The President of the Government of Spain highlighted the implementation of the Plan to Support Multilateralism, an initiative driven by Spain to reform and revitalise global governance and the international financial architecture.

The President of the Government of Spain attends the inauguration of the new UN Tourism headquarters |Pool Moncloa/Jorge Villar- 2026-06-28T22:00:00Z

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has officially opened the new UN World Tourism Organisation headquarters at the Madrid Conference Centre, coinciding with the first anniversary of the International Conference on Financing for Sustainable Development held in Seville in July 2025.

Pedro Sánchez highlighted this milestone as further proof that Spain honours its international commitments and aspires to be a "meeting place", now established as a haven for multilateralism. The essence of this multilateralism lies in building spaces, "physical and political, but also human and cognitive", where nations meet, engage in dialogue and cooperate. President Sánchez emphasised this vision, noting that 21st-century tourism must be built "on sustainability, inclusion, cooperation and global responsibility". As Pedro Sánchez pointed out, the majority of the Spanish public supports cooperation, alliances between nations and international solidarity.

The Plan to Support Multilateralism, adopted in Seville exactly one year ago, was based on the principles of refuge, reinforcement and reform.

With regard to the principle of refuge, Sánchez pointed to the capacity to lead by convening others and the commitment to continue hosting major global debates in Spain, as has been done in recent years. Regarding the principle of reinforcement, he highlighted contributions to multilateralism and development aid, which increased by 13% to reach over €4.55 billion in 2025. "International solidarity is not an expense; "It is an investment in stability," the president argued, citing Spain's recent response to and management of the hantavirus outbreak as an example.

Finally, he emphasised the need to reform the multilateral system to make it more representative, transparent and effective, and for institutions to adapt so that they can respond to current challenges with greater legitimacy. "It is not a matter of idealism. "It is a commitment to pragmatism," he argued. "Reforming multilateralism does not mean calling it into question," he continued. "It means ensuring its future", adding that Spain will be at the forefront of the reflection and action needed to make that reform a reality. In this context, Pedro Sánchez called for more inclusive leadership and has highlighted the appointment of Shaikha Al Nowais as the first Secretary-General of UNWTO in the agency's 50-year history, which represents a significant step forward in terms of equality.

With regard to the international context, President Sánchez emphasised that, now more than ever, "solidarity and empathy must take precedence over hatred and rivalry", as no global challenge can be resolved in isolation.