The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, the first Important Project of Common European Interest (‘IPCEI’) to support research, innovation and the first industrial deployment of healthcare products, as well as innovative production processes of pharmaceuticals. This IPCEI will notably contribute to the European Health Union‘s objectives by delivering innovations addressing diseases for […]
European Commission publishes analysis on social convergence in Spain in the context of the European Semester
The Commission has published a detailed country analysis on employment, skills and social inclusion for Spain and six other Member States (Bulgaria, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, Hungary and Romania), detailing the results of the social convergence framework. This more detailed analysis is based on the findings of the Joint Employment Report 2024, which includes the first […]
Eurostat: Spain recorded the highest life expectancy in the EU in 2023
According to preliminary 2023 data, life expectancy at birth in the EU was 81.5 years, up by 0.9 years from 2022, and 0.2 years compared with the pre-pandemic level in 2019. This information comes from the provisional data on life expectancy published by Eurostat. In 15 countries, life expectancy exceeded the EU average, with the highest life expectancy recorded for […]
European Commission approves new geographical indications for Spain and Italy
‘Cabrito de Extremadura‘ and ‘Terre Abruzzesi’/’Terre d’Abruzzo’ are entered in the register of protected geographical indications (PGI). The European Commission yesterday approved the inclusion of “Cabrito de Extremadura” – kid meat from the Spanish region of Extremadura – and “Terre Abruzzesi”/”Terre d’Abruzzo” – wines from the Italian region of Abruzzo – in the register of […]
Spain, together with Italy, was the largest wine exporter in the European Union in 2022
In 2022, sold production of wine (including sparkling wine, port and grape must) in the EU amounted to 16.1 billion (bn) litres. The top three wine producers accounted for 83% of EU production. Italy and Spain each contributed nearly 5.0 bn litres, representing together 62% of the total sold production in the EU, while France produced 3.4 […]
78 involved in large-scale cannabis trafficking arrested in Spain and Italy
The criminal network is linked to more than six tonnes of intercepted shipments of cannabis and hashish. Europol supported the Italian Financial Guard (Guardia di Finanza) and Spanish Regional Catalan Police (Mossos d’Esquadra) in dismantling a large criminal network behind several tonnes of cannabis being trafficked to the EU. The investigation, also supported by Eurojust, […]
Up to €1.7bn of EIB finance for new solar power plants in Spain, Italy and Portugal
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved framework financing of up to €1.7 billion for Solaria to support the construction of some 120 photovoltaic power plants. Mostly located in Spain, as well as Italy and Portugal, they will have a total capacity of approximately 5.6 GW and will produce an estimated 9.29 TWh a year. […]
10-Point Plan for Lampedusa
In view of the unfolding situation in Lampedusa, and while recognising the increasing pressure along different migratory routes, European Commission President von der Leyen laid out the following set of immediate actions to be exercised in full respect of fundamental rights and international obligations: Reinforce the support to Italy by the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA) and the […]
Spain’s Alcarrás to compete for the LUX European Film Audience Award 2023
The five films competing for the LUX European Film Audience Award 2023 are Alcarràs, Burning Days, Close, The Triangle of Sadness and Will-o’-the-Wisp. The nominated films were announced during the European Film Awards ceremony in Reykjavík. Organised by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy in partnership with the European Commission and Europa Cinema, the LUX […]