the crisis in the autonomous city of Ceuta, two months after the massive entry of around 80,000 people irregularly on July 30. After that episode, the French president expressed his "solidarity" with Sánchez and offered support to Spain through the European Agency for Coast and Border Guard (Frontex).
Unlike Italy, which led the criticism against Spain, demanding its expulsion from the European free movement area known as "Schengen" and establishing temporary controls for travelers, the French leader avoided joining that diplomatic offensive.