European Commission says imprisonment of pro-independence leaders is “an internal matter of Spain”
Spokesman Alexander Winterstein refuses to comment on the arrest or "its implications"
european commission
Brussels green lights Atlantia’s bid for Abertis
EU approves Italian group’s takeover of toll road operator with Spanish ACS construction firm due to present rival bid
Juncker says EU mediation on Catalonia impossible “if only one side asks” for it
European Commission president admits he is “deeply concerned”
EU fails to condemn Spanish police violence
European Commission statement says Catalan conflict is an “internal matter” while president Puigdemont calls for international mediation
Brussels on blocked pro-indy websites: “Judges have ordered this”
EC spokesman refuses to link these measures to freedom of speech violations, rejecting comparisons "to Turkey"
UN independent expert on the promotion of democracy urges Juncker to mediate for Catalonia
Alfred-Maurice De Zayas is “concerned” about the “evidence of violations of fundamental principles of human rights and international law, including the rule of law, and self-determination"
Former Italian PM demands “return to dialogue” between Catalonia and Spain
Romano Prodi and other high-profile Italian politicians sign manifesto calling for “respect for freedom of expression and democratic principles”
Juncker says EU Commission would ‘respect’ a 'Yes' vote in Catalonia
European Commission President says an independent Catalonia would not be able to join the EU "on the day after the vote"
MEPs ask Commission to act against Spanish “threats” to Catalan mayors
President Juncker says that in the event Catalonia were independent, it should go through accession negotiations
EU-Commission urged to collect evidence of human rights violations at Spanish immigration detention centers
The Catalan MEPs Jordi Solé and Josep-Maria Terricabras invite the Commissioner for Interior and Immigration to visit the CIEs in person
EC vice president discusses “difficult” Catalan situation with socialist leader
The First Secretary of the Catalan socialists, Miquel Iceta, met with Frans Timmermans in Brussels to discuss Catalan issues
The Mediterranean Railway Corridor, a key, long-awaited infrastructure
The so-called Mediterranean Railway Corridor, a long-awaited piece of infrastructure which is set to transport freight and passengers non-stop from Gibraltar to Central Europe along the Mediterranean coastline, is one of the most representative examples of Spain’s lack of investment in Catalonia. Despite being essential not only for the Spanish economy but for the entire European economy as well, its construction has been repeatedly delayed. Even the European Commission has called for “cooperation between administrations” to implement the Corridor, which is regarded as a key infrastructure for Europe. Moreover, the delays in the construction of the Corridor are affecting private investment, the Catalan Government has warned. According to Catalan Minister for Planning and Sustainability, Josep Rull, the pending business investments are worth €300 million, of which €20 million corresponds to an investment from the German multinational Basf, which announced it will expand one of its plants in Tarragona.
Two Catalan researchers finalists at EU Prize for Women Innovators 2017
Two Catalan researchers, Gemma Galdon and Isabel Trillas were amongst the finalists at EU Prize for Women Innovators 2017, an initiative promoted by the European Commission's Directorate General for Research and Innovation together with the European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. Galdon is a policy analyst working on the social, ethical and legal impacts of data-intensive technologies while Trillas is full Professor at the Faculty of Biology at Universitat de Barcelona and developed a pesticide based on a natural microorganism to control crop diseases. The ceremony, held on Women’s International Day at the European Parliament, awarded four European researchers for their outstanding contribution. They were Michela Magas, Petra Wadström, Claudia Gärtner and Kristina Tsvetanova.
Brussels to take Spain to court if it fails “to enact EU rules on mortgage credit”
The European Commission (EC) urged Spain to “enact EU rules on mortgage credit” and to “fully transpose EU-wide rules on mortgages”. “If these Member States fail to act within two months, they may be referred to the Court of Justice of the EU”, the EU executive said this Thursday. The warning was extended to eight more countries Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden. Member States had to implement these rules in their national law by the 21st of March 2016, but having missed the original deadline, the EC warned them through letters of formal notice last May. The Mortgage Credit Directive (Directive 2014/17/EU), which was adopted on 4 February 2014, aims to “improve consumer protection measures across the EU by introducing EU-wide responsible lending practices”.
European Parliament urges Spain to stop Ebro basin plan after MEP assessment on the ground
The European Parliament (EP) approved this Wednesday the assessment presented by a delegation of MEPs who visited the Ebro Delta on the 8th of February. In their report, the MEPs focused on the “lack of ecological flow” and questioned whether Spain’s Ebro Water Plan (PHE) was in compliance with community law. Catalan MEPs and the Platform for the Defence of the Ebro Delta (PDE) celebrated the decision but urged the European Commission to act “quickly, clearly and firmly” and stop the plan projected by the Spanish Government. Even so, PDE’s spokesperson Manolo Tomás and Susana Abella considered the EP’s decision to be “an important step toward modifying Spain’s Water Plan” and “recognition” of the social demonstrations of the last years.