Journal of European Integration History – Revue d'histoire de l'

Association or Trade Agreement? 119economic difficulties as a result of the existence of the EEC, the Community mustexamine the situation and see what could be done to help.” 48 In other words, somearrangement other than association was to be found.Diminishing political objections however implied the start of economic objectionsto making concessions to the Spanish. Once objections to association couldnot serve to block accommodation for Spanish trading interests, the Italiansstraightforwardly objected to a policy of economic relations with Mediterraneancountries which eroded the economic benefits they themselves gained from EECmembership. Once the Italian opposition to any concession over important tradingmatters was made clear, the EEC Council, on 2 June 1964, agreed to authorize theCommission “to open conversations with the Spanish government with a view toexamining the economic problems with which Spain is confronted by the developmentof the EEC and to finding suitable solutions.” 49 The Council did not considerit explicitly necessary to reject association, but it was up to the Spanish not to mentionit during their conversations. When the Spanish officials presented their proposalsto the EEC Council in December 1964, association was not mentioned; infact the kind of agreement they expected to obtain was not even hinted at. 50 Thisallowed the continuation of the long and tedious conversations that finally led tothe trade agreement of June 1970, the effects of which were valid until the Kingdomof Spain became an EEC member-State in January 1986. “C'est un longchemin”, Couve de Murville had said on 9 February 1962, “mais c'est un bon cheminpour l'Espagne.” 51Fernando GuiraoANNEXFernando María Castiella, Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Maurice Couvede Murville, France's Minister of Foreign Affairs and President in turn of the EECCouncil of Ministers, Madrid, 9 February 1962.48. Speech in the Belgian Senate on 5 March 1964, as recorded in PRO, FO 371/177361.49. Ibid., UK Delegation to the European Communities to FO, Brussels, 4 June 1964.50. MAE, Leg. 10086, exp. 3: “Declaración de la delegación de España en la primera sesión de sus conversacionescon la Comisión de la Comunidad Económica Europea”, 9 December 1964.51. Cit. in ALONSO, España en el Mercado Comúm, p. 11.