Estonia and Spain

14.04.2010

- Visits
- Agreements
- Defence Relations
- Economic Relations
- Culture

Although Estonia and Spain are located in different parts of Europe and at first sight they appear distinct, they actually share many common characteristics. Spain consistently supported Estonia’s endeavours to join the EU and NATO. Economic reforms have been quite similar in both countries, insofar as both states have striven to diminish state interference in the economy while expanding the role of the private sector. The keywords are openness, liberalisation and reduction of the tax burden; the preferred areas of development are IT and new technologies. A good mutual understanding prevails between Estonia and Spain, and the relations between the two countries are exemplified by steadily improving co-operation.

Diplomatic relations

The Kingdom of Spain recognised the Republic of Estonia in 1921. Estonia’s first Ambassador to Spain, Karl Robert Pusta, was appointed in 1928 and he resided permanently in Paris. Spain renewed its recognition of the Republic of Estonia on 27 August 1991 and diplomatic relations were restored on 10 September 1991.

Spain opened its embassy in Tallinn in March 2004. Eduardo Ibáñes López-Dóriga has been the Spanish ambassador to Estonia since 21 February 2008.

Estonia opened its Embassy in Madrid in June 1997. Since September 2009, Estonia's Ambassador to Spain is Toomas Kahur.

Estonia has four honorary consuls in Spain: Josep Luis Rovira in the region of Catalonia (Barcelona), Fernando Franco Fernįndez in the region of Andalusia (Seville), Sergio Tadeo Benitez in Canary Islands and José Vicente Morata Estragués in Valencia.

Visits

Agreements

The following agreements have been signed between Estonia and Spain:

• Agreement on International Road Transport (came into force 24.11.97);
• Agreement on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments (came into force 01.07.98);
• Co-operation protocol between the Defence Ministries (came into force 24.11.99);
• Agreement on the Abolition of Visa Requirements (came into force 30.01.00);
• Agreement on the Readmission of Individuals (came into force 07.02.00);
• Agreement on Extradition of Criminals (came into force 07.02.00);
• Agreement on the avoidance of Double Taxation (came into force 01.01.05);
• Agreement on the protection of classified information (came into force 26.01.2007);
• Agreement on co-operation in culture and education (came into force 07.11.2007);
• Agreement on visa representation between Estonia and Spain (came into force 29.04.2009);
• Joint declaration for strengthening co-operation between the foreign ministries (04.05.2009).

Defence Relations

Defence relations between Spain and Estonia are in the developing stages. Estonia’s Ministry of Defence is interested in developing co-operation and strengthening defence related ties with Spain as a NATO country.

Spain will participate in the work of the NATO cyber defence centre being established in Estonia. At the end of April 2007, Estonia, Spain, Germany and NATO concluded the ACT Agreement for Functional and Operational Co-operation. Two Spanish experts (one soldier and one civilian specialist) began working in the centre in August 2008.

From August-November 2006, Spain participated in the Baltic air surveillance rotation. They utilised four Mirage F-1M airplanes for the surveillance. Their mission team was made up of 83 members.

Spain has appointed a defence attaché to Estonia, who resides in Warsaw. No defence attaché has been appointed by Estonia at present.

Economic Relations

Spain was Estonia’s 21st trade partner in 2008, and 22nd trade partner in 2009 making up 0.8% of Estonia’s total trade turnover. Spain ranked 20th among Estonia’s import partners (0.7% of total imports) and 23rd among export partners (0.6% of total exports). The major articles of export are machinery and equipment (19.6%). Other important items were other industrial goods (15.2%) and plant products (15.1%). The most frequent articles of import from Spain were plant products (17.9%), prepared food products, alcoholic drinks,  tobacco(15.1%), and textiles (13.8%).

Source: Statistical Office of Estonia

Investments

In 2007, a total of 22.1 million euros’ worth of direct investments came in from Spain and companies like Iberdrola and Marbella Club Hotel S.A. entered the Estonian market. As of 31 December 2008, Spanish investments in Estonia totalled 24.6 million euros or 0.2% of direct investments made in Estonia. The most investments have been made in financial intermediation. Estonian businesses invested 51 million euros in Spain in 2007,  49.3 million euross’ worth of investment in 2008 and 51.2 million euros were invested in 2009, or 1% of all Estonian direct investments abroad.

Source: Bank of Estonia

Tourism

Spain remains a popular destination for Estonian tourists. In 2008, Estonian travel bureaus sent 541 915 people on trips, and 33 208 of them went to Spain, which is 6.12% of the total. The increase in the number of tourists led to the creation of a direct Estonian Air flight to Barcelona, although the discontinuation of the route during the winter season slowed down the achieved dynamic. Spanish people are also becoming more interested in travelling to Estonia. Unfortunately, knowledge of Estonia in Spanish travel bureaus and among the population is quite minimal, and primarily only Tallinn is known as a travel destination. Regardless, Estonia has participated in one of the largest tourism fairs in Madrid, Fittur, three times now, and on 23 October 2008 Enterprise Estonia organised a travel destination information day in Madrid, which travel offices showed great interest in.

