On 8 August 1977, before Spain applies for accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), the French weekly magazine L'Express analyses the economic situation in the country and reports on concerns in France and Italy about the Spanish application.

On 31 August 1977, a press release published by the Élysée sets out France’s position regarding Spain’s application for accession to the European Communities.

On 20 September 1977, during the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community (EEC), Jean Taittinger, French Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, conveys his Government's concerns over Spain's application for accession to the European Communities.

On 14 November 1978, on the eve of the opening of negotiations for Portugal’s accession to the European Communities, the British daily newspaper The Guardian reviews Portugal’s economic situation.

In December 1983, the French monthly newspaper Le Monde diplomatique analyses the consequences for French industry of Spain’s accession to the European Communities.

On 21 December 1979, in a long interview given to the daily newspaper La Libre Belgique, the Spanish Foreign Minister, Marcelino Oreja, defends Spain's European and Western vocation.

On 26 June 1982, British daily newspaper The Guardian reports on France’s hesitations over the question of Spanish accession to the European Communities.

On 31 July 1982, Charles Haughey, Irish Prime Minister, writes a letter to Gaston Thorn, President of the European Commission, in which he emphasises the significance of a close analysis of the financial and economic impact of the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Communities.

On 2 August 1982, Wilfried Martens, the Belgian Prime Minister, informs Gaston Thorn, President of the European Commission, of Belgium’s political support for the enlargement process, despite the institutional and budgetary implications thereof.

On 5 August 1982, the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, outlines to Gaston Thorn, President of the European Commission, the United Kingdom’s views on the enlargement of the European Communities to include Spain and Portugal.

On 10 August 1982, the French President, François Mitterrand, outlines to Gaston Thorn, President of the European Commission, France’s opinion on the enlargement of the European Communities to include Spain and Portugal.

On 17 September 1982, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany informs Gaston Thorn, President of the European Commission, of the problems raised for the European Communities by the accession of Spain and Portugal.

On 25 September 1982, Giovanni Spadolini, President of the Italian Council, forwards a list of problems to Gaston Thorn, President of the European Commission, which must be resolved before the conclusion of negotiations concerning the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Communities.

„Bitte warten...“. Am 25. Februar 1984 spottet der deutsche Karikaturist Walter Hanel über den schleppenden Beitrittsprozess Spaniens und Portugals zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften und veranschaulicht die Vorbehalte Frankreichs, der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (BRD) und des Vereinigten Königreichs gegenüber der bevorstehenden Erweiterung. Von links nach rechts: Im strömenden Regen warten der in Lumpen gekleidete Präsident der spanischen Regierung, Felipe González, mit einem Obstkorb und sein portugiesischer Amtskollege auf den Einzug ins Europahaus, das, wenig einladend und heruntergekommen, wie eine Ruine anmutet. Am Eingang steht der französische Staatspräsident François Mitterrand und bedeutet den beiden Kandidaten zu warten; allerdings macht es den Eindruck, als ob sich diese Wartezeit unendlich in die Länge zieht. Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl und sein Außenminister Hans-Dietrich Genscher beobachten die Szene hinter einem Mauerstück versteckt aus dem Hintergrund, während die britische Premierministerin Margaret Thatcher die Angelegenheit von oben aus einem Turm verfolgt, auf dem die britische Flagge weht.

On 30 March 1985, the French Communist daily newspaper L’Humanité harshly criticises the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 14 June 1985, the French daily newspaper Le Monde examines the hopes and fears of Portugal on the issue of its accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

‘No comment’. In October 1985, in the light of the forthcoming accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Communities, cartoonist Hans Geisen raises the thorny question of imports of Mediterranean agricultural produce to the Communities.

On 5 December 1985, the French daily newspaper Le Monde comments on the agreement reached by the Ten two days earlier in Dublin on the reform of the common organisation of the market in wine undertaken so as to facilitate the enlargement of the European Communities to include Spain and Portugal.

In diesem Interview beschreibt die ehemalige französische Staatssekretärin für Europäische Angelegenheiten Catherine Lalumière die Haltung Frankreichs und die Herausforderungen in der letzten Phase der Verhandlungen über den Beitritt Spaniens und Portugals zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften in den Jahren 1984 und 1985.

In diesem Interview beschreibt die ehemalige französische Staatssekretärin für Europäische Angelegenheiten Catherine Lalumière die Zurückhaltung vor allem in der französischen Landwirtschaft und Politik gegenüber dem möglichen Beitritt Spaniens und Portugals zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften in den Jahren 1984 und 1985.

