Bilateral Spanish-Norwegian political relations have traditionally passed in a tone of friendship and cordiality, with a continuing political dialogue on issues of mutual interest. This bilateral relationship has important permanent assets, such as the excellent relationship between the Royal Houses of both countries and the numerous personal contacts created by the flow of more than one million Norwegians who visit Spain annually (almost ¼ of the population), being Spain the main tourist destination of the Norwegians, which generates a stream of sympathy and a growing interest in
Spanish culture and
language. Furthermore, Norwegians are the fastest growing European community in
Arguineguín,
Mazarrón,
Torrevieja, and
l'Alfàs del Pi (the latter being the second largest colony of Norwegians in the world, only behind
London). Approximately 50,000 Norwegians call Spain their home (almost 1% of the population of Norway). Spain and Norway also maintain a positive collaboration in multilateral organizations, especially in United Nations. Spain and Norway have also been the two co-sponsors of the V World Congress against the death penalty, which was held in Madrid in June 2013. Government-to-government relations, for their part, maintain a positive tone in all its dimensions, with some important elements of bilateral cooperation, such as defense. There is a certain mutual bilateral interest, since the Spanish armed forces are interested in using the training resources in conditions of extreme cold available to the Norwegian armed forces and, reciprocally, the Norwegian armed forces have an interest in training in arid climates such as those that exist in some areas of Spain. The good level of bilateral relations does not prevent, however, that there is a point where divergences are maintained: fishing in the
Svalbard archipelago. Leaving the legal issue in the background safe, the fisheries authorities of both countries hold regular technical conversations to clarify the framework in which Spanish fishing activity takes place in Norway. == Economic relations ==