Spain strengthens its role in EU decision-making, with Ribera’s vice-presidency in the European Commission and 61 MEPs and a prominent presence in key committees, but challenges in essential sectors and the fight against polarisation.
Pedro Fernaud
The European Parliament is the legislative institution of the European Union (EU) that directly represents the citizens of the Member States, including Spain. Its main functions are to debate and approve laws that affect the entire EU, to supervise other institutions, such as the European Commission, and to decide on the EU budget.
For a Spanish citizen, this translates into regulations that affect their daily lives, such as data protection laws (the GDPR), the regulation of agricultural products that affect the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) and transport measures, such as the prohibition of short flights when there is an efficient rail alternative. In addition, the Parliament can influence key decisions such as the European Next Generation funds, which have financed digitalisation and sustainability projects in Spain.
The unifying theme of this article is the report La influencia española en el Parlamento Europeo ante la legislatura 2024-2029, by Raquel García Llorente, Ignacio Molina, Luis Simón and Paula Oliver Llorente of the Elcano Royal Institute.
The elections to the European Parliament in 2024 have marked the beginning of a legislature characterised by political fragmentation and the rise of Eurosceptic forces in several member states. In this context, Spain is consolidating its position as a key player within the pro-European bloc, with 61 MEPs and a strengthened leadership in the main parliamentary groupings.
The grand coalition is formed by the European People’s Party (EPP), which defends moderate conservatism, the social market economy and greater European integration based on democratic and Christian values; the Social Democrats (S&D), who promote social justice, the strengthening of the welfare state and progressive policies for a more egalitarian and sustainable EU; and Renew Europe, a centrist and liberal political group founded in 2019, which defends Europeanism, the free market and individual rights).
Within this alliance, Spain has a significant capacity for influence, both in the approval of essential regulations and in the defence of national strategic interests. However, the absence of Spanish MEPs in critical areas such as industry and energy, as well as the risk of greater internal polarisation, pose challenges to projecting an effective policy on the European stage.
Ribera: vice-president for a clean and just transition
The appointment of Spain’s Teresa Ribera as Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for a clean, fair and competitive transition and competition policy, strengthens the position of Spanish MEPs in the 2024-2029 legislature of the European Parliament. Her leadership in key areas such as decarbonisation and digitalisation of the European economy facilitates the alignment of EU policies with Spain’s interests and priorities.
Recently, Ribera temporarily took over the functions of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, during a meeting of the College of Commissioners due to von der Leyen’s convalescence from pneumonia. This underlines Spain’s political weight in the EU, evidenced by the allocation of a high-profile portfolio to a Spanish representative and her role in EU decision-making.
Spain’s capacity for significant influence
Ribera took office on 1 December 2024. In her inaugural address to the European Parliament, she reaffirmed the commitment to the European Green Pact, emphasising that its implementation will be proportionate and cost-effective, and underlined the importance of maintaining industrial competitiveness and citizen prosperity.
Leadership in state aid reform to boost green investments and prevent them from exclusively benefiting national interests is crucial to prevent a subsidy race between Member States and maintain the competitiveness of the European economy. This proactive management in key areas such as green transition and economic competitiveness provides a solid platform to promote initiatives aligned with national interests, facilitating collaboration on policies that benefit both Spain and the EU as a whole.
Spain’s influence is not limited to the Parliament. In the Commission, Spain has played a leading role in the creation of portfolios such as Housing and Fisheries, which reflect national priorities. In addition, Spain has promoted strategic debates on water resources and desertification.
Spain’s parliamentary reality in the new cycle
Last year’s European elections shaped a more fragmented Parliament. Spain’s 61 MEPs put it in fourth place in terms of representation after Germany, France and Italy.
Spain’s leadership is possible thanks to the triumph of the traditional parties (PP and PSOE), which clearly outnumbered the Eurosceptic forces, something that did not happen in other large member states such as France and Italy, where the nationalist and populist right has grown exponentially, with Marine Le Pen and Giorgia Meloni at the forefront.
The historical evolution of Spain’s weight in the European Parliament
Since its accession to the EU in 1986, Spain has seen its representation in the European Parliament progressively increase, which has meant that it has gone from the 60 MEPs initially assigned to our country to the current 61 after Brexit and the latest increase in the number of seats. This increase contrasts with the decline in influence of countries such as Germany and Sweden, and places Spain as a key player in the legislative dynamics. Moreover, the political balance achieved with pro-European parties contrasts with the trend in countries such as Poland and Hungary, where Eurosceptic forces dominate the agenda. Historical comparison shows that Spain has been able to adapt strategically to change, as in 2001, when it sacrificed seats in parliament in exchange for greater influence in the Council of Ministers under the Nice Treaty, a decision that still has repercussions.
Spain is strong on social rights, justice and fisheries
Spain holds three committee chairs: Carmen Crespo (Fisheries), Javier Zarzalejos (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) and Lina Gálvez (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality). This leadership is relevant, as issues such as fisheries, which are essential for communities such as Galicia and Andalusia, are directly influenced by European decisions. In comparison, Germany leads six committees, but the Spanish distribution is still outstanding, especially in social and justice areas, where the Spanish voice has traditionally been strong.
