EU prosecutors probe possible fraud after Urda rail disaster
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is examining possible misuse of EU funds after the Urda crash killed 69 people. The UCO has sought records from Adif and two state bodies.
Europe 1263 news
In the Spanish news cycle, Europe covers EU decisions, regional politics, Brussels institutions and cross-border rules.
The page turns scattered updates into useful context for people who live in Spain, visit Spain or follow Spanish affairs from abroad.
The page turns scattered updates into useful context for people who live in Spain, visit Spain or follow Spanish affairs from abroad.
EU prosecutors probe suspected fraud in Urda rail works
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an inquiry into suspected misuse of EU funds on the Madrid-Seville line. The UCO sought records from ADIF and AESF, as well as Spain’s Court of Auditors, after the Urda crash killed 69 people.
EBRO opens its first Croatian dealership in Zagreb
The Zagreb site combines vehicle sales with a package of finance and after-sales services as EBRO enters Croatia. The company plans two outlets there by year-end and an eight-site sales and service network within 12 months.
Sellner’s institute plans Spanish work on mass deportations
Martin Sellner told EL PAÍS his Institute for Remigration plans to begin work in Spain. He said Spanish associates were preparing mass-expulsion proposals and confirmed contact with Vox.
Milei argues fascism and socialism share authoritarian traits
At the XXX Cumbre Iberoamericana in Madrid, Javier Milei argued that fascism and socialism share authoritarian features. He called on regional leaders to defend individual freedoms and curb political intervention.
Letonia becomes the tenth European country to approve Tesla FSD
Letonia has approved Tesla’s supervised system for use. Spain’s DGT is waiting for EU-wide approval, with a vote expected in December 2026, according to the source.
EU rail agency to assist Urda inquiry under Spanish control
The European Union Agency for Railways will provide technical assistance requested by Spanish investigators after the Urda crash, but Spain will retain control of the inquiry. The accident killed 69 people.
King and Sánchez push for closer EU and Latin America ties
Felipe VI and Pedro Sánchez closed the Ibero-American Business Meeting in Madrid, calling for closer economic ties between the EU and Latin America. Sánchez wants a regional alliance to tackle challenges such as artificial intelligence.
Europe’s AI dependence takes centre stage at Barcelona forum
Manuel Muñiz warned that Europe relies on AI models developed in the United States and China. He also cautioned against dependence on open models at the final day of World In Progress in Barcelona.
Six European Flights Faced Bomb Threats
A bomb warning sent by email diverted a flight from Tel Aviv to Sofia. All six aircraft landed safely, and inspections found no explosives. The previous day, a separate alert diverted a Wizz Air flight to Budapest.
Bomb threat on Manchester-Murcia flight ruled out
Six flights faced bomb threats across Europe. Checks at Murcia ruled out an explosive device, while inspections in Rome found no explosives; aircraft were also examined in Poland and Bulgaria.
Norovirus alert follows illnesses linked to frozen razor clams
Several people fell ill after eating frozen razor clams in Tarragona, prompting a European food-safety alert. Catalan authorities say suspected batches have been identified and withdrawn; tests found GI and GII norovirus.
Norovirus alert after nine diners fall ill in Tarragona
Nine diners fell ill after eating contaminated razor clams at a Tarragona restaurant. Spain reported the affected batches through the EU food alert system on 28 October. The products have been withdrawn.
Court rejects 45 urgent protection requests from Ceuta migrants
Spain’s National Court has rejected at least 45 urgent requests to halt the return of migrants who reached Ceuta. The rulings leave the full asylum appeals undecided while removing the immediate legal pause sought by applicants.
EU plans 30,000-strong Frontex force after Ceuta crisis
The European Commission has proposed expanding Frontex to 30,000 personnel, including a 17,000-member reserve for EU states. The plan also aims to speed up returns after shortcomings exposed during the Ceuta crisis.
Europe's heart plan faces a funding test
The EU's first cardiovascular health plan targets a 25% reduction in premature deaths by 2035, but its final funding is uncertain. Spain also has a 2022 strategy whose new measures are difficult to launch without fresh national budgets.
Prague plans 21,000 homes on former industrial land
Prague plans to turn former railway and industrial land into new neighbourhoods. The Bubny-Zátory and Žižkov projects together envisage about 21,000 homes, while construction on the first site is not expected to finish until around 2050.
