H.M. KING FELIPE VI BEFORE THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: UNITY AND EUROPEAN COMMITMENT FORTY YEARS LATER
His Majesty King Felipe VI addressed the plenary session of the European Parliament last Wednesday on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Spain’s accession to the European Union, in a solemn sitting shared with the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The Monarch highlighted the profound transformation experienced by our country over these four decades and described the Union as a project of coexistence that has made Europeans freer, more prosperous, and stronger. He recalled that any challenge affecting one of its members has repercussions for the whole, thus emphasizing that “our strength lies in our unity.”
In an international context marked by geopolitical instability, the King warned that Europe cannot be taken for granted and defended the continued relevance of its founding values. Never, he stated, in these dark times, has the idea of Europe been so necessary. In this regard, he called for preserving the memory of what European integration has meant in the face of criticism that questions its principles and values. He also advocated progress in common defense, strategic autonomy, and the strengthening of the European pillar within the Atlantic Alliance, as well as maintaining a strong transatlantic bond based on respect and loyalty.
At the beginning of his address, His Majesty the King wished to express his closeness and solidarity with the victims, both of the recent railway accident and of terrorism, reaffirming Spain’s commitment to the dignity of victims and to the defense of peace and democratic coexistence. Along the same lines, he underscored the importance of dialogue and respect for rules as a means to resolve conflicts and promote international stability, warning that force without principles amounts to barbarism.
Lastly, it should be noted that the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, emphasized that the accession of Spain and Portugal opened a new chapter of freedom and opportunity that changed lives. She thanked both countries for the European commitment they have demonstrated over these four decades—an anniversary that invites renewed affirmation that the European project continues to be a benchmark for shared progress and a common responsibility.