In diesem Interview beschreibt die ehemalige französische Staatssekretärin für Europäische Angelegenheiten Catherine Lalumière die Haltung der Zehn gegenüber den Beitrittsperspektiven Spaniens und Portugals zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften und unterstreicht dabei die Rolle, die der italienische Außenminister und amtierende Vorsitzende im Rat der Europäischen Gemeinschaften Giulio Andreotti im ersten Halbjahr des Jahres 1985 in der letzten Verhandlungsphase spielte.

In this interview, Jean François-Poncet, former Secretary-General of the Presidency of the French Republic and former French Foreign Minister, discusses the issues surrounding the possible accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Communities and the importance of agricultural issues in this matter.

On 26 July 1977, in the context of negotiations for the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Communities, France submits a memorandum to the European Commission, calling for an urgent revision of Community regulations concerning Mediterranean agricultural products.

On 30 July 1977, commenting on Spain’s application for accession to the European Communities, the French Communist daily newspaper L’Humanité reports on the threats that a possible enlargement of the EEC would represent for French agriculture.

On 13 September 1978, the French daily newspaper Le Monde gives a description of Spanish agriculture and outlines the fears of French farmers at Spain’s accession to the European Common Market.

On 17 November 1982, the European Parliament adopts a resolution on the impact of the accession of Spain and Portugal on the agricultural policy of the Ten.

Am 7. Dezember 1984 kommt Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl vor dem deutschen Bundestag auf die Einfuhr von Agrarprodukten aus den Mittelmeerländern zu sprechen.

‘Come in!’ In February 1985, with a view to the forthcoming accession of Portugal and Spain to the European Communities, the German cartoonist, Horst Haitzinger, illustrates the impact of enlargement on agriculture.

In March 1985, the French monthly magazine Le Monde Diplomatique discusses the situation of Spanish agriculture on the eve of that country's accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 12 June 1985, the French daily newspaper Le Monde examines the position of Spain’s agricultural community towards the issue of Spain’s membership of the European Economic Community (EEC).

According to a report published in the Spanish daily newspaper El País on 16 July 1985, Frans Andriessen, Vice-President of the European Commission with special responsibility for agriculture and fisheries, warns of potential difficulties ahead when the terms for Spanish accession to the European Communities are applied.

In diesem Interview spricht Helmut von Verschuer über die Unterschiede bei den Verhandlungen mit Spanien und Portugal über den Beitritt zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften.

Table showing the change in the agricultural area covered by orange groves, vineyards, olive groves, apple orchards and pear plantations in Mediterranean countries between 1983 and 1988.

Table showing the total amount of agricultural products imported by the Community from Greece, Spain and Portugal from 1975 to 1976.

Table showing changes in the working farm population in the European Community from 1973 to 1985.

Table showing the development of the agricultural labour force in thousands of people, and in the number of people per 100ha of usable agricultural area, in the countries of the European Community during the 1980s.

Table showing the development of immigration in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg between 1957 and 1988.

Table showing the development of unemployment in the countries of Community Europe between 1983 and 1993.

In 1978, in a communication to the Council, the Commission of the European Communities presents the main principles of its action programme for the introduction of differentiated transitional periods enabling Greece, Portugal and Spain to adapt to the European acquis communautaire.

On 18 October 1978, reporting on the negotiations for Portuguese accession to the European Communities, the Lisbon daily newspaper Diário de Notícias discusses the problems of the transitional period in respect of agricultural issues and relating to the free movement of workers, services and capital.

Am 22. März 1984 analysiert die spanische Tageszeitung El País die Haltung Spaniens in den Verhandlungen über die Einfuhr von landwirtschaftlichen Erzeugnissen in den Gemeinsamen Markt.

On 14 March 1985, the European Parliament adopts a resolution on the problems caused by the fisheries policy during the negotiations for the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Communities.

On 30 March 1985, the day after political agreement was reached between the Community of Ten and the two acceding countries, Spain and Portugal, the French Communist daily newspaper L’Humanité gives a mixed report of the accession negotiations.

On 13 June 1985, the French newspaper Le Monde examines reactions within the Spanish industrial sector to this country's accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

Table showing the calendar for the accession of Spain to the European Communities as well as the main provisions of the transitional period from 1 January 1987 to 1 January 1996.

On 9 July 1985, addressing the National Assembly in Lisbon, Ernâni Rodrigues Lopes, Portuguese Finance Minister, outlines the scope of the temporary derogations granted to Portugal as part of the terms for its accession to the European Communities.

In December 1985, in connection with the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Economic Community, the French periodical La pêche maritime analyses the repercussions of extending fisheries policies to a wider Europe.