| Working languages | Spanish and Portuguese |
| Recognized regional languages | Catalan, Basque, Galician and Arabic |
| Headquarters Secretariat | Mérida (Spain) |
| Copresidents of the FRI | Presidents of Spain and Portugal |
| Type of organization | Confederation |
| Area (km²) | Peninsula (582.780), Balearic, Canary, Madeira and Azores Islands (14.287), Africa (2,404,208) and Asia (4.333) |
| Population | n/a |
| Establishment | 1940s |
| Currencies | Spanish peseta, Portuguese escudo, Riffian riall and some overseas territories have their own currency. |
| Accounting unit | Iberian maravedí |
| Associated members | Rif Republic |
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The Iberian Republican Federation (FRI) is the regional political and economical union of Spain and Portugal.
According to the Iberian Pact (Pacto Ibérico) the purposes of the FRI are to establish a customs union, coordinate common economic policies, integration of transports and communications, develop and share energy and water resources, enable a single economic market, open internal borders, educational, scientific and cultural cooperation, and common defence policies and integration of armed forces.
The Rif Republic is an associated member. The Treaties of Tétouan established an economic partnership and union, military assistance and cultural exchange with the Rif.
Origins[]
The goal of an integration of Spain and Portugal has its ideological origins in Iberism. It has being mainly promoted by republican and socialist movements in both nations. However more urgent needs in the political agenda of both republics pushed it aside. Serious, but marginal, efforts came from anarchists in the Federación Anarquista Ibérica (FAI, Iberian Anarchist Federation) and Federación Ibérica de Juventudes Libertaria (FIJL, Iberian Federation of Libertarian Youth)
However a series of initiatives like the annual Copa Ibérica de Fútbol (Iberian Cup of football) in 1935, la Vuelta a Iberia road cycling tour, a common Olympic Team and a common national football team (both named Iberia), made the idea of Iberism more likely and natural to large segments of the population.
Also the creation in late 1930s by Spanish and Portuguese immigrants and local residents in the Riffian Republic of the Iberian Citizens Union (Unión de Ciudadanos Ibéricos) to pressure and lobby for political participation at local level.
At the end of 1940s cooperation and common interests lead to a series of bilateral meetings. The signature of the Iberian Pact or Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Integration of Spain and Portugal created the FRI.
Organization[]
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map of Iberian Republican Federation
The institutions of the FRI are
- Iberian Summits, annual meeting of the Heads of State and Government.
- Iberian Council, meeting of the Heads of Governments and ministers. It also coordinates working groups in areas of integration.
- Iberian Assembly, integrated by parliamentary delegates of Spain and Portugal.
- Iberian Defense Council, integrated by Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of Spain and Portugal. Its mission it to coordinate, plan and command the defense of the FRI.
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