The activities promoted within the framework of the thirtieth edition of the Congress’s Open Days will facilitate citizens from different regions access to original documents kept in the Parliamentary Archives and allow them to get to know unknown pieces that testify to the country’s recent history. These materials, detailed by Europa Press, include fundamental files and protocols relating to Spain’s accession to the European Union, a process formalized on January 1, 1986, whose decisions have shaped both the national legal framework and the international orientation of Spanish institutions. In parallel, the commemoration commemorates the 40th anniversary of Spain’s integration into the Community bloc and the 47th anniversary since the adoption of the 1978 Constitution.
From this Friday and throughout Saturday, the Palacio de la Carrera de San Jerónimo, seat of Congress, will keep its doors open to citizens as part of the day that promotes transparency and direct contact with the legislative institution. According to Europa Press, visitors enter the building through the Lions Gate and are welcomed by the President of the Congress, Francina Armengol, accompanied by the Executive Board members and representatives of the political groups, underlining the Parliament’s commitment to institutional openness.
During the tour, visitors can walk through the historic halls and emblematic rooms and enter exhibition areas where unpublished documentation on the most important milestones of European integration is protected and displayed. As Europa Press reports, the Constitutional Chamber is hosting an exhibition dedicated to Spain’s institutional development in the context of its participation in European organizations. There are documents that reflect the legal, diplomatic and legislative challenges overcome during the integration process, as well as analyzing the adaptation of the internal legal framework to the requirements of the European Community.
The House of Commons has highlighted that the exhibition commemorates both the agreements and negotiations developed during integration, as well as the legal and parliamentary debates that accompanied the process. The documents on display include protocols, legislative projects and direct testimonies of the negotiations of the last decades, allowing participants to understand the dimension of the legal reforms advanced to adapt Spanish regulations to European Union directives.
According to Europa Press, the organization of these days also highlights the architectural heritage of the Congress and the richness of its documentary collections, which reflect both the European and democratic dimensions of the institution. The program offers tours that explain parliamentary procedures and review notable episodes of recent politics, promoting public understanding of the institution’s internal workings and the importance of legislative memory.
The first edition of this initiative took place in 1997, on the occasion of the Constitutional Jubilee and under the presidency of Federico Trillo-Figueroa. Later, in June, the socialist Manuel Marín sponsored an additional edition to commemorate the first anniversary of the democratic elections of June 15, 1977, an important beginning of the transition to the Constituent Cortes and the end of the dictatorship in Spain. Since then, these days have taken on a regular character and under the current presidency four editions have been held focusing on these milestones.
The Europa Press newspaper pointed out that the conference aims to promote citizen participation and access to documentary heritage, providing participants with materials that are normally only consulted by members of parliament’s staff. The previous edition, held in November 2024, brought together nearly 9,000 visitors who toured the historic spaces of the Congress and examined relevant archives in the process of democratic consolidation.
As Europa Press reports, parliamentary authorities emphasize the importance of these activities in building collective memory and promoting citizens’ information about the impact of legislative decisions. During the tour, participants will be able to observe both current parliamentary activity and the historical heritage stored in institutional funds, gaining a comprehensive overview of the role of the House of Commons in both the national and European context.
Europa Press has emphasized that the programming is part of the commemoration of symbolic dates and is in line with the aim of strengthening the Congress’s commitment to openness, transparency and the dissemination of its institutional heritage. In this way, the Congress makes available to the public original documents and testimonies on the most important legal and policy debates for European integration, thereby strengthening the connection between the institution and citizens.
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