Overview
Capital: Madrid
Official EU language(s): Spanish
EU Member State: since 1 January 1986
Currency: euro (€)
Euro area: member since 1 January 1999
Schengen: member since 26 March 1995
Figures:
- Geographical size: 505 983 km2
- Population: 48 610 458 (2024)
(Source: Eurostat - figures for geographical size and population)
Political system
Spain is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. The prime minister is the head of government and the monarch is the head of state. A council of ministers is the executive branch and is presided over by the prime minister.
Spain is a unitary state, composed of 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities with varying degrees of autonomy.
Trade and economy
Spain’s GDP per capita of €33 100 ranks below the EU average (€37 600). It accounts for 8.6% of the EU's total GDP.
(Source: Eurostat - figures for GDP per capita and GDP)
(Source: Eurostat - figures for exports and imports)
There are 61 representatives from Spain in the European Parliament. Find out who these Members of the European Parliament are and follow the activities of the European Parliament’s office in Spain.
In the Council of the EU, national ministers meet regularly to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies. Representatives from the Spanish government attend Council meetings focused on their area of responsibility several times a year.
The Council of the EU does not have a permanent, single-person president (like the Commission or Parliament). Instead, its work is led by the country holding the Council presidency, which rotates every 6 months.
During these 6 months, ministers from that country's government chair and help determine the agenda of Council meetings in the different policy areas, and facilitate dialogue with the other EU institutions.
Dates of Spanish presidencies:
Jan-Jun 1989 | Jul-Dec 1995 | Jan-Jun 2002 | Jan-Jun 2010 | Jul-Dec 2023
The European Commissioner nominated by Spain is Teresa Ribera Rodríguez who is the Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.
The Commission is represented in each EU country by a local office, called a "representation". Find out more about the Commission's representation in Spain.
Spain has 21 representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee. This advisory body – representing employers, workers and other interest groups – is consulted on proposed laws, to get a better idea of the possible changes to work and social situations in different countries.
Spain has 21 representatives on the European Committee of the Regions, the EU's assembly of regional and local representatives. This advisory body is consulted on proposed laws, to ensure these laws take account of the perspective from each region of the EU.
Spain also communicates with the EU institutions through its permanent representation in Brussels. As Spain’s "embassy to the EU", its main task is to ensure that the country's interests and policies are heard and pursued as much as possible in the EU.
Budgets and funding
How does Spain benefit from the EU budget?
The EU budget is the tool to ensure that Europe remains a democratic, peaceful, prosperous and competitive force. The EU uses it to finance its priorities and big projects that most individual EU countries could not finance on their own.
The benefits of EU membership significantly exceed the size of the EU budget contributions and the examples are many. All Member States benefit from being part of the Single Market, a shared approach to the common challenges of migration, terrorism and climate change, and concrete gains like better transport infrastructure, modernised and digitalised public services and cutting-edge medical treatment.
How much each EU country pays into the EU budget is calculated fairly. The larger your country's economy, the more it pays – and vice versa.
The EU budget is not about giving and taking – it’s about collectively contributing to making Europe and the world a better place for us all.
EU budget spending and revenue per country and per year
EU-funded projects in Spain
Money from the EU budget helps fund programmes and projects in all EU countries – for example to build roads, subsidise researchers and protect the environment.
Find out more about how Spain benefits from EU funding and recovery funds in your country or region.