Major projects of French industry in Spain during the Mitterrand and González years (1981-1986)

Abstract

This article aims to offer an overview of French industrial policy towards Spain during the first governments of François Mitterrand (1981-88) and Felipe González (1982-86). There were bilateral political tensions arising from the lack of understanding on the Basque terrorism issue and the imminent entry of Spain into the European Economic Community. But these tensions did not impede economic cooperation, especially in industrial matters. Following the guidelines of their indicative planning, French public and private leaders prioritized large projects and high technology (nuclear, military, electronics-informatics). They encountered difficulties, coming from the disadvantages of the 1970 Preferential Treaty, the aftermath of the world economic crisis and the competition from other countries. Nevertheless, they managed to consolidate their presence in Spain and contribute to the modernization of the local industrial and technological fabric. In order to develop these topics, we will mostly rely on French public funds recently open to researchers, including those from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.