National Security Council (Spain)


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.
NSC meetings are only held when convened by the Prime Minister.

Functions

According to the National Security Act 36/2015, NSC has the following functions:
In case of crisis:
The National Security Act, in its article 21, section 1, letter h, grants the Council the power to create support bodies to carry out its functions. Since 2013, 8 support bodies have been created:
Since its inception, the National Security Council has convened 21 times.
DatePlaceChaired byMatters discussedRef.
11 July 2013Zarzuela Palace King Juan Carlos IConstitutive meeting. Council's internal rules; National Security Act draft bill. Crown Prince Felipe also attended.
20 September 2013Moncloa Palace Mariano RajoyInternational policy issues, specifically but not only about the Middle East. Procedural issues about the National Security Act draft bill.
5 December 2013Moncloa Palace Mariano RajoyThe Council approved the Cybersecurity and Maritime Safety Strategies and it created the Situation Committee and the National Maritime Safety and National Cybersecurity councils.
14 February 2014Moncloa Palace Mariano RajoyThe evolution of the strategies approved on previous meetings; the status of the international missions of the Armed Forces and the works on the National Security Act draft bill.
25 April 2014Moncloa Palace Mariano RajoyNational and international matters important to the national security and the approval of the first Annual Report about National Security.
10 July 2014Zarzuela Palace King Felipe VITo inform The King about the work made by the Council in its first year of life as well as discussing issues important to national security. The Council approved the creation of the Specialized Immigration Committee.
31 October 2014Moncloa Palace Mariano RajoyActions taken by the Special Committee about the Ébola virus. Issues relating to maritime safety, cybersecurity and immigration were also discussed.
23 January 2015Moncloa Palace Mariano RajoyJihadist terrorism and violent radicalization.
24 April 2015Moncloa Palace Mariano RajoyNational and international matters important to the national security. Among them, the migratory crisis in the Mediterranean and the situation in Libya stand out. The Council also approved the Annual Report about National Security and the National Plan to comply with the United Nations Resolution 1540.
20 July 2015Zarzuela Palace King Felipe VINational Security Act draft bill; humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean and jihadist terrorism. The Council also approved the National Energy Security Strategy.
14 November 2015Moncloa Palace Mariano RajoyExtraordinary meeting of the Council to discuss the November 2015 Paris attacks and the actions of the government in this matter.
20 November 2015Moncloa Palace Mariano RajoyNational and international matters important to the national security. Specifically, the government's measures in response to the 2015 Paris attacks were analyzed.
27 May 2016Moncloa Palace Mariano RajoyMediterranean migration crisis, refugees and measures taken by Spain; jihadist terrorism; Venezuela's situation. The Council approved the Annual Report about National Security.
20 January 2017Moncloa Palace Mariano RajoyNational and international matters important to the national security. Specifically, jihadist terrorism and consequences of the bad weather in the country. It was also discussed the instability of certain geographical areas important to the Spanish national security; the Council approved the 2016 Annual Report; and the works to the new National Security Strategy were started. The Council approved the creation of the Specialized Committee on Energy Security.
1 December 2017Moncloa Palace Mariano RajoyNational and international matters important to the national security. The Council approved the new National Security Strategy and the creation of the Specialized Committee on the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. It also discussed the accession of Spain to the PESCO Program.
16 July 2018Zarzuela Palace King Felipe VIMediterranean migration crisis; jihadist terrorism and the international deployment of the Armed Forces.
21 January 2019Moncloa Palace Pedro SánchezFirst meeting held in the new facilities of the Department of National Security. The Council discussed and approved the National Strategy against Organized Crime and Serious Crime 2019-2023, the National Bio-custody Plan and the new National Strategy Against Terrorism.
15 March 2019Moncloa Palace Pedro SánchezThe Council approved the 2018 Annual Report about National Security, the Maritime Safety Action Plan and it also discussed procedures to prevent fake news. The Secretary of State for Press was convened to the meeting for the first time.
12 April 2019Moncloa Palace Pedro SánchezThe Council discussed and approved three new strategies: on Aerospace Safety, Civil Defence and Cybersecurity; and it created the Coordination Network for Electoral Processes Security.
4 March 2020Zarzuela Palace King Felipe VITo inform The King about national security issues as well discuss them. The Council approved the creation of the National Aerospace Safety Council and the Specialized Committee against Terrorism.
22 June 2020Zarzuela PalaceKing Felipe VITo inform The King about national security issues and to analyze the situation relating the COVID-19 pandemic.