Clavijo urged Sánchez to prepare an Atlantic migration plan
Fernando Clavijo asked Pedro Sánchez for six urgent steps as arrivals on the Atlantic route rose. His letter cited 3,814 arrivals in the Canary Islands in October, including 2,776 on El Hierro, and asked what extra resources the State had deployed.
Spain turns clocks back one hour on Sunday
Spain will move to winter time overnight from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 25 October. At 03:00 clocks go back to 02:00, giving people an extra hour in bed. An EU plan to end the seasonal change has not taken effect.
Climate change drove 77% of heat deaths in Spanish cities
Climate change accounted for an estimated 5,227 of 6,824 heat deaths in 90 Spanish cities this summer. Barcelona had Europe’s second-highest toll of additional deaths, while Madrid recorded the highest attributable share.
Why Spain’s winter clock change suits the body better
Sleep specialists favour keeping winter time, when morning light is more useful to the body. They recommend shifting daily routines by 15 minutes before the clock change and say seasonal switches should end.
Comín takes oath to formalise European Parliament mandate
Toni Comín has taken the oath required to formalise his European Parliament mandate after the Supreme Court lifted his arrest warrant under the amnesty law. He renewed an expired DNI at Congress after nine years abroad.
Spain and Italy agree to end reciprocal border checks
Spain and Italy will end reciprocal checks at airports and ports introduced after the July Ceuta surge. Italy said it had checked more than 180,000 travellers from Spain by 31 August and refused entry to 31.
Bellvitge performs Europe's first single-port kidney transplant
The Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge has performed Europe’s first robotic living-donor kidney transplant through one seven-centimetre incision. The patient has been discharged and two more procedures have followed.
Milei's first Spain visit as president without Abascal
The Argentine president is due at Fundación Disenso during Vox's pre-campaign. Abascal is travelling between La Coruña and Avilés, while Milei's Madrid schedule includes a meeting with Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
Milei arrives in Spain without a planned Abascal meeting
Javier Milei has arrived in Spain during the pre-campaign, with no meeting planned with Santiago Abascal. His circle says he will meet Isabel Díaz Ayuso, but the Community of Madrid has not confirmed it; protests over his presence are also part of the visit.
Pregnancy exposure to plastic chemicals tied to lower child IQ
Researchers from the University of Granada and ibs.GRANADA link higher prenatal exposure to a mixture of plastic-related chemicals with lower IQ scores at age three. The reported difference averages three points per unit increase in the mixture.
French retailers tally hundreds of millions in riot damage
About 1,500 French businesses were affected during a weekend of unrest, with damage estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros. European markets opened lower as France’s divided Parliament debated the 2027 budget.
Spain Keeps Seasonal Clock Changes on the Calendar Through 2031
Spain’s official calendar keeps the twice-yearly clock change in place through 2031. On 25 October, clocks go back one hour, with the Canary Islands changing earlier.
Europe’s protests expose the squeeze on household budgets
Protests over living costs spread across Europe this weekend. In France, unrest damaged public buildings as food prices across the EU climbed 34% from August 2021 to August 2026.
Sánchez faces EU criticism over Spain’s migration policy
Prime ministers from Czechia and Austria criticised Spain’s migration policy at the Brussels summit. Denmark’s prime minister also joined the criticism as disputes over immigration delayed the summit’s close.
EU budget talks sharpen divide over 2028-2034 plan
Ireland’s revised draft puts the 2028-2034 EU budget at €1.62 trillion, €141 billion below the Commission’s opening offer. Spain and 16 partners want a larger plan as Germany and the Netherlands push for deeper cuts.
EU leaders press Sánchez over Spain’s migration policy
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis warned of tighter border controls as EU leaders criticised Spain’s migration policy. Austria challenged the regularisation lead, while Denmark urged the Commission to assess its effects.
Spain and Italy align plans to end Schengen checks
Rome has extended its temporary controls to match Spain’s 22 October deadline. Interior ministers now have a short window to agree on ending them.
AITO targets Europe in 2027 with a 1,474km SUV
Huawei-linked AITO plans to enter Europe in autumn 2027 with four SUV lines in view. Spain is a possible market, but the company has not said where it will sell its vehicles.