Publication

This article commemorates 30 years of Spanish membership in the European Union looking back at the evolution of the country’s relationship with the European integration process from its origins to the moment of accession in 1986. The author breaks this down into five distinct periods: 1) the end of WWII to the beginning of the Cold War; 2) the Franco regime and the early stages of European integration (1951-1962); 3) the initial rejection by the European Community of Spain's attempts to become part of the Organization (1962-1975); 4) the death of Franco and Spain's transition to democracy (1975 - 1982); and 5) the negotiations to enter the European Community (1982-1986).