Spain's Road to the European Community: Accession and Challenges
European Integration and Spain's Accession
Post-World War II: The Drive for Unity
After World War II, Europe first realized that its power as a global force had diminished. The focus immediately shifted to achieving economic development. The formation of the European Association was supported by initiatives like the Marshall Plan, which helped optimize investment strategies.
The initial community was formed by Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg (the Benelux countries), France, and Germany. These nations were acutely aware of the need to link their economies to avoid political tension and division.
Spain Under Franco: The Democratic Hurdle
During the Franco regime, Spain repeatedly attempted to enter the European Community. However, the consistent response from the Community was that Spain was not a democracy.
The Path to Membership (1977–1986)
Following the death of Franco and the establishment of the first democratic elections, Spain formally submitted its request for accession to Europe in 1977. The European Community responded to the new government, stating it was ready to negotiate. Formal business negotiations began in 1979.
Major Negotiation Challenges
A significant problem during negotiations was the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). European agricultural production was heavily subsidized (subvencionada).
- Major contributors, such as Germany, provided a large quantity of money to Europe. However, much of this money was spent on non-productive activities, leading some members to oppose the negotiations.
- Germany, conversely, had a major interest in Spain's entry because Spain represented a large, valuable market for German goods.
Tensions with France
France raised the most significant tensions regarding Spain's entry, viewing the process as highly complex. The public campaign surrounding the negotiations was very noisy.
A key point of contention was Fishing:
- Competition between the Spanish and French fishing fleets led to strong and protracted negotiations.
- Prime Minister Felipe González negotiated intensely, leading to a necessary change in the direction of the talks.
Spain Joins the European Community (1986)
Spain finally achieved full membership in the European Community in 1986. Entry brought subsequent challenges, including:
- Ecological standards (Ekologia)
- Cohesion Funds (Kohesio funds)
- Adjusting to EU regulations and maintaining competitive pricing (interpreted from 'ESP banned, expensive prices to keep').
In recent years, while Europe has gained certain advantages, Spain has sometimes lost competitive ground to other countries.
Current Steps in Integration
The Association has continued to deepen its integration, making significant decisions both economically and politically:
- Economically: The agreement on the single currency (the Euro).
- Politically: Direct elections for the European Parliament.