The waters of the northwestern region of the Mediterranean Sea follow the continental shelf break in a flow that appears to be linked to a permanent shelf/slope density front. Several studies are under way to evaluate the role of the possible forces that drive this circulation. The continental margin located off the Ebro River is an area of persistent and high-intensity winds. Long-term representative seasonal wind and current meter data are presented here in a comparative analysis of the temporal variability of both fields. The data seem to indicate that the local wind field is not responsible for the characteristics of the marine circulation. The wind is only able to develop significant inertial oscillations in spring and may contribute to the intensification of the currents only during the cold season. In addition, the variability of the current field shows no relationship to wind variability. Important mesoscale activity is probably associated with variations of the density structure and not with the wind. In essence, the wind provides no appreciable direct contribution to modifying the general circulation. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1990