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The acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. José Manuel García-Margallo, decorated today with the medal Encomienda de Número de la Orden del Mérito Civil  AGENCIA EFE’s Chairman, Mr. José Antonio Vera, and high-ranking officers from other media for their contribution to the Marca España.

The President of the Capital magazine, Mr. Alejandro Suárez Sánchez-Ocaña was distinguished with the Encomienda; while RTVE’s Chairman, Mr. José Antonio Sánchez was granted the Encomienda de Número, as did the Editor in chief of the ABC daily, Mr. Bieito Rubido, the Editor in chief of the Expansión financial magazine, Ms. Ana Isabel Pereda, and the journalist Ms. Gloria Lomana, who headed the News department of the TV station Antena 3 during 13 years.

The distinction is awarded by King Felipe VI and, on his behalf, by the holder of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

Agreement for promoting the Marca España

In 2012, the High Commissioner of the Spanish Government for Marca España, Mr. Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros, signed with EFE’s Chairman a collaboration agreement for promoting and improving Spain’s projection abroad, the first concluded by that institution.

Mr. Espinosa de los Monteros highlighted then the importance of an alliance which, in order to succeed, had to diffuse and promote also the brand within Spain.

In today’s ceremony, the acting Minister Mr. García-Margallo, pointed out that Spain has traditionally – and continues having – an “image problem”.

But thanks to the “enthusiasm” of the current High Commissioner, public servants, of those being decorated today, and in general, of all Spaniards, he stated that this problem has been overcome and that the country is progressing forward.

'These medals are embedded with all the affection of Marca España', he stressed.

Mr. Espinosa de los Monteros reiterated that these prizes recognize the good work carried out for our country, both here and abroad.

Marca España constitutes a long-term policy of the Spanish State, whose goal is improving our country’s image, both domestically and abroad, with regard to the economic, cultural, scientific, and technological fields.

The acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. José Manuel García-Margallo (fourth on the right), and the High Commissioner of the Spanish Government for Marca España, Mr. Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros (left), decorated today with the Encomienda de Número de la Orden del Mérito Civil to Agencia EFE’s Chairman, Mr. José Antonio Vera (second on the right), and officers from other media for their contribution to Marca España. The President of the Capital magazine, Mr. Alejandro Suárez Sánchez-Ocaña (second on the left) was granted the Encomienda; and the editor in chief of the ABC daily, Mr. Bieito Rubido (third on the left) received the Encomienda de Número, as did the Editor in chief of the financial daily Expansión, Ms. Ana Isabel Pereda (third on the left), the journalist Ms. Gloria Lomana (third on the right) – who headed the News department at the TV station Antena 3 for 13 years – and RTVE’s Chairman., José Antonio Sánchez (right).

AGENCIA EFE and Grupo SEPI

The Spanish state-owned news agency AGENCIA EFE belongs to  Grupo SEPI, a corporate holding which includes a total of 16 state-owned companies in which it has direct, majority shareholding participations, with a workforce of around 73,000 professionals in 2014; the Spanish state-owned television and radio corporation, Corporación Radiotelevisión Española, which is attached to SEPI, and one public foundation. Equally, SEPI has direct minority shareholdings in a further ten companies, and indirect shareholdings in more than one hundred companies.