'Especial' relationship: 5 ways the Brits and the Spanish are falling in love in 2013

Can you feel the love?

With the EU scrabbling around for solutions to the economic crisis, inter-European love has been in short supply in recent months. The Germans are exasperated with the Greeks; the Irish are unimpressed by the Germans; the Italians are many behaving badly, and the French are just, well, being French.

But 2013 could well be the year that the UK and Spain come closer together to augment and strengthen a relationship that has existed for decades. Mutual respect, intrigue, humour, even love – the ingredients are all there for 2013 to be the year of the especial relationship…

Music – Allowing for lazy stereotyping for a moment… music is a wonderful window into the soul of a country. Spain’s output is catchy, summery, upbeat and has all the longevity of a piece of bubblegum. British music, on the other hand, is more sombre, inventive, wistful – it’s a true product of its environment. It is also universally adored. Spaniards are not immune to a bit of Brit Rock either, despite their generally sunnier dispositions. And in 2013, British music will be thrilling the Spanish all year long – from impromptu Beatles-infused flashmobs, through to the news that the Arctic Monkeys are to headline at this year’s Benicassim Festival.

Hospitality – Working in Spain has always been a viable option for Brits who are open-minded, educated and hardworking. And while there are fewer jobs on the Costa del Sol currently than there were during the boom years after the turn of the millennium, employment opportunities for Brits in Spain remain solid.

The flipside is a welcome influx of educated and talented Spaniards flocking to the UK for work. Many of the larger British cities have a thriving and growing expat community of Spaniards, and they’re not restricted to waitressing, bar or customer service roles either – Spanish graduates are working throughout the country in professions that range from engineering and medicine to journalism and accountancy. The explosion in Spanish tapas bars in recent years (in Bristol in 2012 alone, five tapas bars opened), is a measure of just how widespread – and well-received – the Spanish are.

Investment – Opportunities to buy property in Spain promise to be excellent in 2013. On the Costa del Sol especially, it is a buyer’s market, with prices having bottomed out and stabilised, and choice as wide as ever. The Spanish Government’s new relaxed laws on residency permits means that many wealthy Chinese, Indian and Russian investors – keen on gaining a foothold within the EU with an eye on securing British education for their offspring – are viewing Spain as a country of superb investment potential. That’s because it is.

Tourism – ‘Twas ever thus, of course. But it’s heartening to know that 2013 will continue the trend for Brits of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds to flock to Spain for summer fun. Be that a 10-day trek around the ancient cities of Andalucía, a cheap and cheerful week in Torremolinos, or a fortnight spent island-hopping across the Balearics, the Brits’ love affair with Spain’s charms shows no signs of slowing. So much so that British Airways and other low-cost carriers are adding new routes between the UK and Spain in 2013.

But there’s more. The tourist flow now runs counter to the tide, too. Spaniards are learning to love the UK. Visit any of the country’s most famous attractions and there’s always a dark-haired gaggle of stylish Spaniards snapping pics, sipping coffee and looking just ever-so-slightly cold as they get their fill of British history and traditions. The visiting parents – an increasingly regular sight – look even colder but no less excited to be touring the towns of the  UK.

Sport – We’re still waiting for the next Becks to take La Liga by storm, but the English Premier League is awash with brilliant Spanish footballers who add a dash of verve and artistry to the otherwise workaday existence of English football. Without them, the league would be a much duller place, and the legions of loyal fans know it.

So, muchas gracias, Spain! May the relationship grow even stronger throughout 2013!