Section7.Spain

** 1.History/Background of E.U. Country **

media type="file" key="culturegrams_audio.mp3" width="240" height="20" || //Spain// has a rich history that spans many centuries. //Spain// was first civilized in about 2000 B.C. By the time of Christ, it was controlled by the Romans. More than a millenium later, in 1232, Granada became capital of the future Nasrid Kingdom. Many cathedrals were built around this time, and some still stand today. Christopher Columbus "discovered" the Americas in 1492, giving //Spain// a great deal of power in Europe. From 1808 to 1813, //Spain// was controlled by the Frenchman Napoleon.
 * [[image:Spain_flag_lg.gif width="252" height="174" caption="The Spanish Flag- Click here for more info. Click below for the Spanish national anthem" link="@https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sp.html"]]

In more recent times, //Spain// took a neutral position in World War II, though occasionally it gave assistance to Hitler and Mussolini. After a civil war in the 1930's, //Spain// was controlled by Francisco Franco, a dictator, until he died in 1975. His appointed successor, Juan Carlos I, created a parliamentary monarchy within three years of being crowned king. This is still the government today. Madrid is the capital of //Spain//, and the country has a population of some forty million people on the Iberian Peninsula. ||

|| //Spain// was accepted into the E.U. in 1986. It adopted the euro as its currency in 1999. The idea that formed the basis of the European Union was taken from a speech by Robert Schuman, of France, in the 1950's. The original organization was called the European Economic Community, and started with Belgium, Western Germany, France, Italy, Luxemburg and the Netherlands.
 * 2. Year of Admission to E.U. History and General Information about the E.U.**
 * [[image:EU_Flag.gif width="312" height="210" caption="Click here for more information on the EU" link="@https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ee.html"]]

The current European Union is made up of 27 nations and covers four million square kilometers, and is populated by 493 million people. It has a very strong economic climate. Sixty-three percent of working age people have jobs. The Gross Domestic Product of the European Union is almost 14.51 trillion Euros.

The E.U. is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, and has 3 main governing bodies. The Council is made up of the leaders from the member countries, and they make most of the decisions. The E.U. Commission is made up of officials from all member countries, and they make sure that decisions are carried out. The European Union Parliment is made up of elected officials from the various countries. They are like our House of Representatives, and the number of people from each country is determined by its population. They serve five year terms.

Several things divide the European Union, including the many languages that make it difficult to understand other member countries. Also, national pride and rivalries between countries can separate them. That was especially true in the recent Vancouver Winter Olympics. ||


 * 3. How does the E.U. and your country feel about global temperatures/climate change? (//environmental issue)// **
 * || The E.U. is very active on climate change. Since 1996, green house gas emissions have been decreasing, and renewable energy use is on the rise. The European Union's goal is to keep tempatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius on average a year between 2008 and 2012. The average green house gas emissions are projected to be down 9.7% from 1990 levels. The European Union is funding 398 million euros for developing countries to begin using renewable energy. For 2020, a major goal is to have twenty percent less GHG emissions, twenty percent more renewable energy, and to be twenty percent more energy efficient.

Spain is having many problems of its own. Much of the southeastern part of the country is slowly turning to desert with dwindling water supplies. Some farmers in the region are so desperate that they are selling water like gold. The problem is so bad that reservoirs have barely enough water to pump it into the system. They are consuming twice as much water as they have to use. Temperatures have risen 2.7 degrees Celsius since 1880, which is a giant jump. Rainfall is expected to be down twenty percent in 2020, and that is expected to rise to forty percent by 2070. It is becoming increasingly harder to grow food.

Barcelona is leading the way to stopping climate change. The city's goal is to decrease consumption and emissions by seventeen and twenty percent, respectively, by 2012. Fifty-six strategies are being used. An example is that they are using natural heat in government buildings. Barcelona is allocating 100 million euros for renewable energy. Many families are also recovering rainwater and using solar panels. Spain's immediate action towards climate change will help them recover. media type="file" key="Stephen 1.wav" Click on the link to hear our view! ||

|| Spain recently sent 511 more troops to Afghanistan. It now has a total of 1600 soldiers there. They have been working to arrest Al-Qaeda operatives, and have succeeded several times. A main goal for Spanish troops is to train Afghan troops to take over the security of their country from foreign countries. Since 2002, twenty-three soldiers from Spain have died in Afghanistan, but Spain continues to send support.
 * 4. How does the E.U. and your country feel about supporting the war in Afghanistan? //(political issue)// **
 * [[image:story_spanishtroops_afp_gi.jpg width="303" height="232" caption="Spainsh Soldiers in Afghanistan"]]

The European Union is one of the largest donors to the war going on in Afghanistan. It supports action to have a more secure environment in the country. The EU's assistance is helping to achieve the priorities created in Afghanistan's National Development Strategy adopted at the Paris Conference on 12 June 2008, including support for justice and law and order; combating narcotics production; and assisting in the health sector. The EU troops already on the ground have requested more assistance for missions and civilian security. There are currently 310 European Union trainers there to train other forces, and the goal is to have 400 troops there soon. In the recent presidential elections, the EU helped with security and to count the ballots afterwards. For several years, the European Union has supported the efforts in Afghanistan.  media type="file" key="Stephen 2.wav" Click on the link to hear our view! ||


 * 5. What is the economic background of your country and how does your country feel about supporting the economies of weaker countries in the E.U? //(economic issue)// **
 * || Spain has the twelth largest economy in the world. Its GDP is 1.368 trillion euros, and it rose for fifteen years, until 2009. There are almost 23 million workers in the country. Only 20% of people are below the poverty line. Tourism is a major industry in Spain, bringing in a major fraction of money earned. Only one tenth of workers are employed in agriculture, but Spain leads other countries in producing olive oil and wine. Two thirds of jobs are in service industries.

In the 1990's, there was a giant recession in Spain, but it has since rebounded. Just like the United States, the country has great economic troubles currently. Since 2007, its strong economy has been slowed by the global economic crisis. Spain's debt is equal to fifty percent of its gross domestic product. Its GDP has also been falling in value since 2009. Eighteen percent of people are unemployed, which is the highest number in the EU. Also, exports are slumping, and consumer spending is falling. The Spanish government has been trying to boost the economy with stimulus money. Though there is much termoil, the economy of Spain is slowly coming back to life.

We believe that this country is not in a position to give money to other struggling economies. This is because of its deficit of half a trillion dollars. With the debt as high as it is, Spain cannot afford to raise the deficit any more, or else it would be in more trouble than he economies it is supporting. With the highest unemployment rate in the E.U., Spain should focus on its own troubles. As the economy improves, though, Spain could be in a position to give within the next few years.  media type="file" key="Stephen 3.wav" Click on the link to hear our view! ||