Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Spain and Portugal facts for kids
| Type | Bilateral treaty |
|---|---|
| Signed | November 2, 1977 |
| Location | Madrid, Spain |
| Effective | May 5, 1978 |
| Signatories | Mário Soares Adolfo Suárez |
| Parties |  Spain Portugal |
| Languages | Spanish Portuguese |
The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Spain and Portugal is an important agreement between Spain and Portugal. It was signed on November 22, 1977. A treaty is like a formal written agreement between countries. This one was a bilateral treaty, meaning it involved two countries.
The main goal of this treaty was to make the friendship and teamwork between Spain and Portugal even stronger. Leaders from both countries signed it. The Prime Minister of Portugal, Mário Soares, and the Prime Minister of Spain, Adolfo Suárez, put their names on the document.
This treaty became official after both countries approved it. Portugal approved it on April 17, 1978. Spain approved it a bit later, on April 25, 1978. This step is called ratification.
Contents
Why This Treaty Was Important
This agreement was very special because it came after big changes in both countries. Before this, both Spain and Portugal had governments that were not democracies. They were ruled by strong leaders.
Moving Towards Democracy
Portugal had a big change in 1974 called the Carnation Revolution. This event brought democracy back to the country. Spain also had a major shift. After its former leader passed away, Spain held its first free election in 1977. This election helped Spain become a democracy too.
Replacing an Older Agreement
The new Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation replaced an older agreement. This older one was called the Iberian Pact, signed in 1942. The new treaty showed that Spain and Portugal were now modern democracies. They wanted to work together in a new, friendly way.
See also
- Portugal–Spain relations
