Particularities of diplomatic and business protocol of Spain

Spain - land of sun and fire, country of dance and singing, country of passion and joy of life, land of horses and bullfighting, land of wine and celebration or country of epic heroes and battles. So, or otherwise, imagine many foreigners this State located on the Iberian Peninsula and representing also the gateway to Latin America. Kingdom of Spain and its culture and traditions have undergone a long evolution and many changes over the centuries and shows the effects of influence not only of European but also Arabian and Indian cultures. These factors significantly affect the Spanish way of trading, the treatment of partners, negotiation or diplomatic and business relations. Although Spain is a part of Europe and since 1986 also a member of the European Union, it still has its specific differences from other European states, which must be taken into account when establishing and maintaining any relationship, whether of business, diplomatic or cultural nature. The goal of my work is, with the help of Spanish literature authors, to characterize the business and diplomatic protocol of Spain and to highlight the most significant differences related to cultural and historical facts. Areas of interest are, for example, the style and methods of negotiation, business etiquette, business and social events, the specificities of royal protocol and other factors of social life, which blend with the world of business and diplomacy. The differences are more pronounced in the area of business, as diplomatic protocol and its rules are governed by international treaties, particularly the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations from 1961 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations from 1963, and the differences between countries are less apparent or none. In Spain, this issue is given much attention and many professional publications have come out on similar issues. Professional and informal social etiquette have their strong and respected position here, and with the increasing importance and formality of contacts, their importance is increasing as well. A model and image of the perfect knight of past times has outlasted in a modified form to this day. The role of family and differences in status and roles of men and women can not be ignored. In our country, there are these issues an object of much less interest and often then occurs the failure of negotiations or the failure of business contacts only because of ignorance and misunderstanding. My aim is therefore also to provide a better view of the Spanish country and culture from the perspective of a potential trading partner and enable an easier understanding of the Spanish way of life, thinking and the resulting negotiations. The potential of the country for our manufacturers and retailers is big and successful penetration of the Spanish market may also be the first step into the business waters of Latin America.