Getting to Know the European Union: Portugal and Spain

Hosted by The Institute for Human Sciences at Boston University

A lecture in the six-part series Getting to Know the European Union: Member States in Focus presents João de Vallera, Portugal’s ambassador to the United States, and Carlos Westendorp, Spain’s ambassador to the United States, and is moderated by Alan Berger, senior editorial writer for the Boston Globe. The series, organized by the Institute for Human Sciences at Boston University and funded by the European Union Delegation of the European Commission to the USA in Washington, D.C., addresses the European Union and its politics and institutions as they function on an individual country level.

The ambassadors talk about their country’s experiences with the European Union and answer questions from the audience. De Vallera describes how Portugal overcame skepticism within the country to successfully integrate into the EU. The EU has provided enhanced competition, he says, and Portugal has taken advantage of what it offers economically and politically. Portugal has been able, he says, to integrate its foreign policy concerns within the EU, using as examples new partnerships between Portugal and Brazil and ongoing efforts to forge new relationships between the European Union and the African continent. The Treaty of Lisbon, which replaces the EU’s constitution and needs to be ratified by all EU members, is a very important step for the EU. Portugal’s economic progress has improved greatly since it joined the EU, according to De Vallera — the country has moved from almost exclusively exporting workers and importing capital to importing foreign workers and importing capital. As well, Portugal and Spain have a better relationship than ever. All in all, he says, Portugal gets many benefits from, but also makes many contributions to, the EU.

Westendorp discusses the historical similarities between Portugal and Spain and how the EU has brought them “face-to-face” after years of living side by side, but “with our backs to each other.” They are now close friends and allies, he says, and their destinies are closely linked. Joining the European Union has changed their relationship — as well as sharing the same peninsula, they share a common “Europeanism.” Europe, he says, is going through a difficult time at present, but has weathered many such difficult times over the centuries; he hopes the Treaty of Lisbon will put Europe back on the rails. The EU is coping with a significant enlargement in the number of its member states. The EU was a revolution for Spain and Portugal, he says, both with their background of dictatorships. When Spain joined the EU, it wanted to become equal, to overcome its political fragility and economic backwardness, and both objectives have been attained. Belonging to the EU is like a vaccine against autocratic ventures, he says. Spain has caught up economically, with economic growth exceeding that of other member countries. Spain’s and Portugal’s links to Latin America, Westendorp says, have introduced to the EU some additional responsibilities. Together with the United States, it can be a democratic influence in the Western Hemisphere — in Cuba, for instance, and others with autocratic bents. He says that transatlantic relations are most important, and that the bumpy road caused by Spain’s withdrawal from Iraq has been smoothed. The world is too complex for one nation to cope alone with the scourges of terrorism and organized crime. The EU now faces the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, which replaces the constitution that was refused by some countries. Europe needs the political will to act in international affairs to influence allies, the United States, for instance, to act accordingly.

November 13, 2007, 6 p.m.
Photonics Center

Video length is 01:28:07.

About the speakers:
João de Vallera became Portugal’s ambassador to the United States early in 2007. He first joined the diplomatic service in 1974. He served at the Portuguese Embassy in Spain – and as permanent representative and deputy permanent representative at the Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels. In 1998 he was appointed ambassadorto Ireland. In 2001 he became director general of European affairs and in 2002 was a delegate to the Convention on the Future of Europe. He was then appointed ambassadorto Germany, a position he held until taking up his post in Washington.

Carlos Westendorp became Spain’s ambassador to the United States in September 2004. He joined the Spanish Diplomatic Service in 1966. He has served as a member of the Autonomous Community of the Madrid Parliamentary Assembly (2003-2004), a member of the European Parliament (1999-2003), and high representative for the implementation of the peace agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1997-1999). In addition, he was his country’s permanent representative to the United Nations (1996-1997) and minister of foreign affairs (1995-1996), as well as holding various posts for the European Communities, including state secretary (1991-1995) and permanent representative (1985-1991).

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