Spain's input in shaping the EU's Mediterranean policies, 1986–96

Abstract

The European Union's policies towards Mediterranean non‐member countries in the past decade have rapidly evolved from being based on unilateral trade preferences in favour of these countries to focusing on financial aid, reciprocity, and non‐economic items (political dialogue, cultural cooperation and so on). Spain is the UE member which has contributed most to this evolution, and it has much to gain from it. However, other policies, such as the creation of a border‐free Europe, call for actions which affect Spain's relations with those countries and that it does not accept willingly, such as functioning as gatekeeper of the EU's southern borders.