Beyond presence: Spanish social capital in the EU

While the Germans, French and Italians have mechanisms and networks that enhance their presence and influence in community institutions, we Spaniards still have a long way to go. The lack of articulation or maximization of Spanish social capital in Brussels, not only in the institutions but in its entire ecosystem, continues to manifest itself as the Achilles heel of its potential in the European Union.

With the entry of Spain into the EU and the so-called pioneering generation of ’86, the Spanish have been ascending in the Union’s decision-making structure. Spain has had an increasing presence in the community institutions, not without being exempt from fluctuations. Currently, Spain is one of the four countries with the greatest presence in the European institutions. In absolute terms, 4,988 Spaniards are present in Union institutions (around 8.2% of the total). Of this total, approximately 1,306 Spaniards hold the sought-after European civil service categories of administrator and other higher (8.4% of the total).

The figures are considerable, and denote a strong presence. However, influence has not gone hand in hand with this trend. After all, they are far from being synonymous. In addition, various investigations have revealed other factors such as obstacles to greater influence: the 2004 enlargement and the consequent entry of 10 new Member States; the existence of a certain uncritical Europeanism for decades, together with the absence of a deep-rooted culture of lobby and entrepreneurship, among others.

Spain’s institutional power capacities in the community sphere, the existence of a strong Europeanism, and good relations with other key players, such as Germany or France, have not been entirely sufficient. These factors have contributed to Spain playing a fundamental role among the largest countries in the EU, or at least with greater political weight, propping up initiatives or acting as a hinge in European alliances. Certainly, it is increasingly acting as a responsible, flexible and ambitious European political actor, thus creating coalitions between the various blocks that are emerging in the face of the different crises that the continent has been going through in recent years. However, influence goes beyond just playing your cards right in alliances, occupying “top jobs” and positions of high responsibility. The influence must be a constant perceived by homologous and antagonistic actors, if it is not perceived it does not exist. For this, it must be propped up in the structure of a multifaceted scaffolding such as the EU, from our commissioners to the body of officials of the “Brussels bubble” and its plumbing.

The current literature on the subject comprehensively addresses the matter, and its inferences are on the right track. Even so, the issue of influence continues to be mostly addressed from a (neo)institutional point of view, where each of the above factors are epiphenomena by themselves. And, in order to have an ontological vision of Spain’s influence in the EU, it is necessary to add one last piece to the puzzle.

The problem is not just a matter of the ability of Spanish actors or “agency” to influence, in which the different agents make the most of their role. Spanish in institutions, even though it is known for its sociability skills, could be more associative. Where then to find the cornerstone? In the articulation of our social capital, understood in the words of Robert Putnam, as the organization or association between individuals who aspire to facilitate action and sociopolitical cooperation for mutual benefit.

While the Germans have highly organized groups and the Italians have effective contact and support networks such as the Rete Giovani Italiani in Belgio (REGIB), Spain has the Support Unit for Spaniards (UDA) in the Permanent Representation of Spain before the EU, or initiatives such as the Association of Spaniards in European Institutions (AEFICE). However, there is no less institutional and solemn Spanish network that brings together that national community inside and outside the EU institutions, that cultivates and strengthens relationships. We need to unleash that capital in a way that enables our collective action in defense of the interests and needs of Spain within the framework of the Union in a consensual manner. We must combine that raw potential that we have with every Spaniard in Brussels.

A true social network

As a result of this, the Madariaga Social Club emerged in 2022, which seeks to position itself as the common place of the Spanish men and women in Brussels who work both in the institutions and in the entire surrounding cosmos. Today, its members come from both the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council, as well as from the private sector and civil society in Brussels.

This initiative, through the cloak of carrying out social exchanges between its members and with high-level speakers, has the nature of uniting Spaniards of different political orientations under the same banner: “strengthening the influence of Spain in the EU”. Within it, meeting and debate are fostered, as well as the conception of initiatives that contribute to conveying or articulating that Spanish strategic vision in the future of Europe and in the related future of both.

After more than a year and a half of life and consolidation, the Madariaga Club responds to that need to provide a meeting place that can promote a collective consciousness (or synergy) between different Spanish actors. The mere fact of sharing a space and time to exchange ideas and opinions, which may have an echo beyond the meeting, favors us being more associative, and therefore more influential. The lack of associationism is one of the main reasons for the origin of this initiative, the lack of a space in which Spaniards in Brussels can meet and get to know each other easily, support each other professionally and share experiences informally.

The articulation of this social capital takes shape not only in the weekly activities of the club, bringing together, for example, experienced Spanish officials in positions of responsibility with those of us who are still more or less neophytes. But also in the elaboration of initiatives such as contributing to the promotion of the inclusion of Spanish as one of the working languages ​​of the Union. An action for which the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU that is now beginning can generate a favorable framework. In this sense, each member is an asset and the club a vehicle.

The Madariaga Club aspires to create a social community, an integrated system that creates synergies to exploit that high social capital that we have. Its members form an alliance with a common objective: to place our country at the forefront of the EU.