Madrid

Although Estonia and Spain are located in different parts of Europe and may at first glance appear very different, 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 strived 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 to the post 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. The Spanish ambassador to Estonia, Guillermo Corral Van Damme, presented her credentials to President Kersti Kaljulaid on August 26 2021.

Estonia opened its Embassy in Madrid in June 1997. As of October 21 2022 Estonia’s Ambassador to Spain is Andres Rundu.

Estonia has seven honorary consuls in Spain: Josep Luis Rovira and David Rovira in the region of Catalonia (Barcelona), Fernando Franco Fernàndez in the region of Andalusia (Seville), Sergio Tadeo Benitez in the Canary Islands, José Vicente Morata Estragués in Valencia, Guillermo Carlos Dezcallar Enseñat in Palma de Mallorca and Isidoro Alejandro Beltrán de Heredia Dreyfus in the Basque Country.

The first Spain-Estonia friendship group was created in the Parliament of Estonia in 1994.