Spain

ECB's de Cos says mitigating measures in EU lead to severe economic disruption

MADRID (Reuters) - European Central Bank’s policymaker Pablo Hernandez de Cos said on Friday all the measures taken by European Union countries to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus epidemic would lead to “very severe” economic disruption.

De Cos added in an emailed statement sent to Reuters that a coordination at the EU level is “not an option” but “a necessity”.

He added the bank’s governing council is determined to do “whatever is needed”.

Two Albanians smash car into Barcelona airport with Islamist cries

MADRID (Reuters) - Two Albanian men were arrested after crashing a car into the interior of Barcelona airport’s Terminal 1 early on Friday morning yelling “Islamist-type” slogans, but there were no injuries, officials said.

Barcelona’s airport is nearly empty, as are airports across Spain, because of a partial lockdown imposed to fight the coronavirus epidemic.

The police bomb squad Tedax confirmed there were no explosives in the car.

Spanish King renounces inheritance from father amid scandal

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s King Felipe VI has renounced any future personal inheritance he could receive from his father, King Emerit Juan Carlos I, over the alleged financial irregularities involving the former monarch, the country’s royal house announced Sunday.

The royal house said in a statement that in addition to renouncing his inheritance, Felipe is stripping Juan Carlos of his annual stipend. In 2018, the former monarch received 194,232 euros ($216,000).

Wife of Spanish PM Sanchez has coronavirus

Madrid, Mar 15 (AFP/PTI) The wife of Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, his office said.

The announcement came late Saturday, just hours after he announced a near total lockdown nationwide.

Both Begona Gomez and her husband were well, and were at their official residence following the new measures introduced by the health authorities, said a government statement.

Spain imposes near total lockdown to fight virus

MADRID, March 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain followed Italy and imposed a near total nationwide lockdown to fight the spread of coronavirus by banning people from leaving home except to go to work, get medical care or buy food.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the restrictions on movement following a huge spike in the number of infections in this nation of some 46 million people.

They are among the measures introduced as part of a 15-day state of emergency officially declared by his government on Saturday.

Spain's opposition leader Casado says government was too slow to react on coronavirus

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain’s main opposition leader Pablo Casado on Saturday said the government was too slow to react to limit the impact and contain the spread of the coronavirus.

His comments came minutes after Prime Minister Pedro said the government would put its 47 million inhabitants under partial lockdown as part of a 15-day state of emergency to combat the coronavirus epidemic.

Spain locks down its citizens, while France shuts nightlife

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain locked down its 46 million citizens and France ordered the closing of just about everything the rest of the world loves about it — the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the cafes and restaurants — as governments took increasingly desperate measures to put more space between people and contain the coronavirus.

Spain takes first European moves against Plácido Domingo

MADRID (AP) — The Spanish government said Wednesday it was canceling two upcoming performances by Plácido Domingo in Madrid to show support for the women who have accused him of misconduct and take a stand against sexual harassment, becoming the first in Europe to cancel on the megastar since allegations surfaced last year in the United States.

Spain Set To Impose Digital Tax On Tech Giants

MADRID, Feb 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Spanish government approved the introduction of the so-called “Google tax” on digital companies, during its weekly meeting held on Tuesday.

The bill for a digital service tax proposes taxing the revenues of large web companies, such as Google, Amazon and Facebook, obtained through publicity from advertising and the sale of data and intermediary services, at a rate of three percent, Spain’s Minister of Finance, Maria Jesus Montero, confirmed.

Impact of Brexit on Spain depends on trade deal, says expert

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The impact of Brexit on Spain is still very uncertain, and very much depends on the trade deal to be negotiated during the transition period, an expert said on Friday.

Britain officially left the European Union (EU) on Jan. 31, 2020, putting an end to its 47-year-long membership of the world's largest trading bloc. The remaining 27 EU member states have agreed to negotiate a trade deal with the UK by the end of 2020.

Subscribe to Spain