Spain's Senate Rejects Friendship Treaty with France During Macron's State Visit

Spain's Senate voted 142 against and 106 in favor on September 30 to block ratification of the Spain-France Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, with one abstention. The vote came during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Madrid — his first to Spain since 2009.

The treaty had been signed by Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Barcelona in January 2023. It was intended to institutionalize regular bilateral consultations and deepen cooperation. The opposition People's Party (PP), which holds an absolute Senate majority, along with far-right Vox, opposed a clause permitting a minister from one country to participate in the other's Council of Ministers meetings.

Constitutional and Political Context

Spain's Constitutional Court had ruled the treaty constitutional on September 23, but this did not alter the Senate's political calculus. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares criticized the PP's position, saying it amounted to complicating relations with a neighboring European partner. France already holds similar friendship treaties with Germany, Italy, and Poland.

The rejection means the treaty will require a full restart of the legislative process and likely renegotiation of the disputed clause.