About: Madrid

Spain announces €11 billion direct aid package for SMEs

Spain’s socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Wednesday (24 February) an €11 billion direct aid package to help mitigate the difficult financial situation of Spain's small and medium-sized companies, and the self-employed badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.

New trial kicks off against former treasurer of Spain’s Popular Party

A new trial against the former treasurer of Spain’s Popular Party (PP) Luis Bárcenas for the use of alleged illegal money to refurbish the headquarters of the conservative party in Madrid kicked off in the Spanish capital on Monday (8 February). EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.

French climate expert: We’ve made much progress in implementing Paris Agreement

In an exclusive interview with EURACTIV France, Paul Watkinson, president of the UN Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice at COP24 and COP25, discussed why the 'rulebook' on implementing the Paris Climate Agreement still has not been ratified.

Spain’s former king submits tax regularisation before national tax agency

Spain’s former king, Juan Carlos I, has submitted voluntarily to the Spanish tax agency a tax regularisation statement, after local media reported extensively in recent months about alleged tax fraud cases said to be related to the former king, El País reported on Sunday.

Madrid officials unveil pandemic hospital, opponents claim political stunt

A modernistic pandemic hospital unveiled in Madrid has become the latest point of contention in Spain’s feverish political landscape with detractors claiming it is for political gain. EFE and EPA report.

Madrid given 48 hours to implement partial lockdown

Officials in the Spanish capital have 48 hours to introduce tighter measures on social life and implement a partial lockdown preventing residents from leaving the city limits without justification, according to new criteria approved by the Spanish government on Thursday (1 October). EURACTIV's partner EUROEFE reports.

Spain won’t declare another national state of alarm, allows regions to lockdown if necessary

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez ruled out declaring another national state of alarm over the coronavirus following his first cabinet meeting after the summer vacation. Regional governments have the power to impose local measures if necessary, he said. EURACTIV's partner EFE reports.

Spain holds minute’s silence for COVID-19 victims, begins 10-day mourning period

Spain held a minute’s silence yesterday (27 May) to pay tribute to the more than 27,000 people who have died from COVID-19 in the country as it begins a 10-day mourning period. EURACTIV's partner EFE reports.

Madrid toasts lockdown easing as outdoor terraces partially reopen

Four friends sat around a table in Madrid’s central La Latina neighbourhood and enjoyed a round of beers in the late Monday morning sun, a toast to rediscovered freedoms. A year ago, it would have seemed like a perfectly ordinary spring day, but for most Madrid residents today, it was almost a landmark event.

Spain to reopen borders to foreign tourists from July

Spain's tourism sector should prepare to welcome holidaymakers over the summer season as the country will reopen its borders to foreign visitors from July, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told a press conference in Madrid on Saturday (23 May). EURACTIV's partner EFE reports.

Coronavirus waste: Burn it or dump it?

Masks, gloves, and other contaminated garbage from hospitals and households, which have been piling up by the thousands of tons as Spain battled through the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, have undermined recycling chains and overwhelmed processing plants.

Europe ‘disappointed’ with COP25’s mediocre outcome

Sixteen days of negotiations were not enough to find common ground on international carbon trading rules, one of the main issues of contention at the COP25 climate summit in Madrid. EURACTIV France reports.

COP25 news and views: What’s happening in Madrid (part 3)

As UN climate negotiations enter their second and decisive week, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on of the 25th climate conference in Madrid (COP25) and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: Badges taken away, German satisfaction, French absence, and fighting in Tokyo.

European Green Deal gives COP25 a ‘breath of fresh air’

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen jolted the COP25 conference in Madrid when she presented her European Green Deal yesterday (11 December). But many observers, including young people, are calling for more ambition. EURACTIV France reports.

COP25 news and views: What’s happening in Madrid (part 2)

As UN climate negotiations enter their second and decisive week, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on of the 25th climate conference in Madrid (COP25) and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: ambition, carbon pricing, dunce cap, and getting mad for climate.

COP25 news and views: What’s happening in Madrid

As UN climate negotiations enter their second and decisive week, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on of the 25th climate conference in Madrid (COP25) and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: train ride, ray of the day, reality check-point, and climate finance big time.

COP25 will determine climate’s ‘crucial’ year

This year's COP25, which takes place in Madrid in December, will be the start of a crucial year for the environment. By next March, the EU needs to fine-tune its Green Deal and by the end of 2020, China and India will have to be able to anchor themselves to raise ambitions on a more global level. EURACTIV France reports.

Is Madrid really about to kill Europe’s most successful clean air zone?

Madrid’s clean air zone could be axed by the city’s new mayor, despite the reported benefits. Jens Müller urges the new leadership to take a look at the hard facts.

European cities take Commission to court over air quality in landmark case

In the same week that the European Commission announced it would take six countries to court for breaking air pollution limits, three major cities said they would start legal action against the EU executive. They accuse the Commission of  giving in to automotive lobbies. EURACTIV’s partner La Tribune reports.

European mayors urge clampdown on diesel emissions

The mayors of 20 European cities including Madrid, Paris and Copenhagen, but excluding London, have called for more stringent regulations to be put in place across the continent to tackle the deadly levels of air pollution caused by diesel vehicles. EURACTIV’s partner edie.net reports.

EPP leaders: populism a ‘cancer’ spreading across Europe

Leaders from the European Peoples Party (EPP) meeting in Madrid on Thursday (22 October) warned that populism was a “disease” spreading “like a cancer” in the EU.

Spain’s ‘Dr’ Rajoy mocked for party election ad

A self-congratulatory party election advert shown yesterday (14 October) by Spain's ruling Popular Party (PP) has sparked controversy, ahead of elections due to be held in eight weeks time.

ECB stress tests to challenge Germany’s Landesbanken

For the first time since the financial crisis struck in 2008, the European Union is carrying out stress tests that could force change at banks with strong political connections, such as Germany's regional banks - the "Landesbanken".