Spain: Introduction

Spain is a country located in Southwestern Europe. The coastlines include the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, and Northern Atlantic Ocean. Neighboring countries include Andorra, France, Gibraltar, Portugal, and Morocco. Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco including several enclaves and the Canary Islands. Spain borders the Pyrenees Mountains, but much of the country is high plateaus. The government system is a parliamentary monarchy; the chief of state is the king, and the head of government is the president. Spain has a mixed capitalist economy in which there is a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. Spain is a member of the European Union (EU).