40 years togetherSpain and Portugal in the EU 40 years of EU membership Forty years ago, Spain and Portugal joined the European Union, making it culturally richer and politically stronger.Their membership helped create millions of new jobs, modernise economies and deepen trade ties within Europe and beyond.Student mobility and travel have strengthened connections between citizens. In these forty years, Europeans have enjoyed more rights, better health and additional freedoms.Spain and Portugal have reinforced democracy and advanced social progress. They have broadened Europe’s global outlook, particularly towards Latin America, Africa and the Mediterranean.The EU, Spain and Portugal have grown stronger together. How this enlargement has positively changed the EU Over the past forty years, this enlargement has brought clear and lasting benefits to the whole Union. The EU’s economy became strongerTrade inside and outside the EU increasedRegions across Europe became better connectedEuropean food became more secure and diverseResearch, innovation and study opportunities grewEurope became better in helping in crisesThe EU gained more global influence Key figures about Spain and Portugal since the enlargement Over €250 billionInvested in Spanish and Portuguese regionsmore than €20 billionEU funding to researchers over 140,000 projectsbenefited from the EU’s fisheries funds How EU membership has changed Spain and PortugalSpain since EU accessionPortugal since EU accession ResourcesAudiovisual materialPhotos and videos about the 1986 EU enlargementCommunication ToolkitVisual identity and logo available for use by partners Related links EU country profilesEnlargement: how it works
Forty years ago, Spain and Portugal joined the European Union, making it culturally richer and politically stronger.Their membership helped create millions of new jobs, modernise economies and deepen trade ties within Europe and beyond.Student mobility and travel have strengthened connections between citizens. In these forty years, Europeans have enjoyed more rights, better health and additional freedoms.Spain and Portugal have reinforced democracy and advanced social progress. They have broadened Europe’s global outlook, particularly towards Latin America, Africa and the Mediterranean.The EU, Spain and Portugal have grown stronger together.
