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The national context in which the conservative government conducted its European policy in the period 1996–2000 witnessed changes as well as continuities. Among the changes, different public opinion strategies were adopted to present the government's European policy to Spanish society. Partly as a result of the demands of agricultural interests, a greater emphasis was placed on the defence of ‘national interests’. Among the continuities, there was political pressure by regional governments ‐ including those headed by the PP ‐ to be granted a more direct role in European institutions and organizations. Overall, both the conservatives and the preceding socialist government derived a considerable margin for manoeuvre within the EU from a strongly pro‐European public opinion. None the less, public opinion, influenced by the mass media, political elites and organized economic interests, did evolve during the …