Edited and translated by Martin Kammandel.
Brussels, 15 April 2015: His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain visited the European Parliament where he was received by its president Mr. Martin Schulz. At the assembly The King signed the Book of Honour to later continue to a meeting with President Schulz and their respective delegations. Both leaders also held talks with representatives of the parliamentary groups at the EP.
Thereafter Don Felipe VI met with President of the European Council, Donald Tusk and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The meetings were followed by a luncheon with the Commissioners.
Thus the three main EU institutions were covered during the short visit. The European Parliament (EP) represents the EU citizenry, and is directly elected by them. The Council of the European Union represents the governments of the EU member states, and is elected by them; in fact, member states share the Presidency of the Council on a rotatory bases every six months. The Commission represents the interests of the Union as a whole.
Together the three institutions work on the EU’s policies and legal instruments. In principle the Commissions proposes the legal initiatives to be adopted by Parliament and the Council. Subsequently they are adopted as well by the Commission, which ensures its uniform application throughout the EU, and the member states.
His Majesty King Felipe VI was accompanied to all EU institutions by Spain’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador Alfonso Dastis Quecedo.
Source:
http://www.casareal.es/ES/Actividades/Paginas/actividades_viajes_detalle.aspx?data=788
For more information:
Spanish Royal Household: www.casareal.es/ES/Paginas/home.aspx
Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of Spain to the EU: http://representacionpermanente.eu/en/
Martin Schulz: www.europarl.europa.eu/the-president/en/president/html/latest-news
Donald Tusk: www.consilium.europa.eu/en/european-council/president/
Jean-Claude Juncker: http://ec.europa.eu/commission/2014-2019/president_en
