eu2010 - Spain in focus

Spain in focus

Spain is one of the most pro-European countries in the EU and one of the best known by the continent's citizens thanks to being a very popular tourist destination. Spain's way of life along with its natural beauty and cultural heritage (it has the second highest number of Unesco World Heritage sites in the world) are the main attractions for visitors. One of Europe's oldest nations, Spain is a country that is very attached to its traditions and its cultural diversity, but which also has a passion for modernity.

These days, Spain has very progressive legislation on social matters, such as marriage between homosexuals, and on scientific matters, such as legislation permitting stem cell research, and it is also a pioneer in the development of renewable energy.

Spain is also at the forefront in fine arts, a field in which it has a long and rich tradition, and in gastronomy, with chefs that use innovative techniques to get the best out of the excellent local ingredients.

Finally, Hispanic culture has extensive influence, thanks to the Castilian language, which is spoken by 400 million people around the world. But there are also four other languages spoken in Spain: Catalan, Basque, Galician and Valencian.