Yesterday morning, Finland and Sweden simultaneously handed in their official letters of application to join NATO, a momentous step for the two historically militarily non-aligned countries. The decision was a direct reaction to Russia’s war in Ukraine. According to Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, “a chain of events leading to the applications had begun last December, with a statement […]
Read More
The Government of Spain supports Finland and Sweden’s future NATO membership
The Government of Spain supports the decision of the governments of Finland and Sweden to apply for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the result of a profound debate of their political and social forces and of a calm and responsible evaluation of the situation of the security architecture in Europe following Russia’s military […]
Read More
Ukraine’s financing gap and longer-term reconstruction
The Commission has set out plans in a Communication for the EU’s immediate response to address Ukraine’s financing gap, as well as the longer-term reconstruction framework. This Communication follows from the European Council call to address the consequences of the war in Ukraine via a dedicated Europe-led effort. Immediate response and short terms needs Since […]
Read More
Commission’s emergency measures to improve energy markets
In response to several months of exceptionally high and volatile energy prices, the Commission sets out on 18th May a series of additional short-term measures to tackle high energy prices and address possible supply disruptions from Russia. It also presents a number of areas where the electricity market design can be optimsied, making it fit […]
Read More
President Metsola calls on Iran to set Ahmadreza Djalali free
At the opening of the session, President Metsola expressed Parliament’s opposition to the death penalty and called on Iran to stop the execution of Professor Djalali. Professor Djalali is a Swedish-Iranian national and a scholar at the Vrije Universiteit of Brussel and the University of Eastern Piedmont, whose execution is set to take place on […]
Read More
Speech by Von der Leyen at the European Hydrogen Energy Conference 2022
Your Majesty, Vice Prime Minister Ribera, Dear friends of the Spanish Hydrogen Association and Hydrogen Europe, Distinguished guests, For years, science has been telling us that we must end our reliance on fossil fuels to save our planet. Now the Kremlin’s attack on Ukraine has given us yet another reason. That is to secure […]
Read More
Spain’s position on the expulsion of 27 employees of the Embassy in Russia
Spain rejects the decision taken by the Russian Federation to expel a total of 27 staff members of the Spanish Embassy in Russia. The Russian authorities justify this decision on the basis of reciprocity for the expulsion of 27 officials of the Russian Embassy in Madrid notified last April. However, the expulsion decided then by […]
Read More
Climate change: MEPs push for accelerated EU action and energy independence
Emissions Trading System reform: free allowances for industries phased out more quickly and citizens included later in ETS II Broader scope and faster implementation in new carbon leakage instrument Stricter trajectory, more transparency and less flexibility for member states’ greenhouse gas emissions in other sectors New EU carbon sinks goal will increase EU 2030 reduction […]
Read More
A group of Member States committed to contribute €270 million to the ALMA initiative
The first Member States have expressed their commitment to implement the Commission’s new initiative ALMA (‘Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve’) to support disadvantaged young people on their way into the job market or further education. At an event on youth employment organised by the Commission last week, it announced that so far more than half of Member States […]
Read More