Rajoy's first trip abroad in 2013 is to Algiers to attend the 5th High Level Meeting  between Spain and Algeria.

The economic crisis, the situation of the 'Arab Spring' countries and the terrorist threat across the Sahel will be some of the main issues that will be discussed at the summit.

The Prime Minister will cross the Atlantic to Chile in late January to participate on the 26th and 27th in the European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Summit, which will be attended by many leaders of both parties.

Other European representatives who have confirmed their participation in this summit, besides Rajoy, are French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.