I'm sorry not to contribute towards the ATC side of Spain with this post. But after living there for 9 years, I can give an opinion or two about their culture.
I've always considered Spain a very bureaucratic country. Not just the government, but each individual finds the need to categorize actions in a formal manner...
And by reading most of these threads, I am not surprised to see that the Spanish ATC system is completely bureaucratic and inflexible. Reading about Spanish ATCs not allowing a pilot to fly at higher levels because he/her filed in a low level flight brings back memories of everyday issues with paperwork and civil servants in Spain.
I really don't understand how some people come to think that the Spanish are a relaxed country full of fun and parties.