Latest news with #UniónEuropea
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Court update in Spain's battle with airlines over controversial charges for larger bags
A Spanish court has temporarily blocked a government-imposed fine on budget airlines, including Ryanair, over controversial charges for larger cabin bags. The consumer ministry had levied the penalty, arguing that practices such as charging passengers for carry-on luggage violated customer rights. However, the airlines appealed the decision, prompting the court to intervene. The court ruled that it was currently impossible to fully resolve the complex issue, and that forcing the airlines to pay the fine while their appeal was ongoing would place undue financial strain on the companies. This injunction means the airlines' current baggage policies can remain in effect until a definitive ruling is made, marking an initial victory for the carriers in their challenge against the Spanish government. Ryanair and Norwegian Air logged the appeal after they were fined 109.6 million euros ($128.40 million) last year, saying they believe the fine has no basis. Irish carrier Ryanair, Europe's largest in terms of passengers, said at the time that it would take its appeal to Spain's courts. "These illegal and baseless fines, which have been invented by Spain's Consumer Affairs Ministry for political reasons, are clearly in breach of EU law," said its CEO, Michael O'Leary. Madrid's administrative court ordered both airlines to issue bank guarantees worth 111.8 million euros, equivalent to the sanctions plus interest, while the suspension is in place, it said in a statement. Industry group ALA praised the court's decision and claimed that the fines have no basis. It argued the fines "limit customers' ability to choose, and distort (the European Union's) common market". It said airlines would continue their charging policy until a final ruling is issued. Other airlines were also fined by Spain's consumer rights ministry last year. ALA said it hoped the court ruling will be later applied to all airlines. The ministry imposed a combined sanction of 179 million euros to all the airlines, which also included IAG's low-cost unit Vueling, easyJet, and Volotea. It argued they violated customers' rights when charging for larger carry-on bags, picking seats or boarding pass print-outs and not allowing cash payments at check-in desks or to buy items on board.
News24
16 hours ago
- Politics
- News24
Spain PM Sanchez accuses Israel of ‘genocide' in Gaza, demands EU suspend cooperation
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday became the most prominent European leader to describe the situation in Gaza as a 'genocide', as rescuers in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory said Israeli forces killed 65 people. After more than 20 months of devastating conflict, rights groups say Gaza's population of more than two million face famine-like conditions. Israel began allowing supplies to trickle in at the end of May following a blockade of more than two months but distribution has been marred by chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of Israeli forces firing on those waiting to collect rations. Israel meanwhile is pressing its bombardment of the territory, in a military offensive it says is aimed at defeating militant group Hamas, whose October 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war. Sanchez said Gaza was in a 'catastrophic situation of genocide' and urged the European Union to immediately suspend its cooperation deal with Israel. The comments represent the strongest condemnation to date by the Spanish premier, an outspoken critic of Israel's offensive who is one of the first European leaders, and the most senior, to use the term 'genocide' to describe the situation in Gaza. Saeed MMT Jaras/Anadolu via Getty Images Speaking ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, Sanchez mentioned an EU report which found 'indications' Israel was breaching its human rights obligations under the cooperation deal, which forms the basis for trade ties. Israel reacted furiously to Sanchez's comments. Its embassy in Madrid accused him of 'demonising' Israel, saying Spain was 'on the wrong side of history'. The Spanish government called the statement 'unacceptable' and summoned the embassy's charge d'affaires. The director of medical supplies in Gaza's civil defence agency, Mohammad Al-Mughair, told AFP 65 people had been killed by Israeli forces in the territory on Thursday. The Israeli military said its troops 'fired warning shots' in order to prevent 'suspects from approaching them' near the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza, where Palestinians gather each night for rations. Israel says its Gaza offensive is aimed at destroying Hamas and rescuing hostages seized during the October 2023 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1 219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's military campaign has killed at least 56 259 people, also mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The United Nations considers its figures reliable. 'My children have nothing to eat. I haven't had any flour for nearly two months,' said Imad al-Attar, a Gaza resident who obtained a bag of flour in the southern city of Khan Yunis. 'We just want to eat,' said another man, Khaled Rashwan. We are dying, and no one is paying attention to us. Who can we turn to? Imad al-Attar Gaza's health ministry says nearly 550 people have been killed near aid centres while seeking scarce supplies since late May. The UN has condemned the 'weaponisation of food' in Gaza, and slammed a US- and Israeli-backed foundation that has largely replaced established humanitarian organisations in the territory. The privately run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was brought into the territory in late May, but its operations have been marred by chaotic scenes, deaths and neutrality concerns. The GHF denies deadly incidents have occurred in the immediate vicinity of its aid points. The US State Department said on Thursday it had approved its first direct funding - $30 million - for the GHF and urged other countries to follow suit. Israeli restrictions on media in Gaza and difficulties in accessing some areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by rescuers and authorities in the territory. Abdalhkem Abu Riash/Anadolu via Getty Images The World Health Organisation said it had delivered its first medical shipment into Gaza since 2 March, adding that the nine truckloads were 'a drop in the ocean'. After claiming victory in a 12-day war against Iran that ended with a ceasefire on 24 June, Israel said it would refocus on its offensive in Gaza, where Palestinian militants still hold Israeli hostages. US President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday: 'I think great progress is being made on Gaza' to end the war, and forecast 'very good news'. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces growing calls from opposition politicians, relatives of hostages held in Gaza and even members of his ruling coalition to end the fighting. Key mediator Qatar said this week it would launch a new push for a ceasefire. Israel said efforts to return Israeli hostages in Gaza were ongoing 'on the battlefield and via negotiations'.
