Francisco Fonseca, Director of the European Commission Representation in Spain, discusses his professional career in the European institutions and gives his views on the process leading to Spain’s accession to the European Communities, which he describes as the search for a role within an increasingly integrated Europe. He also analyses the parallel and interdependent nature of Spain’s transition to democracy and its accession to the European Communities, and the difficulties in achieving a balance between the obligations of the internal market and the requirements of the cohesion policy. Finally, he discusses the frontiers of the European integration process and the need for further development of the European Union’s neighbourhood policy.

Interview with Josep Borrell Fontelles, Spanish Minister for Public Works (1991–1996), Member of the European Parliament (1996–2004), Member of the Convention on the Future of Europe (2002–2003) and President of the European Parliament (2004–2007), carried out by the Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l’Europe (CVCE) on 13 July 2011 in San Domenico di Fiesole (Florence). The interview was conducted by Cristina Blanco Sío-López, a Researcher at the CVCE, and particularly focuses on the following subjects: the origins of his European commitment; Spain’s accession to the European Communities; the EU’s interinstitutional relations and, in particular, the role of the European Parliament and the Socialist Group in the European integration process; the Convention on the Future of Europe; the potential of the Treaty of Lisbon; and his experience at the head of the Joint Committee for EU Affairs, the European Parliament and the European University Institute.

In this interview excerpt, Enrique Barón Crespo, Member (1986–2009) and President (1989–1992) of the European Parliament, analyses the implications and constraints of the successive enlargements of the European Community, the value of enhanced cooperation in this context and Spain’s changing position in the light of the ensuing migration flows.

In this interview excerpt, Enrique Barón Crespo, Member (1986–2009) and President (1989–1992) of the European Parliament, compares the experience of federalism in Spain with federalism at European Union level.

In this interview excerpt, Enrique Barón Crespo, Member (1986–2009) and President (1989–1992) of the European Parliament, analyses the development of Spain’s relations with the countries of Latin America, the Arab world and the ACP states. He also mentions the relationship with the United States in connection with a European defence policy and raises the question of exporting the European democratic experience across the world.

In this interview excerpt, Enrique Barón Crespo, Member (1986–2009) and President (1989–1992) of the European Parliament, analyses the changing role of the European Parliament in supervising the EU budget, the impact of the EU Structural Funds in Spain, and the main elements of the European social model.

Transcription of the interview with 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 (1999–2000) and a Member of the Convention on the Future of Europe (2002–2003), carried out by the Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l’Europe (CVCE) on 22 June 2011 at the European Parliament in Brussels. The interview was conducted by Cristina Blanco Sío-López, a Researcher at the CVCE, and particularly focuses on the following subjects: Méndez de Vigo’s European commitment, Spain and the European integration process, identity and the borders of the European project, the euro, the foreign policy of the European Union (EU), interinstitutional relations in the EU, the Constitutional Treaty and the Treaty of Lisbon.

On 7 June 1975, the journal Triunfo publishes an interview with Felipe González, General Secretary of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party. In this interview, González outlines the conclusions of the meeting in the Landes at which socialists from the various Mediterranean countries made proposals about the development of European political unity. González rejects the idea of creating a Mediterranean socialist bloc alongside a Nordic bloc. He also announces that topics addressed at the next conference will include the importance of the Mediterranean in the geopolitical architecture of the Cold War, relations between Europe and the United States and cooperation between socialists and communists, not forgetting the tensions in Portugal, which González believes could represent a considerable obstacle for the development of a democratic alternative in Spain.

On 29 October 1971, Gregorio López-Bravo, Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, informs his counterparts in the European Economic Community of his government’s fears at seeing the balance of trade established by the 1970 agreement profoundly disturbed by the enlargement of the Community and by its preferential relations with the member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

On 23 June 1978, the Permanent Conference of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the European Economic Community delivers a favourable opinion on the accession of Spain to the European Communities.