Andalusia and Spain within the European Union
Andalusia in the European Union
Andalusia in the European Union:
The region of Andalusia
Situated on the southern border of the European Union, standing away from the centers of political and economic power. To address this, it should leverage its geographical position. Regarding the Atlantic arc, it should take advantage of improved communications, and for the Mediterranean area, it should build on its good weather and environmental conditions.
B) Socioeconomic status: Andalusia in the EU is facing two major challenges:
- To achieve full convergence with more advanced regions of the union, reaching the height of development of the advanced European regions by Community funds.
- To meet the challenges of the enlargement of the Single Market, which makes most of its trade. This extension implies increased competition.
Andalusia in the World
Andalusia in the world:
A) The region of Andalusia, occupies a position that allows it to promote relations with the European Mediterranean countries and the countries of North Africa.
B) The socioeconomic situation of Andalusia is affected by the globalization process that increases competition. The future strategy cannot compete with large cities; the key is to use other features such as tourism.
The European Common Policies
The European common policies:
Economic policy:
The Single Market
The free movement of persons, goods, capital, and services among members. It was established in the Treaty of Rome.
The Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
Assumes economic convergence among members, as measured by compliance with certain requirements of the Maastricht Treaty. Today, sixteen of the twenty-seven members of the EU, including Spain, have agreed to EMU.
Sectoral Economic Policies
They are subject to EU guidelines that have been increasing.
The policy of justice and home affairs:
The Free Space
The proposed free space aims to achieve full freedom of movement of persons among the members. To this end, the Schengen agreement abolishing internal border controls has been signed.
- The area of security includes measures to prevent the free movement conducive to crime, terrorism, etc.
- The area of justice: It is proposed to promote judicial cooperation.
The common foreign and security policy (CFSP):
The Common Foreign and Security Policy
The common foreign and security policy aims at safeguarding the values, security, and independence of the Union, to maintain peace and support democracy. Measures to achieve these objectives are:
- Creation of a High Representative of the Union.
- Crisis prevention.
- Establishment of common strategies for each world region.
The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) as measures taken: Respect for the defense.
The political rights of citizenship
European Citizenship
European citizenship implies that every citizen of a State of the Union is also a citizen across the EU.
- The letter from the EU Fundamental Rights.
- Improving working conditions and consumer protection with the establishment of free competition and the disappearance of monopolies.
- Education policy, scientific and cultural development based on science, education, and culture.
Spanish Integration in Europe
Spanish integration in Europe:
Factors of integration: In the Spanish integration in Europe, political and economic factors weighed heavily:
- Politically, democratization began after the death of Franco, allowing Spain to begin talks to join the EEC.
- Economically, the incorporation into the EEC offered options to mitigate the effects of the crisis and to approach the European Economic level, and the Treaty of Accession was signed.
The consequences of integration:
- In the political arena, it reinforced the recent Spanish democratic system and rule of law.
- Economically, the membership of the EEC had both positive and negative effects:
- It put an end to decades of isolation.
- Obligations to reforms to adapt to the economy and policies.
- Important financial aid.
- The result has been an important process of economic growth and convergence.
- In the social field, to join the EEC, Spain lacked a welfare state homologous to that of other members. Since then, the government increased spending devoted to its creation and consolidation.
Current Position of Spain in the EU
The current position of Spain in the EU and prospects:
The current position of Spain in the EU: The current position of Spain in the EU is characterized by these features:
- Its geographical location.
- Its geostrategic location.
- Its size and population.
- Its socioeconomic characteristics.
The future prospects of Spain in the EU:
The new distribution of power will reduce the deputies in the European Parliament and votes in the Council of the European Union for Spain. Aid from the EU regional policy has diminished. The extension of the single market with the entry of new members poses challenges and opportunities:
- To the movement of people.
- To the movement of goods, capital, and services.
The increase in productivity and competitiveness is essential to take advantage of new opportunities in an enlarged EU.