The Partido Popular (PP) is blocking the ratification of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Spain and France in the Spanish Senate [1].

The move creates a diplomatic impasse between two of Europe's largest economies. By leveraging its absolute majority in the Senate [2], the opposition party is preventing the government led by Pedro Sánchez from finalizing a strategic partnership intended to strengthen bilateral ties.

The treaty was originally signed between the two nations in February 2023 [3]. Despite the agreement, the PP said that specific provisions within the document are illegal. Specifically, the party said that a clause allowing joint ministerial meetings violates three articles of the Spanish Constitution [1], [4].

This legislative battle follows a period of volatility in the treaty's path to approval. Reports indicated the treaty returned to Congress for review on June 7, 2026 [5]. Subsequently, the Congress approved the treaty and forwarded it to the Senate on June 18, 2026, despite opposition from the PP and Vox [6].

The PP said the Sánchez government is engaging in partisan obstruction of bilateral relations with France [1]. The party said that the government's refusal to amend the contested clauses constitutes a breach of constitutional law. The dispute reached a head during a plenary session of the Senate in Madrid, where the PP used its voting power to halt the process [1].

The government has sought to push the treaty through to solidify cooperation on security, migration, and economic policy. However, the PP said the current wording of the treaty grants too much authority to joint ministerial bodies, which they said undermines national sovereignty [1].

“The PP said that a clause allowing joint ministerial meetings violates three articles of the Spanish Constitution.”

The blockage of this treaty illustrates the deep political polarization within Spain, where domestic constitutional disputes are impacting international diplomacy. Because the PP holds an absolute majority in the Senate, the Sánchez government cannot bypass the opposition to finalize the agreement. This delay risks straining the relationship with France and may force the government to either renegotiate the treaty's terms or face a prolonged diplomatic stalemate.