14. Spanish Businesses and the Negotiations for Spain’s Entry into the European Economic Community

Spain’s entry into the Common Market was a desire of the Spanish society after the death of General Franco. The EEC was identified with democracy and modernity. Spanish businessmen were also in agreement with this position, but they had objections about the way of negotiating this accession. In 1978, the Spanish Ministry for Relations with the European Communities was created to leading the adhesion project. The negotiating team started a pedagogical campaign targeted toward the main economic sectors on the benefits of European integration, and also about required changes that became necessary. The analysis of the dialogue between the negotiating team and businessmen—their arguments and positions—constitutes the basis of this chapter focused on a key moment of the Spanish economic history in the twentieth century.