Tag Archives: eu

European integration is dead – until a new model can be found

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The relentless pursuit of ever closer union has led to a wholesale destruction in the social cohesion of Mediterranean countries, and a lost generation that will take decades to be recovered Europe as a political union is an experiment that has been tried time and again throughout history. Only three modern political states have managed to fuse together such a disparity of different cultures into a functional country – the USA, the USSR and China. Continue reading European integration is dead – until a new model can be found→

European Commissions issues a “fake declaration” over Catalan independence

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EU President Juncker issued a strongly worded response to a question tabled by a PP MEP on whether Catalonia could become independent country recognised by the EU. The Spanish version of Juncker’s response left no room for doubt – Catalonia could not become independent in the eyes of the EU unless the Spanish parliament permitted it. This was quite a scoop, because the EU has been faffing about refusing to be clear about the matter Continue reading European Commissions issues a “fake declaration” over Catalan independence→

British tax payers subsidise unregulated Spanish bull fights

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British taxpayers give £13.5 million each year through the common agricultural policy to Spanish farmers who rear fighting bulls that are subjected to cruelty in village fiestas, a report by an animal rights group claimed yesterday. Animal Equality has called on the European Union to cease funding for Spanish bull breeders after carrying out an undercover investigation into the fiestas, which are not subject to the same controls as established bullfights. In a graphic video Continue reading British tax payers subsidise unregulated Spanish bull fights→

Spain 3rd most expensive EU state for electricity and 2nd for ADSL

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Spain is shamed today after the EU named it as the 3rd most expensive EU state for electricity, and 2nd most expensive for ADSL. This, despite median earnings and high unemployment putting the country into the low end of the EU development index. Brussels notes “with alarm” this is putting Spaniards into a position where basic utilities are becoming luxuries. The cheapest fixed line ADSL offer is currently €38.7 a month, and the average household Continue reading Spain 3rd most expensive EU state for electricity and 2nd for ADSL→

EU opens corruption investigation into Andalucian budgets

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The EU has opened an official investigation to see what’s happened to over €200 million of EU funds that seem to have “vanished” in Andalucia. The corruption investigation looks at how the Junta de Andalucia has been spending the EU funds, which were supposed to go on labour policies and reduction of workplace accidents.

Health Tax on Fuel is illegal, rules EU court – must Spain pay back 13 billion euros to us drivers?

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The EU has ruled that the centimo sanitario is illegal, opening the way to a court ruling that Spain must return the almost 13 billion euros collected to drivers. It’s a tax that the regions are allowed to apply at their discretion to fuel sold at the pumps, and the reason why Murcia is slightly cheaper for gas than Andalucia (Murcia doesn’t collect the tax). It’s known as the impuesto sobre las ventas minoristas de Continue reading Health Tax on Fuel is illegal, rules EU court – must Spain pay back 13 billion euros to us drivers?→

Sangria can only be “made in Spain” (or Portugal)

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Everyone else has to call it “aromatic wine based drink from the country of….” under new EU directive. Snappy! 609 MEPs voted in favor, 72 against and 4 abstained from the vote to give Sangria protected geographical status. So only Spanish and Portuguese producers of the drink can put the word “Sangria” on their bottles. All other countries in the EU now have one year to print new labels with the snappy slogan, and the Continue reading Sangria can only be “made in Spain” (or Portugal)→

Spain has highest electricity distribution costs in EU says Brussels

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Brussels reckons that Spain has the highest costs for transporting and distributing electricity in the EU, in a new study due to be released in the next few weeks. They reckon its down to lack of competition and inefficiency in the market. Well….. duh!. This leads on from my story a while back about how Spanish electricity costs almost a third more than British. The EU study looks at the cost of transporting electricity over Continue reading Spain has highest electricity distribution costs in EU says Brussels→

Spanish “green tax” on fuel probably illegal, says EU

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The “centime sanitario” tax levied on petrol and diesel is against EU legislation, according to Nils Whal, chief lawyer to the EU. The EU has taken the Spanish tax to the general court in Luxembourg which is expected to issue a ruling on the tax within the next few months. They are expected to rule against Spain, and order the return of around 13 billion euros collected via this tax. Spain was taken to the Continue reading Spanish “green tax” on fuel probably illegal, says EU→