Uría Menéndez celebrates 40 Years of EU Accession

Uría Menéndez has hosted an institutional event at its Madrid headquarters to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Communities, a landmark moment that marked the full integration of both countries into the European project in 1986.

The event, held in the firm’s Madrid auditorium, brought together prominent figures from the political, legal, and academic spheres. It was opened by Jesús Remón, Chairman of Uría Menéndez, who highlighted that “accession was a fundamental pillar of the consensus that enabled Spain’s Transition and the 1978 Constitution,” describing it as a “national objective” to emerge from isolation and join a common European destiny—a milestone that can be seen as the culmination of Spain’s democratic transition.

The session continued with a conversation between Felipe González, Spain’s Prime Minister at the time of accession, and Rocío Martínez-Sampere, Director of the Felipe González Foundation. Titled “Spain and Portugal in the Making of Europe”, the dialogue reflected on the historical significance of European integration for both nations, while also addressing the current challenges facing the European project. González recalled the treaty negotiations as a “national endeavor” that engaged all political, economic, and social actors.

The event concluded with a panel discussion on the impact of EU law on national legal systems, with a focus on Spain and Portugal’s contributions over the past 40 years. Introduced by Xavier Codina, partner in the Public and EU Law department, and moderated by Miguel Martínez Gimeno, firm partner and former legal advisor to the Court of Justice of the European Union, the panel featured prominent European jurists: Rosario Silva de Lapuerta, Judge and Vice-President of the Court of Justice of the European Union (2003–2021); Pedro Cruz Villalón, former President of the Spanish Constitutional Court and Advocate General of the CJEU (2009–2015); and Miguel Sampol Pucurull, Judge of the General Court of the European Union since 2019.

The closing remarks were delivered by Salvador Sánchez-Terán, Managing Partner of Uría Menéndez, who underscored the deep symbolic significance of the anniversary for the firm. He paid tribute to the firm’s founder, Rodrigo Uría Meruéndano, stating that “he would have been especially proud of this event,” not only for his steadfast European vocation but also for his role as a jurist committed to opening Spain to the world, strengthening the rule of law, and promoting the international standing of the legal profession.