What is the National Security Council and why is Sánchez convening it now?
It is a body that assists the president and is convened when State security is affected
MadridPedro Sánchez convenes the National Security Council (NSC) this Tuesday at 9 a.m. He convened it 26 days after thousands of people crossed the border with Morocco and entered the autonomous city of Ceuta, which is already the deadliest migratory crisis experienced in Spain. The Spanish government itself branded the events as a violation of Spain's territorial integrity.
What is the National Security Council?
It is the highest collegiate body of the government in matters of security in the State, as the highest authorities in this field are part of it with the idea of guaranteeing its coordination. However, it is relatively recent, as its creation was agreed upon in 2013, just over a decade ago, during the PP government. At that time, the spokesperson and vice-president of the executive, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, presented it as a more efficient way to coordinate existing resources. In fact, she unveiled it along with the national security strategy, which is responsible for identifying the main security risks for the State, such as public safety, terrorism, cyber threats, irregular migratory flows, armed conflicts, etc. It varies each year and in 2017, for example, in the midst of the Process, the PP government incorporated the challenge to legality in allusion to Catalonia. The National Security Council is also responsible for ensuring compliance with this strategy and promoting its reviews.
Who is part of it?
The CSN is chaired by the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, provided that the king is not invited, who would lead the meeting if he attended. This Monday evening, sources from the Royal House assured the ARA that they had not received any notification to also be at the meeting.
Normally, all vice-presidencies participate in the CSN, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Finance, Interior, Transport, Industry, Health and Science, in addition to being convened the Chief of the Defense Staff, the Director of the Cabinet of the Spanish President, as well as the Secretaries of State for Security, Foreign Affairs and the Director of the CNI. Depending on the subject matter, local and regional authorities may be convened.
What are its functions?
In accordance with the National Security Law, which has assigned it functions since 2015, its mission is to coordinate State security and assist the President of the Spanish Government in facing security challenges. In this regard, it is foreseen to meet bimonthly, although according to the official website, this year it has only met once ordinarily in April.
It is also convened extraordinarily in the face of security threats. It is within the framework of this second possibility that Sánchez has convened it. The last example of extraordinary meetings was last year following the power outage on April 29, where King Felipe VI did participate.
Why now?
La Moncloa convenes it coinciding with the return of the council of ministers meetings after the summer break in which sole command for Ceuta will be approved. A way of conveying by the Spanish government that it is taking control of the situation.
However, the opposition already censors Pedro Sánchez's management and considers the meeting to be late. "Spain is suffering a violation of its territorial integrity and Sánchez takes a chilling month to convene the National Security Commission. At a good time", tweeted Alberto Núñez Feijóo. In fact, to the question of why the National Security Council has not been convened before, from La Moncloa they remain silent. It will be this Tuesday that the Spanish government will once again be in front of the microphones.
