EUPopLink Country report - Spain

This report examines the evolution of Spain’s relationship with Europe and the European Union (EU), as well as the rise and impact of populism and Euroscepticism within its political system. Following the democratic transition, European integration became a central pillar of Spain’s modernization and political legitimization, supported by a broad consensus among both elites and public opinion. Since joining the European Economic Community in 1986, support for the EU has remained consistently high, albeit sometimes characterized by limited public engagement. This consensus began to weaken after the 2008 financial crisis, which created opportunities for the emergence of new populist actors. In this context, Podemos on the radical left and Vox on the radical right gained prominence. Both parties incorporate elements of Euroscepticism, though in distinct ways. Podemos advances a form of soft Euroscepticism, criticizing neoliberal EU policies and political elites while maintaining a fundamentally positive view of the European project and advocating institutional reform. In contrast, Vox promotes a more nationalist and confrontational discourse, portraying EU elites as part of a “globalist” agenda and advocating a restructuring of the EU toward greater national sovereignty. Despite the rise of these challengers, mainstream parties—namely the PSOE and the PP—have maintained strong pro-European positions. Although they have adopted partially accommodative strategies in response to political competition, they have not significantly altered their support for European integration. Overall, Spain continues to exhibit a predominantly pro-EU political system and public opinion, where Euroscepticism, while increasingly visible, remains largely moderate in nature.