The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, opened the exhibition ‘We are more now. 40 years of Spain in Europe’ at the Marqués de Salamanca headquarters and presented the infographic produced by EsadeGeo, ‘40 indicators and a story of progress’, which visually presents data illustrating some of the most significant transformations in Spain since its accession to what is now the European Union.
The event forms part of the celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of Spain’s effective accession to the then European Communities in January 1986, during a week packed with events to mark Europe Day.
“Today we look back to understand and to see first-hand what that transformation was like. And we are doing so through a photographic exhibition and a set of indicators that show the same reality in different ways: Spain is a better country today because it chose Europe. And the European Union is a stronger project today because Spain contributes decisively to its development,” the Minister said in front of a full auditorium.
40 indicators
Four decades on, EsadeGeo and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation have presented an infographic that visually summarises forty indicators showing how Europe has changed Spain and the Spanish people.
The infographic is organised into four main areas: human development and well-being; economy and entrepreneurship; connectivity and heritage; and social progress and freedoms. Some indicators also reflect the mutually beneficial relationship between Spain and the European Union in areas such as the Single Market, trade liberalisation, the single currency, EU funding programmes, educational mobility through Erasmus, the response to Covid-19, health and education standards, heritage conservation and the energy transition.
The aim is to provide a useful visual resource to illustrate, from the perspective of public education, communication and outreach, some of the key transformations and advances in Spanish society over the last four decades.
We are more now
The Minister, accompanied by Javier Solana, also opened the photographic exhibition “We are more now”, curated by Carmen Dalmau Bejarano.
The exhibition is based on a simple premise: in 1986, Spain was a country that had just emerged from decades of self-suffienciency and isolation; forty years later, it is the country with the longest-living population in Europe, the world’s second-most popular tourist destination, and a fully-fledged democracy with the best indicators of civil liberty in its history.
The central theme is the transformation of people, landscapes, institutions and cities.
Of particular note is the photograph linked to the indicator on the Erasmus programme (over 1 million Spaniards have taken part in the scheme), featuring Laura Soler, one of the first people with a disability to receive an Erasmus grant. She is currently a member of the Valencian Parliament for Alicante representing the Socialist Group, and was able to see her photograph and greet the Minister.
Mutual contributions
The event, which was brought to a close by Javier Solana, concluded with a round-table discussion in which Fernando Sampedro, State Secretary for the European Union; Juan Moscoso del Prado, senior fellow at EsadeGeo; Julia Fernández Arribas, co-founder of Equipo Europa; Francisco Aldecoa, president of the European Movement – CFEME; and María Andrés, director of the European Parliament’s office in Madrid, held a discussion – moderated by Carlota Pombar – on the process of European integration, the mutual contributions between Spain and the European Union, and the shared challenges of the future.
You can view the infographic on Spain’s 40 years in the EU
here.
You can view photos of the event
here.