Spain’s Role in the EU and NATO: From Maastricht to Today
Spain in the Europe of Maastricht
The Treaty of Maastricht was the result of a project initiated by Jacques Delors, Felipe González, and others. The new European Union increased economic and monetary union as a prelude to greater political integration. The Amsterdam Treaty reviewed the results of Maastricht and agreed to move forward in achieving its objectives. Agenda 2000 outlined the goals set for the 21st century, including strengthening and expansion eastward.
Enlargement and Reform of the European Union
After the enlargement of the EU in 1995, which incorporated Finland, Sweden, and Austria, the process of accession of Eastern European countries began with the inclusion of ten new states. In 2007, Romania and Bulgaria joined. These expansions necessitated changes to the EU’s structure and operating rules. Thus, the Treaty of Nice came into force in 2003, reforming the Amsterdam Treaty:
- Acceptance of the concept of a two-speed Europe: acknowledging that a group of states could adopt measures without the commitment of others, moving away from the need for unanimous agreement.
- Approval of institutional reforms, changing some agencies to streamline operations after enlargement.
The Draft European Constitution
According to the Maastricht Treaty, the union was intended to be a prelude to further political integration, leading to a draft European constitution. The Nice Treaty negotiations had placed Spain in a Eurosceptic position due to misgivings about the financing of the EU’s eastward enlargement and the distribution of power within institutions to new members. The Aznar government shifted strategic priorities, moving away from Spain’s traditional link to the Franco-German axis towards a new alignment with the United States and Britain.
This reorientation of foreign policy did not continue under Zapatero, who restored the priority with the European Union. Spain was the first state to submit the constitutional text to a referendum, where it was accepted by most voters. However, the ratification of the text remained paralyzed.
The Treaty of Lisbon
An attempt to resolve the crisis opened by the suspension of the draft constitution was the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon, which offered a reduced vision of the constitution. It introduced the following changes:
- A President of the European Council.
- Strengthening the role of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
- End of the veto power.
Spain’s Entry into NATO
In 1982, the UCD government requested Spain’s entry into NATO, a military organization led by the United States and founded in 1949 during the Cold War. The left opposed the admission. After coming to power, Felipe González called for a referendum in which he defended staying in NATO under certain conditions: not participating in its military structure, renegotiating the treaty with the United States, and ending the status of U.S. bases.
Spain’s incorporation into NATO was intended to modernize the army and end coup attempts. In 1995, the socialist Javier Solana was appointed Secretary-General of NATO, a position he held until 1999 when he was appointed High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union. In 1998, Spain joined the military structure of the organization, and it was accomplished that the headquarters be located in Madrid.
Spanish Military Interventions
As a member of the organization, Spain has had to respond to its commitments and, therefore, actively participate in troop deployments:
- The first Spanish intervention was conducted in 1991 in the first Gulf War.
- In 1999, Spain performed support tasks in the bombing of Serb strategic objectives.
The War Against Terrorism
The 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon changed the military strategy of the United States and, consequently, of NATO. Operation Enduring Freedom saw NATO forces intervene in Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban regime. Spain sent a military contingent to the vicinity of Herat. Attacks by the Taliban on these forces and Spanish vehicles have been constant.
The Spanish government, led by Aznar, fully endorsed Bush’s foreign policy, which involved the war against Islamist terrorism. This did not align with the general view of Spanish society and reached its peak in 2003 when Aznar attended the Azores Summit to legitimize the imminent intervention in Iraq. Spain deployed forces despite the opposition of all political parties except the PP.
The Change of Strategy
The first decision by the Zapatero government was the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Zapatero opted for the Alliance of Civilizations, promoting collaboration between Western and Muslim states. Zapatero’s proposal has gained growing international support.