Spain joined the European Union in 1986. The EU was founded in the 1950s through treaties that aimed to unite countries based on shared democratic values. Spain benefited politically from its membership, becoming allies with major powers like Germany and France, though it also faced challenges integrating some policies. Economically, EU membership helped modernize Spain's agriculture and industry sectors and increased trade, though it negatively impacted some domestic industries. Overall, membership has been assessed as providing more advantages than disadvantages for Spain.