Culture

Interest in Spanish language and culture is constantly growing in Estonia. Since 1992, it has been possible to study Spanish language as an entire course of study at Tartu University, and in 2002 it became possible to study Spanish at Tallinn University. Spanish language instruction at both universities was made possible by extremely strong support from the Spanish Embassy. Tartu University has an agreement for exchange of instructors and students in higher courses with Granada University, and student exchange occurs with Oviedo University and Las Palmas University. Many Spanish language instructors have gained experiences in Spain thanks to grants given by Spain. Employees of various government offices have used this opportunity as well. Since 2003, it has been possible to take the DELE (Spanish as a foreign language) exam at Tallinn University.

After the opening of the Spanish Embassy in Tallinn (2004), many events introducing Spanish culture have taken place in Estonia. There have been numerous art exhibits, Spanish cinema has been shown in different theatres, Spanish dance has been introduced through dance performances, and many different kinds of concerts have been held (a list of major events can be seen below). The Estonian Embassy in Madrid has actively introduced Estonian culture in Spain. In 2008, many events took place within the framework of the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.

MUSIC

In 2006, the VIII International Folk Singing Competition took place in Barcelona. The Tallinn University Chamber Choir won first place, and Tallinn’s Kaarli Church Concert Choir won second place.

On 25 February 2008 there was a concert by the Estonian Police Brass Band and soloist Kaire Vilgats in the Petit Palau de la Musicas in Barcelona in honour of the 90th anniversary of Estonia.

On 28 February 2008 the ETV Girls’ Choir performed in the city government of Madrid’s Conde Duque Cultural Centre.

On 19 March 2008 the Boys’ Choir of the National Opera Estonia gave a concert in the framework of the Cuenca Religious Music Week.

In October 2008, the Teet, Mari and Martin Järvi chamber trio gave concerts in Madrid and Seville.

ART

The exhibit „Young Spanish painters” was displayed in the Estonia Concert Hall during the 2006-2007 season. The project was initiated by Estonia, in particular Maksim Surin, and was made possible by support from the Spanish Embassy.

An exhibit of the works of internationally known 20th century Spanish artist Joan Miró (1893-1983) was displayed in KUMU art museum from 14 December 2007 to 9 March 2008. The display included 57 works plus 8 photos.

From 17 June to 30 July 2008, an exhibit of the paintings of Estonian artist Sergei Inkatov were seen in the Torculu art gallery in Barcelona.

FILM

In May 2007, a Spanish film week took place in Tallinn. The project was the result of co-operation between the Sõprus cinema and the Spanish Embassy. The event was also supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Estonian Film Foundation.

In August 2007 an Iberian film week took place in both Tallinn and Tartu.

In 2008 the Estonian film “Klass” was shown in Spain.

In July 2008, V. Õunpuu’s film “Sügisball” (“Autumn Ball”) participated in the Cinema Jove international film festival in Valencia and won the grand prize.

LITERATURE

A small but prominent selection Estonian literature has been published in Spanish:Jaan Kross (“The Emperor’s Madman”, “Professor Martens’s Return”), Viivi Luik (“The Seventh Spring of Peace”) and Tõnu Õnnepalu (“Borderland”). The first Spanish translation of Estonian poetry, Jüri Talvet’s “Estonia’s Elegy and Other Poems”, was published in the spring of 2003. Juri Lotman and his semiotic school have gained fame in Spanish academic circles. A number of Juri Lotman’s books and articles have been published in Spanish.

The following works by Spanish authors have been published in Estonian "Don Quijote" by Cervantes, "La estrella de Sevilla" by Lope de Vega, "La vida es sueńo” by Calderón de la Barca, "Del sentimiento trįgico de la vida en los hombres y en los pueblos" by Unamuno, a selection of poetry by Garcķa Lorca in the collection “Cinnamon Tower” and poetry by Vicente Alexandre in the collection “History of Heart”, "La colmena" by Camilo José Cela, also works by Pérez Galdós, Paroja, Azorin, J.R.Jimenez and others.

Jüri Talvet and Ain Kaalep have been given the Order of Isabella the Catholic (Orden de Isabel la Católica).

In Leon, Spain, the children’s and young adult book fair “Leer León” took place from 5-15 May 2006. The French Embassy led the organisation of a collective EU stand, where Estonian books were also represented. Estonia’s representation at the fair was co-ordinated by the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre and the Foreign Ministry’s cultural office.

On 23 April 2008, Estonian poet Triin Soomets took part in the traditional “Night of the Books” in Madrid. On 21 May 2008, professor of world literature at Tartu University Jüri Talvet participated in the Barcelona International Poetry Festival with his seventh compilation of poems “Silmad peksavad une seinu” (“Eyes Beat the Walls of Sleep”).