Estonia and Spain

Bilateral relations

- 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.

The Kingdom of Spain recognised the Republic of Estonia on 25 March 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. As of 29 June 2011 Spain’s ambassador to Estonia is Álvaro de la Riva Guzmán de Frutos.

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);
• 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).
• Agreement to amend the agreement on the protection of classified information (came into force 14.01.2011);

In addition, a co-operation protocol has been signed between the foreign ministries of Estonia and Spain (24.11.1999) as well as a joint declaration for strengthening co-operation between the foreign ministries (04.05.2009).

Defence Relations, NATO

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

Estonia-Spain trade 2004-2011 (thousands of euros):

*Import according to sending nation

Source: Statistical Office of Estonia

Spain was Estonia’s 18th trade partner in 2011 with 1% of Estonia’s total foreign trade turnover. In 2010 Spain ranked as Estonia’s 23^rd trade partner and in 2009 it ranked in 22nd place with 0.7% of Estonia’s total trade turnover. The major articles of export in 2011 were wood and wood products (30.1%), metals and metal products (22.3%), and mineral products (14.0%). The most frequent articles of import from Spain were textiles (31.5%), plastic and rubber products (10.8%), and metals and metal products (10.6%).

Investments

Source: Bank of Estonia

In 2007 companies like Iberdrola and Marbella Club Hotel S.A. entered the Estonian market. As of 31 December 2008, Spanish investments in Estonia totalled 38 610 thousand euros, in 2009 they totalled 52 037 thousand, and in 2010 45 477 euros. That equals about 0.2% of all direct investments made in Estonia. Estonian businesses invested 79 880 thousand euros in Spain in 2007, 77 219 thousand euros in 2008, 80 261 thousand euros in 2009, 54 685 thousand euros in 2010, and in 2011 investments totalled 57 435 thousand euros or 1% of all Estonian direct investments abroad.

Tourism

Spain remains a popular destination for Estonian tourists. There has been an increase in the number of tourists thanks to Estonian Air’s direct flight to Barcelona, although the break in flights during the winter season puts the brakes on the achieved momentum. Spanish people have an increased interest in travelling to Estonia regardless of the fact that the Spanish travel agencies and population are not very knowledgeable about Estonia and in general only Tallinn is known as a travel destination. In 2008 a total of 17 844 travellers from Spain were housed in Estonian accommodation establishments, in 2009 the number was 15 707, in 2010 it increased to 16 860, and within the first nine months of 2011 there had already been 28 932 Spanish tourists housed in Estonia.

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. The Estonian Embassy in Madrid has actively introduced Estonian culture in Spain (below is a list of the most important events).

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 was seen in the Torculu art gallery in Barcelona.
• From March to July in 2010 an exhibition of Ilon Wikland’s illustrations was on display in Santander and Madrid.

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 April 2008 the Estonian film “The Class” (“Klass”) was shown in Spain.
• In July 2008, V. Õunpuu’s film “Autumn Ball” (“Sügisball” ) participated in the Cinema Jove international film festival in Valencia and won the grand prize.
• In April 2010 Estonian documentary films were shown at Madrid’s Suite Film Festival.

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.

At the beginning of 2011 Jaan Kaplinski’s “The Same River” (“Seesama jõgi”) was published in Spanish. The author himself attended the unveiling of the book on 17 March 2011 in Madrid.

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).

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”).

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