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The Reliable Ally: Germany Supports Spain's European Integration Efforts 51
bound to comply with the demands of the Spanish government. As the Federal ministry
of Finances was opposed to granting generous credits - which the Spanish
surely would have preferred - the very least was to intercede on behalf of the Spanish
EEC integration.
Conclusions
The German government was interested in a Spanish EEC-integration for economic reasons.
This was mainly so because the bilateral trade exchange just would gain by it, and
because European financial aids eased the Federal coffers. The Federal Government and
in the first place the German ministry of Foreign affairs, advocated integration also for
political considerations, especially because it was to bring about a slow evolutionary transition
to more democratic conditions, the stability of the Franco regime ensuring at the
same time the stability of the West. Even if the Federal Government was firmly convinced
of the advantages of a close connection of Spain to Europe, nonetheless since 1964 it had
obviously been in great doubt as to the feasibility of a Spanish EEC-accession or a mere
EEC-association. This scepticism may explain, in my opinion, the relative restraint and
the sparse results achieved in supporting the Spanish cause in the EEC-circles. The meagre
results are glaringly contradictory to the wordy announcements of the Federal Government
to back the Spanish government in its EEC efforts by all means available.
According to my thesis, the reason of this discrepancy is to be found in that tacit agreement,
to stand at least orally by each other’s side in matter of foreign issues. Just like the
Franco regime mobilised in different forums again and again all possible media in favour
of the domestic policy of Germany, so the Federal Government stood up for the Spanish
policy towards Europe. In both cases the results did not match the effusive rhetoric. Even
if the achievements compared to the talk turned out to be relatively modest, the Federal
Republic’s contribution in view of Spain’s approach to Europe must not be completely
neglected. However it consisted in smaller steps and was on the whole more limited than
some official declarations may suggest.
Dr. Birgit Aschmann
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel