Spain and the EU

Latest business news about Spain and the European Union

• Spain country profile

Spanish restrictions on energy takeovers illegal: EU court — 17 July 2008, 15:13 CET

Europe's highest court ruled on Thursday that Spain broke EU law by subjecting energy sector takeovers to special regulatory scrutiny in a case that fuelled fears of protectionism between European nations.

Spain wraps up parliamentary ratification of Lisbon treaty — 15 July 2008, 22:28 CET

Spain's Senate approved the European Union's Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday, wrapping up the parliamentary ratification process of the text one month after it was rejected by voters in Ireland.

Spain's lower house of parliament approves Lisbon treaty — 26 June 2008, 14:58 CET

Spain's lower house of parliament Thursday voted overwhelmingly in favour of ratifying the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, two weeks after its rejection by voters in Ireland.

Spain to extend period illegal immigrants can he held in custody — 19 June 2008, 22:49 CET

Spain will extend the period under which illegal immigrants can be held in custody to 60 days from the current 40 days, Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said Thursday.

Ireland's 'no' vote bad news for Europe: Spain — 14 June 2008, 00:24 CET

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Ireland's 'no' vote for the EU reform treaty "is not good news", but said a solution would be found.

Spain rejects EU tuna ruling — 14 June 2008, 00:28 CET

Spain, home to Europe's largest fishing fleet, has protested the "disproportionate" Commission decision to shut down industrial tuna fishing in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic.

Spain's Zapatero calls for EU unity on energy, immigration — 05 June 2008, 10:10 CET

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero called for greater European unity on immigration and energy to strengthen the bloc's borders and fuel supplies, in an interview Thursday.

EU issues Spain with final warning on Endesa takeover — 15 May 2008, 14:53 CET

The Commission has issued a final call to Spain to drop its restrictions on a foreign takeover of power company Endesa, warning that court action could ensue unless Madrid acts within a month.

Spain to extend period illegal immigrants can he held in custody — 08 May 2008, 15:30 CET

Spain plans to extend the period under which illegal immigrants can be held in custody from the current 40 days, Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said Thursday.

Millions of 'Latino' immigrants boost Spain's low birthrate — 27 April 2008, 12:28 CET

Soaring numbers of young immigrants have compensated for a low birthrate in Spain in recent years, but the country is still expected to have one of the oldest populations in the world by the middle of the century, experts say.

Spain and Britain to cooperate against illegal immigration — 23 April 2008, 17:05 CET

Britain and Spain agreed on Wednesday to boost cooperation to combat illegal immigration from Africa into the European Union, Britain's minister for Europe Jim Murphy said.

Spain announces EUR 18bn economic stimulus plan — 18 April 2008, 20:51 CET

Spain's newly re-elected government has announced an EUR 18bn plan to revive the economy, suffering a slowdown after a decade-long boom.

Spain names new minister for EU affairs — 15 April 2008, 17:43 CET

Spain's foreign ministry Tuesday announced the appointment of an experienced politician, Diego Lopez Garrido, as the country's new secretary of state for the European Union.

Bush congratulates Zapatero in sign of US-Spain rapprochement — 14 March 2008, 21:49 CET

US President George W. Bush on Friday congratulated Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on his recent election victory, a sign of a thaw after four years of cool ties over Iraq.

EU condemns killing in Spain's Basque region — 08 March 2008, 01:08 CET

The European Union condemned Friday the killing of a former politician in Spain's Basque region just before weekend general elections, and expressed solidarity with the Spanish people.

EU court rules against Spain in Endesa takeover saga — 06 March 2008, 14:19 CET

Europe's highest court has ruled that Spain illegally defied EU demands to drop restrictions on a foreign takeover of a power company in a case that fuelled protectionism fears.

Iberdrola complains to EU about French role in EDF bid: source — 27 February 2008, 23:53 CET

Iberdrola, Spain's second-biggest energy utility, has filed a complaint against Paris with the European Union for supporting French power giant EDF in its bid to win control of the company, a source close to the Spanish group said Wednesday.

Spain rules out recognising Kosovo independence — 18 February 2008, 13:41 CET

Spain will not recognise the independence of Kosovo, Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Monday after the former Serbian province broke away over the weekend.

EU court rules against Spanish law protecting energy groups — 14 February 2008, 16:52 CET

An EU court ruled on Thursday against a Spanish law that Madrid has used to ward off foreign energy companies from making takeovers of Spanish groups.

EU targets Spanish film studio in illegal state aid probe — 13 February 2008, 20:40 CET

The Commission has launched a probe into Spanish state aid for a film studio to determine whether the support gives the complex an unfair edge.

Spain and the euro — 03 February 2008, 23:39 CET

The euro is the single currency shared by 15 of the European Union's Member States - Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Greece, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta - which together make up the eurozone. Around 317 million EU citizens now use the euro as their currency.

EU opens action against Spain over Endesa bid — 31 January 2008, 16:28 CET

The Commission has opened an infringement procedure against Spain after Madrid failed to lift disputed conditions on a takeover bid for Spanish power company Endesa.

EU's Almunia urges Spain's parties to restrain election spending promises — 29 January 2008, 19:20 CET

Spain's political parties must take care not to make election promises that will eliminate the country's record budget surplus, European Union Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Tuesday.

EU regulators threaten action against Spain over Endesa bid — 11 January 2008, 18:48 CET

The European Commission is threatening legal action against Spain after Madrid failed to lift disputed conditions on a takeover bid for Spanish power company Endesa.

EU orders Spain to drop conditions on Endesa takeover — 05 December 2007, 18:38 CET

EU regulators tell Spain it must drop some illegal conditions imposed on a bid by Enel and Acciona to take over Spanish power company Endesa.