PP and PSOE leadership in main groups
The weight of Spanish MEPs in the parliamentary groups is key. The PP and PSOE are the second largest delegation in the EPP and S&D, respectively, only surpassed by Germany and Italy. This position translates into positions of responsibility, such as the presidency of Iratxe García in the S&D and the vice-presidency of Dolors Montserrat in the EPP. The leading role, however, is not limited to the grand coalition. Spain also has prominent representation in other groups, such as the Greens, which includes Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) and the Bloque Nacionalista Galego (BNG), which defend climate justice, ecological transition, human rights and greater European integration based on sustainability and democracy, or the PxE (Peoples of Europe), which is a coalition of regionalist and pro-independence parties in the European Parliament that seeks to defend the interests of regions and national minorities within the EU, thus diversifying Spain’s capacity for influence.
Achievements of the Spanish MEPs
Between 2019 and 2024, Spanish representatives led or significantly influenced the approval of key regulations such as the Digital Services Law and the Renewable Energy Directive. In the case of the latter, MEPs such as Nicolás González Casares (PSOE) played a leading role in ensuring an approach that would benefit Spanish clean energy industries. Furthermore, initiatives such as the Regulation on Asylum and Migration, spearheaded by Javier Zarzalejos of the PP, reflect Spain’s ability to address European challenges from a national perspective.
Lack of leadership in Industry, Research and Energy
Despite its good positioning, Spain lacks leadership in strategic sectors. For example, it does not hold the presidencies or vice-presidencies of key committees such as Industry, Research and Energy, which are essential to the European competitiveness agenda. These shortcomings contrast with its leadership in social and justice areas, where, although relevant, the economic impact is lower. In a context where the EU seeks to strengthen its global competitiveness, this absence poses significant challenges for Spain, especially when it holds the Commission’s competition portfolio.
The value of increasing qualitative influence
The Elcano Royal Institute’s report highlights that, although the experience and technical preparation of Spanish MEPs has improved in recent decades, challenges remain. Traditionally, the electoral lists of the PP and PSOE prioritised territorial balance over technical skills. This dynamic contrasts with countries such as Germany, where candidates for the European Parliament tend to have professional careers linked to European integration. However, the trend seems to be changing. Recent examples, such as the election of the PSOE’s Lina Gálvez, who specialises in gender equality, show progress, but there is still some way to go.
Changing the dynamics of political polarisation
A key theme of the study is how Spain’s internal polarisation could spill over into the European Parliament. Examples such as the conflict between PP and PSOE over the confirmation of Teresa Ribera as vice-president of the Commission highlight this tension. In contrast, both parties had shown a high degree of cohesion in previous legislatures, collaborating on key initiatives such as the Digital Services Directive and the European Climate Law. This fragmentation could weaken Spanish influence in crucial debates.
And how do we combat these polarising dynamics? Experts on the reality of the European Parliament consider that it would be essential to foster mechanisms of cross-party cooperation based on common national interests rather than ideological rivalries. The way towards this paradigm could be achieved through the creation of permanent dialogue forums between Spanish MEPs from different political groups, with the aim of coordinating positions on strategic issues such as energy policy or digital regulation. Moreover, pressure from economic and social actors, such as businesses and civil organisations, could encourage pragmatic agreements that strengthen Spain’s voice in Brussels, thus preventing internal disputes from undermining our capacity to influence the European environment.
Spain, a bastion against Euroscepticism, except for Vox
While Eurosceptic parties are gaining ground in countries such as France and Italy, Spain has maintained its commitment to European integration. This contrast is reflected in the Spanish delegation, where support for the von der Leyen Commission was one of the highest in Europe. However, the rise of Vox, which occupies a prominent role in the Patriots for Europe group (a far-right political group in the European Parliament, formed in 2024, that advocates nationalism, state sovereignty and opposition to further European integration) could complicate this dynamic, especially in polarising debates such as migration or ecological transition.
Success stories: sustainable fisheries and renewable energy
Spain has led initiatives in areas such as international trade and migration policy. One example is the legislation on sustainable fishing quotas, where Carmen Crespo of the PP struck a balance between environmental priorities and the needs of the Spanish fishing sector. Another case is renewable energy policy, where Spanish MEPs ensured that national industries had preferential access to EU funds.
To sum up: during the previous legislature, Spanish MEPs played a decisive role in the approval of key legislation such as the Digital Services Act and the Renewable Energy Directive, as well as leading debates on migration and fisheries sustainability. Their capacity to influence has also been reflected in their leadership of parliamentary committees and their presence in the main European political groups.
The challenge for the future will be to consolidate this position without losing weight in strategic sectors such as innovation and energy, where other countries, such as Germany and France, maintain an advantage. Beyond the Spanish case, the stability and development of the European Union in the coming years will depend on the ability of its politicians to overcome parliamentary fragmentation, strengthen cooperation between member states and promote a common agenda that addresses global challenges such as ecological transition, economic competitiveness and immigration management.
Pedro Fernaud
Journalist and Professor
He has worked for twenty-five years in various journalistic media: radio, written press and online media, and for more than 10 years in the field of teaching.
Graduate in Journalism from the Complutense University and in Integral Communication from the Francisco de Vitoria University and Master’s Degree in Teacher Training, in its Social Sciences branch, at the Rey Juan Carlos I University.
Specialities: Writer, poet, expert in the social impact of new technologies and international relations, as well as cultural and sports issues; children’s storyteller, creative, social account manager, community manager, stylistic corrector, grammar checker, spelling checker and copy writer.
