Pedro Sánchez: "We are working to ensure that this united Europe is not indifferent to wars and injustice"

Royal Palace, Madrid

Group photo of the event commemorating the 40th anniversary of Spain's accession to the European Community (Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, this afternoon took part in the event "A diverse, inclusive and egalitarian Spain commemorates the 40th anniversary of accession to the European Union" to celebrate the four decades since Spain joined the European Economic Community (EEC).

The ceremony, presided over by His Majesty the King, was held in the same Hall of Columns (Salón de Columnas) in the Royal Palace that hosted the signing of the treaty in 1985, and was attended by the President of the European Council, António Costa. It was also attended by representatives of social agents, NGOs, representatives of the culture and sports sector, the scientific and educational community, the LGTBI+ community, as well as religious organisations, groups representing migrants, the rural world and people with disabilities.

During his speech, the President of the Government of Spain stressed that "during the last 40 years we have experienced the best days in our history. We have doubled our GDP per capita and halved our unemployment rate. We have increased life expectancy by 11 years and have a much better educated population. We have built a first-class welfare state. And we have become a tolerant, diverse, vibrant and attractive country for the whole world.

Group photo of the event commemorating the 40th anniversary of Spain's accession to the European Community | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Spain's contribution to Europe

Pedro Sánchez also emphasised that, in addition to having received a lot from the European Union, "Spain has also given a lot to Europe". Among these contributions, the President listed "integration and cohesion", since "Spain has never doubted the European project, not even in the worst moments of crisis"; also "economic prosperity", since it is "the fourth largest economy in the Union and also the fourth largest net exporter; the second largest among the large economies". "Last year alone, our country generated 50% of economic growth and 30% of new employment in the eurozone," added Pedro Sánchez.

Spain's third great contribution to Europe during these decades, according to the President of the Government of Spain, has been to be "an essential driving force of social Europe", because "we know what it means to exercise our common citizenship: freedoms, responsibilities and rights". Finally, Pedro Sánchez highlighted Spain's "decisive" contribution to broadening Europe's international projection: "Geographical bridge of the South, of the Mediterranean, we have not only a past, but also a common present that connects us with Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and North America. That is why we can only envisage a Europe that is global and open to the world.

A united Europe

Pedro Sánchez stressed that Europe arose from the ashes of war as a promise of peace, and that, "in the name of our ancestors and for the sake of our sons and daughters, we are working to ensure that this united Europe is not indifferent to wars and injustice". He argued that "European dignity cannot be buried under the rubble in Gaza. Nor at the bottom of the Mediterranean, the plains of Ukraine or the mass graves of Sudan".

The President of the European Council, António Costa, speaks at the event commemorating the 40th anniversary of Spain's accession to the EU | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

The President of the Government of Spain ended his speech by warning against those who claim that "the problem is Europe; and the solution is a mere sum of supposedly sovereign nations, but which, in practice, would be totally subjugated in this world of giants". "This vision is a huge mistake", added Pedro Sánchez, who urged citizens to "take care of Europe": "It is no longer a question of Europe changing us. Because Europe has already done this and has done it well. Now we are the ones who have to change Europe. For the better. A change that is only possible with more Europe.

"Spain will be there, as it has always been in these four decades: on the front line, giving its best to renew this collective dream that is our Union," concluded the President. "Let's do it under the inspiration of its motto: united in diversity".

Non official translation