On 5 February 1979, the inaugural session of the ministerial negotiations with Spain on accession to the European Communities is held in Brussels, chaired by Roy Jenkins, President of the Commission of the European Communities, and Jean François-Poncet, French Foreign Minister, who both address the gathering on the various stages of the accession process. Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo y Bustelo, Spanish Minister for Relations with the European Communities, and Marcelino Oreja Aguirre, Spanish Foreign Minister, also give their views on this historic moment.

In this interview, Jordi Pujol, President of Catalonia from 1980 to 2003, discusses the concept of a ‘United States of Europe’ and considers the European social model and the European soft power approach. He also emphasises Catalonia’s ongoing European vocation and its contributions to Spain’s general governability. Finally, he mentions the consequences of the creative tension caused by the centre-periphery relationship in Europe.

In this interview, Marcelino Oreja, Spanish Foreign Minister from 1976 to 1980, describes the stages in Spain’s rapprochement to the European Communities since the country’s democratic transition. He also mentions the reactions of the representatives of the Community institutions, the Council of Europe and the other Member States to the opening of accession negotiations.

In this interview, Marcelino Oreja, President of the Royal Academy of Moral and Political Sciences since 2009, describes the need to involve citizens in the European integration process through the media and educational curriculums. He also examines the role of new information and communication technologies and gives his views on fundamental European values based on human respect and dignity. Finally, he analyses the development of a Europeanist sentiment in Spain and defines the European Union as a permanent construction which upholds freedom and solidarity as major European values.

In this interview, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, a Member of the European Parliament from 1992 to 2011, a Member of the Convention on the Charter of Fundamental Rights and a Member of the Convention on the Future of Europe, emphasises Spain’s role as a mediator between the EU and third countries, particularly Latin America.

In this interview, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, a Member of the European Parliament from 1992 to 2011, a Member of the Convention on the Charter of Fundamental Rights and a Member of the Convention on the Future of Europe, reflects on the political and ethical imperatives that led to the EU’s eastward enlargement, on the fears raised by this enlargement and on the question of the EU’s geographical borders.

In this interview excerpt, Enrique Barón Crespo, Spanish Member of Parliament (1977–1982) and Minister for Transport, Communications and Tourism (1982–1985), analyses the context of Spain’s accession to the European Communities: the vision and support of the various Spanish political parties, the role of Spanish exiles, the issues surrounding accession to NATO, the attitude of the other EC Member States, the position of Spanish trade unions and the efforts to ‘educate’ the Spanish people to a better understanding of the European integration process.