The title of the 2005 Conference was “Travel Retail Trading in the New Era of Travel”. José María Aznar, the man who led Spain economically and culturally back to the forefront of Europe during his tenure as Spain's President, enlightened delegates with his views on the global economy, the expansion of Europe, terrorism and their ramifications for the prospects of travel retail trading. In his keynote address Jose Maria Aznar called passionately for European reform as the only way to secure economic growth. He coupled his summary of the political, economic and social issues facing the travel retail industry with a resolute statement that the world has to take a firm and unerring stance against terrorism. José María Aznar José María Aznar was born in Madrid in 1953. He studied a Degree in Law at the Complutense University and has held the qualification of Inspector of State Finances since 1975.
He is the President of FAES (Foundation for Social Studies and Analysis). He is also a Distinguished Scholar at Georgetown University, where, starting in Autumn 2004, he will teach various seminars on contemporary European politics at the Edmund A. Walsh School. He is the Chairman of the Partido Popular, and of Christian Democrat and People’s Parties International (CDI).
He became President of the Spanish Government (Prime Minister) in 1996, following the electoral success of the Partido Popular. Following the party's repeated success at the polls in the year 2000, this time obtaining an absolute majority, Aznar was elected again. He held the Presidency up until the Elections of 2004, during which he voluntarily stood down in favor of a new candidate.
Throughout his time as President of the Government, he led a significant process of economic and social reform. | 