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Sanchez Suffers Jibes From EU Leaders Who Won't Forget NATO Yet
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is hunkering down and trying to ignore the shade coming his way for refusing to sign up to new NATO spending targets demanded by Donald Trump. During private discussions at a summit in Brussels, European Union leaders made coded criticism of Spain's refusal to accept a NATO goal of spending 5% of GDP on defense, according to people briefed on the discussions.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state calls out ‘double standards' on Russia and Israel
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has accused the EU of double standards, noting that the bloc imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine but has failed to take similar action against Israel for its war in Gaza. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Sanchez said he would propose suspending the EU's trade agreement with Israel, whose Article 2 designates human rights as an 'essential element' of the pact. He noted that UN reports are sounding the alarm over the 'catastrophic situation' in Gaza, where more than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. 'It makes absolutely no sense that we've imposed 18 rounds of sanctions on Russia for its aggression against Ukraine, while the EU, in a double standard, has been unable to suspend the association agreement with Israel, even as it flagrantly violates Article 2 on human rights,' Sanchez said. The Israeli Embassy in Madrid condemned Sanchez's remarks as 'morally indefensible' and accused him of 'launching an anti-Israel crusade.' 'Israel, a democratic country facing existential threats on multiple fronts, has both the right and the duty to defend its citizens,' the embassy said in a statement on X. In response, the Spanish Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli envoy over the embassy's 'unacceptable' comments. Israel launched its operation in Gaza following the surprise attack on October 7, 2023, during which Hamas and allied Palestinian groups killed around 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) resumed their offensive in the Palestinian enclave after a ceasefire collapsed in March.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Spain PM alleges 'genocide' in Gaza as rescuers say 65 killed
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday became the most prominent European leader to describe the situation in Gaza as a "genocide", as rescuers in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory said Israeli forces killed 65 people. After more than 20 months of devastating conflict, human rights groups say Gaza's population of more than two million face famine-like conditions. Israel began allowing supplies to trickle in at the end of May following a blockade of more than two months, but distribution has been marred by chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of Israeli forces firing on those waiting to collect rations. Israel meanwhile is pressing its bombardment of the territory, in a military offensive it says is aimed at defeating militant group Hamas -- whose October 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war. Sanchez said Gaza was in a "catastrophic situation of genocide" and urged the European Union to immediately suspend its cooperation deal with Israel. The comments represent the strongest condemnation to date by the Spanish premier, an outspoken critic of Israel's offensive who is one of the first European leaders, and the most senior, to use the term "genocide" to describe the situation in Gaza. Speaking ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, Sanchez mentioned an EU report which found "indications" Israel was breaching its human rights obligations under the cooperation deal, which forms the basis for trade ties. The text cited Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territory, the high number of civilian casualties, attacks on journalists and the massive displacement and destruction caused by the war. - Rescuers say Gazans killed - The director of medical supplies in Gaza's civil defence agency, Mohammad Al-Mughair, told AFP that 65 people had been killed by Israeli forces in the territory on Thursday. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal earlier said that several of them were killed while waiting for aid. The Israeli military said its troops "fired warning shots" in order to prevent "suspects from approaching them" near the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza, where Palestinians gather each night for rations. Israel says its Gaza offensive is aimed at destroying Hamas and rescuing hostages seized during the October 2023 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's military campaign has killed at least 56,259 people, also mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The United Nations considers its figures reliable. - Hungry residents seek food - "My children have nothing to eat. I haven't had any flour for nearly two months," said Imad al-Attar, a Gaza resident who obtained a bag of flour on Thursday in the southern city of Khan Yunis. "We just want to eat," said another man, Khaled Rashwan. "We are dying, and no one is paying attention to us. Who can we turn to?" Gaza's health ministry says that since late May, nearly 550 people have been killed near aid centres while seeking scarce supplies. The United Nations has condemned the "weaponisation of food" in Gaza, and slammed a US- and Israeli-backed foundation that has largely replaced established humanitarian organisations in the territory. The privately run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was brought into the territory in late May, but its operations have been marred by chaotic scenes, deaths and neutrality concerns. The GHF denies deadly incidents have occurred in the immediate vicinity of its aid points. The US State Department said Thursday it had approved its first direct funding -- $30 million -- for the GHF and urged other countries to follow suit. Israeli restrictions on media in Gaza and difficulties in accessing some areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by rescuers and authorities in the territory. The World Health Organization said Thursday that it had delivered its first medical shipment into Gaza since March 2, adding that the nine truckloads were "a drop in the ocean". - Ceasefire push - After claiming victory in a 12-day war against Iran that ended with a ceasefire on June 24, Israel said it would refocus on its offensive in Gaza, where Palestinian militants still hold Israeli hostages. US President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday: "I think great progress is being made on Gaza" to end the Israel-Hamas war and forecast "very good news" following the ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces growing calls from opposition politicians, relatives of hostages being held in Gaza and even members of his ruling coalition to bring an end to the fighting. Key mediator Qatar said this week it would launch a new push for a ceasefire. Israel said efforts to return Israeli hostages in Gaza were ongoing "on the battlefield and via negotiations".
