In Spain, per capita social expenditure is below the average for the 15 EU member countries before the 2004 expansion (EU-15), and the government has to face the challenge of closing this gap. Since 1998 the country has accumulated a social security surplus, which is a compelling argument against proposals to privatize social insurance and thus divert resources from the public treasury. In the social sphere, new rights such as those of people who are dependent on care have been recognized, but it will be difficult to implement measures to satisfy these new demands.