The National Security Council (, CSN) is the advisory body used by the prime minister of Spain for consideration of national security and crisis management. It is based in the Palace of Moncloa, along with the Department of National Security.
It was established as a government delegated committee in 2013 by prime minister Mariano Rajoy to replace the Government Delegated Committee for Crisis Management within the framework of the 2012 National Security Strategy. CSN meetings are chaired by the prime minister, except when the monarch attends them.
Functions According to the National Security Act 36/2015 (LSN), CSN has the following functions: To dictate the necessary guidelines in the planning and coordination of the National Security policy. To direct and coordinate by Royal Decree the actions of management of crisis situations in the terms foreseen in Title III of the LSN. To supervise and coordinate, by Royal Decree, the National Security System. Verify the degree of compliance with the National Security Strategy and promote its revisions. Promote and encourage the development of the necessary second level strategies and, if necessary, proceed to their approval, as well as their periodic reviews. Organize by Royal Decree, the contribution of resources to National Security in accordance with the provisions of the LSN. To approve the Annual National Security Report before its presentation in the Cortes Generales. Agree the creation and strengthening of the necessary support organs for the performance of their functions. To promote the necessary normative proposals for the strengthening of the National Security System. Carry out the other functions attributed to it by the applicable legal and regulatory provisions. To advise and inform the Monarch at least once a year. The Sovereign will chair meetings when present. In case of crisis: The National Security Council shall determine the liaison and coordination mechanisms necessary for the National Security System to be activated in a preventive manner and to monitor the situations likely to arise in a situation of National Security interest. In the situation of interest to the National Security, the President of the Government will call the National Security Council to exercise the functions of management and coordination of the management of said Situation, all without prejudice to the application of the legislation in matters of National Defense and of the powers that correspond to the Council of Ministers. In cases where the President of the Government decides to designate a functional authority for the promotion and coordinated management of the actions, the National Security Council will advise on the appointment of such authority. The National Security Council shall advise the President of the Government when the situation requires the application of exceptional measures provided for in the crisis management instruments of the international organizations of which Spain is a member, without prejudice to the powers of the Ministers and of the provisions in the legislation on National Defense.
Membership ImageMemberOffice(s)Felipe VI(Co-Chair)King of SpainPedro Sánchez(Co-Chair)Prime MinisterCarlos CuerpoFirst Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of Economy, Trade and BusinessYolanda DíazSecond Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of Labour and Social EconomySara AagesenThird Deputy Prime MinisterMinister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic ChallengeJosé Manuel AlbaresMinister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and CooperationFélix BolañosMinister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the CortesFirst Notary of the KingdomSecretary of the Council of MinistersMargarita RoblesMinister of DefenceArcadi EspañaMinister of FinanceFernando Grande-MarlaskaMinister of the InteriorÓscar PuenteMinister of Transport and Sustainable MobilityJordi HereuMinister of Industry and TourismMónica GarcíaMinister of HealthDiana MorantMinister of Science, Innovation and UniversitiesÓscar LópezMinister for Digital Transformation and Civil ServiceDiego Rubio(Secretary)Moncloa Chief of StaffDiego Martínez BelíoSecretary of State for Foreign Affairs Aina CalvoSecretary of State for SecurityAdmiral generalTeodoro E. López CalderónChief of the Defence StaffEsperanza CasteleiroDirector of the National Intelligence CentreBrigadier generalLoreto Gutiérrez Hurtado(Technical Secretary)Director of the Department of National Security Sub-committees
The National Security Act, in its article 21, section 1, letter h, grants the Council the power to create support bodies to carry out its functions.
Since 2013, nine support bodies have been created: NameChairDeputy ChairCreatedSituation CommitteeThe Minister of the PresidencyThe Prime Minister's Chief of Staff2013National Cybersecurity CouncilThe Director of the National Intelligence CentreThe Director of the Department of National Security2013National Maritime Safety CouncilThe Chief of the Defence Staff2013Specialized Immigration CommitteeThe Secretary of State for Security2017Specialized Committee on Energy SecurityThe Secretary of State for Energy2017Specialized Non-Proliferation CommitteeThe Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs2017Specialized Committee against TerrorismThe Secretary of State for Security2020National Aerospace Safety CouncilThe Chief of the Defence Staff2020Specialized Committee against Organized Crime and Serious CrimeThe Secretary of State for Security2024
Meetings Since its inception, the National Security Council has convened 48 times.