The European Union and Spain’s Integration

A Comprehensive collection of vocabulary flashcards covering European Union history, treaties, institutions, and Spain's integration process.

European Union Member States

The EU currently consists of $27$ member states.

EU Population

The European Union is home to approximately $450$ million people.

Official EU Languages

According to class slides, the EU has $23$ official languages.

EU Global GDP Share

The EU produces about $16\%$ of the world’s GDP.

Core shared EU values

Democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)

Created in $1951$ by the Treaty of Paris, it was the world’s largest economic body.

Founding Members of the ECSC

France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

Treaty of Rome (1957)

The treaty that created the European Economic Community (EEC).

Maastricht Treaty (1992)

The treaty that officially created the European Union.

Treaty of Lisbon (2009)

The current governing treaty of the EU, which explicitly gave countries the right to leave.

Brexit Official Date

The United Kingdom’s departure from the EU became official on January $31$, $2020$.

Schengen Area

A zone that includes $29$ countries for border-free travel.

Eurozone

The group of $21$ EU countries that use the Euro ($€$) as their official currency.

European Commission

The institution that has the sole right to propose EU legislation and serves as the executive body.

European Council

Composed of heads of state or government of the $27$ member states, it sets overall political direction but does not pass laws.

European Parliament

The institution representing EU citizens, consisting of $720$ MEPs elected every five years.

Council of the European Union

The institution representing member state governments through national ministers; it jointly passes laws with the Parliament.

Court of Justice of the European Union

Located in Luxembourg, this institution ensures EU law is interpreted and applied correctly.

European Court of Auditors

The Luxembourg-based institution responsible for auditing EU spending and finances.

European Central Bank (ECB)

Located in Frankfurt, Germany, it controls interest rates and monetary policy for the Eurozone with a $2\%$ inflation target.

António Costa

The current President of the European Council.

Ursula von der Leyen

The current President of the European Commission.

Roberta Metsola

The current President of the European Parliament.

Adolfo Suárez

The leader of Spain’s democratic transition following the death of Franco in $1975$.

Spain’s EEC Accession

Spain signed the Treaty of Accession on June $12$, $1885$, and officially joined on January $1$, $1986$.

Birkelbach Report

The report that first established that only democracies could join the European Economic Community.

Copenhagen Criteria

The formalized set of requirements for democratic membership in the EU.

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

The EU policy that Spain had to adapt its agriculture to during membership negotiations.

Barcelona Process

A regional conference launched by Spain in $1995$ to foster relationships.

Erasmus

The EU program that allows students to study throughout Europe.

Horizon Europe

The program dedicated to funding European research projects.

Cohesion Fund

A financial tool used to support poorer EU regions and promote economic balance.

Josep Borrell

Spaniard who served as EU High Representative from $2019$ to $2024$.

Javier Solana

Spaniard who served as EU High Representative from $1999$ to $2009$.