Spain’s Integration into NATO and the European Union
**International Integration: NATO and Europe**
During the transition, domestic politics dominated over foreign affairs. However, democratization and Europeanization occurred in parallel.
**Government of UCD**
After the 1977 elections, the government of Adolfo Suárez presented the request to join the European Common Market. This was reinforced by the adoption of the Spanish Constitution via referendum in December 1978. Joining the European Common Market was a priority for Spanish democracy and vital to its economy because half of its exports were directed to that market. Obstacles arose related to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and potentially disadvantaged regions. Agricultural problems were raised on two fronts: the damage to the sales of French farmers and British reticence. The inclusion of countries like Spain, Portugal, and Greece, which failed to enter, would be costly through the Cohesion Fund, which would be received by the most disadvantaged regions. The French President, Giscard d’Estaing, a centrist, said the community should avoid any extension without having resolved the problems of the last, and negotiation with Spain remained paralyzed.
**PSOE Government**
The governments of Felipe González (1982-86, 1989, 1993) conducted a foreign policy aimed at realizing the importance of Spain and its integration into the EEC. After the Socialist victory of 1982, negotiations intensified, and in 1985, definitive agreements were reached. Spain, along with Portugal, became a member state of the EEC.
The absolute majority enjoyed by the PSOE, the consensus on European policy, and economic expansion in the second half of the 1980s eased the process. On June 12, 1985, the Treaty of Madrid was signed, and on January 1, 1986, Spain became a member of the European Community by law. There was a consensus among political forces, confirmed by unanimous integration at the Congress and the Senate. With entry into the EEC, many laws were changed, especially economic ones, such as the introduction of VAT and new rules on production, consumption, and customs. After that, transcendent agreements were made, such as the signing of the Single European Act in 1986, which reflected the goals of creating an intra-European market without borders and strengthening political cohesion among its members. It would take effect in 1987. On December 11, 1991, the Maastricht Treaty was signed, creating the European Union. This was a step towards political and economic unification. It recognized the rights of European citizenship, free movement and residence of persons, and a single market through monetary union with a common currency to be called the ECU and later the Euro. In 1995, three new countries with good economic foundations joined: Sweden, Finland, and Austria, which have helped the Maastricht agreement. In recent years, countries have sought to fulfill the convergence criteria for adopting the euro as their single currency: an inflation rate not exceeding 2%, public debt not exceeding 60% of GDP, and a deficit no greater than 3% of GDP.
**Government of PP**
In 1998, eleven countries signed the agreement that established the European Central Bank with a monetary policy that set a single interest rate for all member countries. At this time, Spain liberalized its economy and improved its technology and infrastructure. It was a country of emigrants; the market has been favorable since 1993. The economy depends on the EU, to which it exports; the trade balance is favorable to Spain, especially in tourism. Current challenges are grouped into two camps: the debate on cohesion funds and the globalization of the world economy, with the creation of the WTO and the OECD proposals.
**NATO Integration**
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a military organization established in April 1949 by the Western powers, led by the U.S., to deal with the expansionism of the USSR. In 1981, bilateral agreements with the U.S. had to be revised. AP and UCD believed in Spain’s integration into NATO. The left wing (PSOE, PCE) and peace movements opposed the maintenance of American bases and NATO membership.
Calvo Sotelo’s government decided to incorporate Spain into NATO, breaking consensus to stabilize the domestic situation of the armed forces and force the entry of Spain into the EEC. Calvo Sotelo decided to proceed without a referendum, and in March 1982, the courts agreed to incorporate Spain, with the opposition of the PCE and PSOE. The PSOE promoted a change in its foreign policy. Fernando Morán was revealed as foreign minister and was replaced by the social democrat Fernández Ordóñez, a clear Atlanticist. On May 12, 1986, after Spain entered the EEC, the promised referendum on remaining in NATO was held.
Integration into the NATO military structure occurred in 1997 under the government of Aznar’s PP, supported by the PSOE. Spain was forced to participate with aircraft in the Serb-Kosovo war in the former Yugoslavia. With Spain’s permanence in NATO and its integration into the European Union, international isolation ended, and the modernization of the armed forces was promoted to the point of eliminating compulsory military service in 2001, with the intention of forming a professionalized army.
Spain is part of the WEU, a military defense agency that falls within the European Union. Its purpose is to act in Europe on peace missions and to strengthen the European pillar of NATO. Spain has participated in humanitarian missions under the United Nations. In conclusion, in the 30 years since the death of Franco, Spain has overcome its backwardness compared to the rest of the European world and is now part of all international organizations, like the UN.