💶Spain Misses Out on €1.1 Billion in EU Funding
More headlines: Málaga could withdraw from the World cup, new proposal aims to reduce number of abandoned dogs and Sánchez under fire over father-in-law’s sauna swingers club scandal.
Every week, I dig through hundreds of Spanish news stories so you don’t have to. Here are the gems — handpicked, straight to your inbox. Totally free.
🚀Five Quick Headlines:
🔙Vox wanted to “deport eight million immigrants” — later backtracked on the statement
🪙High-stakes tax talks in Catalonia on Monday: “Could reshape Spain’s economy”
🪖Spain aims to boost military by 14,000 soldiers in a decade — with higher pay as key incentive
🚓Xenophobic riots erupt in Murcia — five injured, at least one arrested
¡Hola y bienvenido!👋 Summer in Spain means major festivals and football tournaments — more on that below. Many Spaniards are about to start their holidays, but with political turbulence showing no signs of easing, you have to wonder if the politicians will get a break at all this year.
💶Spain Misses Out on €1.1 Billion in EU Funding — Diesel Tax Too Low
Funds are still being distributed from the EU’s post-Covid economic recovery fund.
Spain has fallen short on three key requirements to unlock the fifth payment from the EU’s Covid recovery fund:
Working conditions for temporary staff do not meet standards set by the EU’s Fixed-Term Work Directive.
Investment in digitalisation at regional and local levels has been insufficient.
The diesel tax remains too low.
As a result, Brussels has announced that €1.1 billion in funding will be withheld. The money is frozen until Spain fulfills the necessary conditions.
Read more in El País (sometimes outside the paywall) or La Razón (no paywall).
📋Sánchez Unveils 15-Point Plan to Tackle Corruption: “I’m Not Giving Up”
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez firmly rejects calls to resign amid multiple corruption scandals rocking his party, PSOE. Instead, he has rolled out a comprehensive 15-point package aimed at rooting out corruption.
Key measures include establishing an independent anti-corruption agency, implementing random audits of senior officials, and enhancing protections for whistleblowers who report bribery and misconduct.
“I’m not giving up,” Sánchez declared.
🐕Proposed Law: New Dog Owners Must Complete a Four-Hour Course
To combat the soaring number of abandoned dogs in Spain — nearly 300,000 dogs and cats were left behind in 2024 alone, according to a recent study — the government is introducing a new requirement.
All new dog owners would have to take a free, four-hour online course covering their responsibilities. The course will conclude with a test, and those who pass will receive a lifelong certification as responsible dog owners.
🚀More Quick Headlines:
🤒Coronavirus Cases Triple in Spain as WHO Tracks New “Frankenstein” Variant
🔌Energy Companies Demand Compensation, Reject Higher Fees for Nuclear Plant Decommissioning
👑PP Seeks to Govern Alone — Vox Responds: “Everyone Wants That, But Reality Is What It Is”
📈Immigration to the Balearic Islands Surges — More Women and Children Among Arrivals
🌡️Sánchez Under Fresh Fire Over Father-in-Law’s Sauna Swingers Club Scandal
— 🎨🎵Culture📖📽️—
👓American Tourist Films Running of the Bulls in Pamplona — Sparks Outrage
The annual nine-day San Fermín festival in Pamplona, famous for its bull runs, has long been a source of heated debate. The event has resulted in numerous serious injuries and deaths over the years. Animal rights activists protest, calling the tradition animal cruelty.
This year, controversy flared after an American tourist recorded the bull run using smart glasses and posted the footage on social media. “Tourists shouldn’t be there,” one outraged commenter said in an article by El Debate.
More Culture ⤵️
🎤Power Outage Disrupted Iggy Pop’s Concert in Madrid: “Complete Disaster”
🫂Author and Psychologist: Why I Prefer Friendship Over Family
— 🎾🏀Sports⚽🚲—
⚽Spain Keeps Winning — Now Faces Host Nation in Quarterfinals
So far, the Spanish women’s football team is executing their plan perfectly in the European Championship finals. Despite falling behind against Italy in their final group match, they rallied to a 3–1 victory and now advance to the quarterfinals as undisputed group winners. Their next challenge is the host nation, Switzerland. Kickoff is set for Friday at 9:00 PM.
Check out Marca’s column titled La España del ganar, ganar y ganar.
More Sports ⤵️
🏟️Málaga Could Withdraw from the World Cup — Fans Reject Stadium Renovation Plans
🧑⚖️Former Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti Sentenced to Jail for Tax Evasion
🎉Lamine Yamal Turns 18 — Celebrates Birthday in Luxury Villa with Global Stars
👋That’s all for this week👋
Get In Touch
I’m Theodor Bondestam, a freelance journalist with experience at major Swedish outlets like Dagens Nyheter, Sveriges Radio, and Sydsvenskan. I’m currently based in Málaga, Spain.
🎶 This Week’s Music Pick
TQG — Karol G and Shakira. Two Colombian Superstars on the Same Track.
/Besos 😘
Theo