About: Madrid
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". VideoPromoted content
The 2014-2020 EU Aid Budget: Enough to do the job? – Madrid 2013
Europe is going through one of the worst economic and financial crisis in decades and governments across the continent have implemented tough austerity measures. In Spain, where cutbacks have been particularly tough, the government recently decided to reduce the budget for development aid by 80%. VideoPromoted content
Good results drag Spain away from bailout territory
Madrid announced on Tuesday (29 January) that it had beaten revenue targets for 2012 as tax hikes offset a shrinking economy, moving the country further away from an EU-IMF sovereign bailout which seemed unavoidable a few months ago.Only a political suicide or national unity government can save Spain and the euro
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, his voters are being bled dry on all sides. At the same time, an impatient EU is piling on the pressure to inflict even more pain at speed. It is a difficult balancing act for Rajoy, who needs his voters to believe that he has their best interests at heart under relentless pressure from the markets and the EU, writes Andy Langenkamp. VideoPromoted content
Spain joins ‘the Group of Debt’
It is not a bailout, but a nearly condition-free loan. This is the message sent by the Spanish government after euro zone finance ministers agreed on Saturday to lend Madrid up to 100 billion euros for recapitalising its banks. Following weeks of denying the need for financial assistance, Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy gave in to international pressure. He requested a rescue package that he portrayed as a triumph, but which caused outrage among Spanish citizens. VideoPromoted content