About: Spain
Spain planning reforms to access EU funding sooner
The Spanish government is currently drafting a detailed “road map” of reforms – including changes to pensions and the country's labour law – in order to speed up access to EU funding and mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Spain to extend temporary lay-off schemes for 800,000 workers
The Spanish government is ready to approve before Friday (15 January) an extension of temporary lay-off schemes put in place March last year to protect jobs for around 800,000 workers affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the tourism and services sectors. EURACTIV’s partner EuroEFE reports.
Spain to launch Whatsapp channel to fight vaccine disinformation
Spain’s health ministry will soon launch a WhatsApp interactive channel to fight against disinformation on COVID-19 vaccines, El País reported. This should help reduce the percentage of Spaniards who still refuse to get vaccinated. EURACTIV's partner EuroEfe reports.
Spain paralysed by snowstorm, sends out vaccine, food convoys
The Spanish government will send convoys carrying the COVID-19 vaccine and food supplies on Sunday (10 January) to areas cut off by Storm Filomena which brought the heaviest snowfall in decades across central Spain and killed four people.
Migrant crossings down 13% in 2020 due to Covid
The number of illegal border crossings into the European Union fell by 13% to around 124,000 last year, the EU's border agency said Friday (8 January).
‘Solidarity cannot be voluntary’: Portugal begins talks on EU migration pact
Portugal started a round of talks with ministers from various European Union (EU) nations on the new pact to tackle the bloc's long-standing migration issues, its government said on Tuesday (5 January).
‘Don’t leave me this way’ sing Britons in Spain as Brexit kicks in
Bangers and mash, pints of beer, a Europeans vs Britons tug-of-war and renditions of “Don’t Leave me This Way” and “We’ll Meet Again”. UK expats in Spain marked Britain’s departure from the European Union in true British style. Although many...
Gibraltar joins Schengen as Spain, UK ink 11th-hour deal
Gibraltar will become part of the Schengen zone to ensure fluidity on its border with Spain in a landmark deal inked just hours before the Brexit deadline, Spain's top diplomat said Thursday (31 December).
Talks to avoid Spain-Gibraltar ‘hard border’ go down to wire
Madrid and London were Tuesday (29 December) negotiating against the clock to preserve the free movement of people across the border between Spain and Gibraltar once the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December.
Spain to keep registry of people who refuse Covid vaccine
Spain will set up a registry of people who refuse to be vaccinated against the new coronavirus and share it with other European Union member states, although it will not be made public, Health Minister Salvador Illa said.
Spain passes budget in boost for minority government
Spain's Senate approved Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's budget for 2021 on Tuesday (22 December), boosting his minority Socialist-led government after years of political instability.
Spanish parliament approves controversial euthanasia bill
The Spanish parliament (Congreso de los Diputados) approved on Thursday with a large majority a controversial bill to regulate euthanasia in the country, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Spain ready to implement tougher measures as ‘Christmas clock’ is ticking
With the virus not going away ahead of the Christmas season, the Spanish government is ready to implement tougher measures, Spain’s socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told parliament on Wednesday, EFE reports.
Spanish government to prepare a list of ‘safe’ 5G mobile providers
The Spanish government will draft a list of “safe” mobile technology suppliers for the future local 5G mobile network to assess their level of risk, allowing the government to avoid issuing an explicit veto against Chinese giant Huawei or any other mobile operator, EFE reported.
Spain’s prime minister: Economic growth does not guarantee well-being
Spain’s socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, stressed in Paris on Monday (14 December) that "economic growth does not guarantee well-being" and that the world needs a change of paradigm to deal with new challenges. EURACTIV's partner EFE reported.
Spain’s government encourages regions to submit ‘powerful projects’ eligible for EU financing
Spain’s Minister for Territorial Policy, Carolina Darias, encouraged local councils and regional governments in the country to submit "powerful projects", mainly focused in areas such as the “green economy”, digital transformation, social cohesion and gender equality, all of which are eligible for financing under the EU Next Generation fund, EURACTIV's partner EFE reported.
Spanish minister confident end-of-year economic figures better than predicted
Spain's economy will do slightly better than previously forecast, with a 2.4% GDP increase by the end of this month, the country's Inclusion and Social Security Minister José Luis Escrivá predicted on Tuesday (8 December). EFE reports.
Spain’s health minister urges people to apply ‘common sense’ over Christmas
The new restrictions approved by the Spanish government to prevent the spread of the virus at Christmas are “very tough”, health minister Salvador Illa admitted on Monday (7 December) but warned that their success would depend almost exclusively upon every citizen’s responsible behaviour. EURACTIV's partner EFE reported.
EU top diplomat keeps mum over Turkey arms embargo
The EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell clearly dodged a question on Monday (7 December) over the possibility to impose an EU arms embargo on Turkey as a means to convince Ankara to de-escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Spanish...
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.
Spanish parliament approves ‘historical’ state budget for 2021
The Spanish parliament on Thursday (3 December) approved by a large majority the new state budget bill for 2021, which gathered the support of 11 political parties, including Catalan and Basque separatists, EFE reports.
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.
EU wants to improve migration cooperation with Morocco
The European Union wants to improve cooperation with Morocco on the return of illegal migrants from the bloc while also discussing visa facilitation, the EU's home affairs commissioner said Tuesday (1 December).