cooperation. The Spanish position also advocates strengthening the European framework for Justice and Home Affairs. The progress towards an EU with greater capabilities and effectiveness in these areas—more cohesive and with a closer relationship to NATO—benefits the security of European citizens as a whole, and of Spaniards in par ticular. Brexit also means that the British colony of Gibraltar—an anachronism in today’s Europe—will be leaving the EU. As friends and allies with shared interests, the United Kingdom and Spain, must broach security issues through the search for positive cooperation, especially in an area of maximum strategic relevance such as the Strait of Gibraltar. NATO constitutes the foundation of collective defence in Europe. Spain, as reflected by its par ticipation in the missions approved in recent years, both to the south and the east of the Euroatlantic area, wants to continue contributing to a revamped NATO adapted to the current environment, one that launches different practical initiatives for cooperation on capabilities and specialization. In this sense, Spain must take on the economic commitments agreed to as par t of the necessary sharing of responsibilities and effor ts among allies. In an environment of greater tensions in Europe, where frozen conflicts continue or even revive, the instruments of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are more necessary than ever in order to prevent and manage conflicts, establish confidence-building measures and launch new collective initiatives. Russia is an impor tant strategic actor, and a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, which is why its par ticipation is essential to the search for multilateral solutions to the challenges facing international society. The illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia, and its actions in eastern Ukraine, have caused a deterioration in Europe’s security situation. Spain is committed to a common strategic position within the framework of the EU and Presidency of the Government National Security Strategy 2017 41