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Introduction Shown   times Since it was founded in 2002, the Elcano Royal Institute’s research activity has essentially focused on a series of themes and geographical areas: Europe, Latin America, the Mediterranean and the Arab World, the United States and Transatlantic Dialogue, the Asia-Pacific region, Sub-Saharan Africa, Security and Defence, Economy and International Trade, International Cooperation and Development, Spain’s Image Abroad and Public Opinion, Demographics and Population, Language and Culture, International Organisations and, finally, International Terrorism. However, given the unpredictability of the international scenario –and its direct effect on Spain’s interests and action overseas– since 2007 the Institute’s priorities have focused on a series of multi-year Programmes. While not entirely dispensing with its traditional research structure, over the course of 2007 the Institute engaged in various programmes that concentrated its human and material resources on issues that, given their special interest and relevance, were considered to be top priorities. What are the Elcano Royal Institute’s Programmes? Elcano’s programmes seek to address –with a high standard of quality and using transversal methodologies– the aspects and problems of today’s international scenario for which the Institute is expected to provide a particularly well-qualified response. Each programme is led by a Director and taking part in them are analysts whose research is in some way connected to the subject matter. By their very nature, the programmes generally follow thematic rather than geographical criteria and, depending on the case, they can count on the support of research assistants and trainees. Programmes approved under the Action Plan for 2010 1. Spain’s Global Presence Director: Ignacio Molina, Senior Analyst for Europe. 2. Energy and Climate Change: Challenges and Responses Director: Gonzalo Escribano, Director of Energy and Climate Change Programme. 3. The Priorities of Global Security Directors: Félix Arteaga, Senior Analyst for Security and Defence, and Fernando Reinares, Senior Analyst for International Terrorism and Professor of Political Science at the King Juan Carlos University. 4. Spain and the Bicentennials Director: Jaime Otero Roth, Senior Analyst for Language and Culture, with the cooperation of Carlos Malamud, Professor of the History of America at the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) and Senior Analyst for Latin America. Besides these four programmes, in 2010 the Institute will pursue an additional line of research on ‘The Future of the European Union: the Spanish Presidency and the Implementation of the Lisbon Treaty’. The common theme running through this series of projects is an analysis of the process of European integration, Spain’s policy towards the EU and the EU’s role as a player on the global stage.

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