“European countries are too small to guarantee their people’s prosperity and essential social progress”. This phrase, which could be coined nowadays, was actually spoken by Jean Monnet in 1943 – almost 80 years ago, inspiring a European Union in which almost 450 million citizens live side-by-side.

Today, 9 May, we celebrate Europe Day – a commemoration of the historical Schuman Declaration of 1950 - which gave rise to what is nowadays the largest example of integration between countries on the same continent. A project of union, peace and prosperity which, since its adhesion in 1986 – signed a year earlier – has counted on the clear backing of Spain and Spanish society, aware of the great progress and well-being achieved thanks to our membership of this great project. 

84% of Spaniards consider themselves to be European Union (EU) citizens. This is the fourth highest percentage of the population from among the EU Member States, behind only Portugal (94%), Ireland (91%) and Luxemburg (89%), and 10 points above the EU average (of 74%). This is contained in the latest Standard Eurobarometer 94, drawn up in the winter of 2020 and in 2021, and published in April.

The degree of association of the Spanish people with the EU is also higher than the European average, which stands at 65%, five points above the average for the EU-27, and one of the highest percentages, alongside Portugal, Ireland, Poland, Latvia, Luxemburg, Hungary and Romania.

Spain is also the country in which the highest percentage of the population feel they are EU citizens as much as Spanish citizens. This was asserted by 98% of those surveyed in the Flash Eurobarometer 485 – published in July 2020, followed by Austria (96%), Italy (96%), Malta (96%) and Portugal (95%). 

And it is also among the countries that claim to have the greatest knowledge of their rights as EU citizens: 88%, placing Spain in third place, behind only Austria and Italy, with the highest percentages, and five points above the EU average. This is contained in the Eurobarometer given over to citizenship and democracy in the EU.

Judging by the figures, Spanish society seems to have made the EU’s slogan of “United in diversity” its own. According to the April Eurobarometer, 62% of Spaniards are convinced that European citizens have a great many ties in common, seven points above the EU average. Among the areas that most highlight this greater union, Spaniards particularly mention three: the economy, culture and history.

But, what does the EU mean for Spanish society? What principles and value do they identify it with? According to the 90th edition of the Standard Eurobarometer, published in 2019, in which those surveyed could select from various responses, the most chosen option was by those who identified the EU with the freedom to travel, study and work in any of its Member States (46%), followed by the Euro (37%), cultural diversity (26%), democracy (21%) and having a stronger voice in world affairs (19%). These responses were similar to the EU averages, which placed the freedom of movement, the Euro, peace and democracy as the most characteristic traits of the EU.

The trust of the Spanish people in EU institutions to tackle such a complex scenario as caused by the COVID-19 pandemic can also be seen from the latest Eurobarometer. 69% trust that the EU will take the right decisions in its response to the coronavirus, 10 points above the average and among the most optimistic people in this regard.

Specifically, 76% of Spaniards consider that the EU is playing a key role in guaranteeing access to vaccines in Spain. Once again, the trust placed by Spanish society stands seven points above the average of the 27 Member States.

The Spanish people also show clear support for greater integration and greater power from the EU: 76% feel that more decisions should be made at an EU level, behind only Portugal (89%) and with the same figure as Belgium, and well above the EU average of 59%.

As regards specific aspects, Spain stands above the EU average, with more than 80% of its population in favour of developing common policies on foreign action, security and defence, trade, immigration, energy and the free movement of citizens, among others. Furthermore, it is one of the countries most in favour of the enlargement of the EU to include other countries, backed by 62% of its people, compared with the average of 42%.

In contrast, in response to the question as to whether Spain would be able to address its future better outside of the EU, the answer was clear: only 5% fully agreed with this, with another 14% partially in favour, standing among the group of countries with the lowest figures in this regard, together with Ireland, Portugal, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

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