Much Ado about Little: Continuity and Change in the European Union Policy of the Spanish Socialist Government (2004–8)

Abstract

The European Union (EU) policy of the Zapatero government (2004–8) combined continuity with the Socialist policies of the 1990s with some new additions in the form of a commitment to domestic constitutional reform, including a reference to the EU in the Spanish constitution. The Socialists' EU policy also manifested important continuities with the prior Popular Party governments. The use of a referendum to ratify the EU constitution, though decided by the Socialist government, had a large domestic consensus and fitted easily with Zapatero's republican preferences. Even though change occurred, it is difficult to argue that it represented a second transition.

Keywords:

• Spanish European Policy
• Constitutional Reform
• Zapatero Government
• Referendum

Notes

¹ The Perejil islet is a small rock off the Moroccan coast claimed by Spain. In 2002, a small number of Moroccan soldiers set foot on the rock, which prompted a strong military reaction from the PP government.

² Facing proposals that the number of votes on the Council of Ministers be determined by the relative population of each country, Aznar defended the Nice system which gave Spain a share of votes in the Council larger than its share of population in the EU.

³ Real Instituto Elcano conducts periodic polls on Spanish public opinion and various issues of foreign policy. This particular poll was conducted in collaboration with the CIS, which is the official polling organism of the Spanish government.

⁴ Instruction of 31 January 2005, Central Electoral Commission.

⁵ Given the close relationship between Real Instituto Elcano and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Real Instituto Elcano published both memos from the Secretary of State.

⁶ The text of the announcement is available online at < http://www.mae.es/es/MenuPpal/Actualidad/Noticias%2BMAEC/20060125_not2.htm>.

⁷ El País, ‘España y Francia impulsan una iniciativa para “sacar a Europa del estancamiento”’, 18 June 2007.

⁸ Barómetro del Real Instituto Elcano (BRIE), June 2005.

⁹ The British rebate is a return to the UK from the EU budget because of the UK's scarce returns from agricultural funds. It was negotiated by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s and has become a fixed component of the EU budget. Other member states contribute proportionally to it based on their returns from the agricultural funds.

¹⁰ Congreso de los Diputados, Diario de Sesiones, no. 24, 19 May 2004.