Spain wants 2020 growth strategy EU helm

Spain will seek a way for recession-hit European economies to grow over the next decade when it takes over the EU presidency from January 1, its foreign minister said in an interview published today.

"The most important goal is a coordinated exit from the economic crisis and establishing a sustainable growth strategy for European countries for the horizon of 2020," Miguel Angel Moratinos told El Pais newspaper.

Spain has been among the European countries worst hit by the a global economic crisis.

Setting out the priorities for Spain's six-month presidency, Moratinos also revealed an ambitious personal goal.

"Personally, I would like to agree with all of the parties the recognition of Palestine as a state. I know (six months) isn't much time, but we're going to work at it."

Spain will also work towards improving EU relations with Morocco and Cuba, Moratinos said, and the presidency's first summit will be with Morocco on March 8 in Granada.

"This is a very important summit, with tremendous symbolic and historical value, because it's the first summit held between Morocco and the EU and the idea of anchoring North Africa to Europe is positive," he said.