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☆ EU-Mercosur Deal's Future up to New Argentina Government -Sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

"Given the transition in Argentina, we are handing the subject to the new government, which has indicated they want a deal," the Brazilian foreign ministry spokesman said. A European official with knowledge of the talks said Argentina was no longer open to finalizing the deal on Mercosur. Argentine negotiators who were due to travel to Brasilia for final push to close the deal canceled their trip, a Brazilian government trade official told Reuters. Officials wanted to wrap up agreements before Argentina's Milei takes office on Dec. 10, as he has criticized the trade deal that took two decades to negotiate. Argentina's incoming foreign minister, Diana Mondino, said it was important to sign the EU-Mercosur accord after she visited Brasilia last Sunday to meet Brazil's foreign minister.

Persons: Anthony Boadle BRASILIA, Javier Milei, Milei, Diana Mondino, Anthony Boadle, Marcela Ayres, Lisandra, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Reuters, European Union, Mercosur, Argentine, EU, Milei, Diplomats Locations: Argentina, Mercosur, Brasilia, American, Brazil, Argentine, Belen, Madrid, Jorgelina, Rosario, Buenos Aires

Persons: Javier Milei, Milei, Diana Mondino, Anthony Boadle, Marcela Ayres, Lisandra, Matthew Lewis Organizations: European Union, Mercosur, Argentine, Reuters, EU, Milei, Diplomats, Thomson Locations: BRASILIA, Argentina, Mercosur, Brasilia, American, Brazil, Argentine, Belen, Madrid, Jorgelina, Rosario, Buenos Aires

☆ Spain denounces 'indiscriminate' Gaza deaths, angering Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit meets with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Cairo, Egypt November 24, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also weighed in, saying the two European leaders had failed to spotlight what he called crimes against humanity committed by Palestinian militants of Hamas. Hamas fighters burst into Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7 in an attack Israel says killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel has bombarded Gaza and sent in troops and tanks in retaliation, killing about 14,000 Gazans, around 40% of them children, according to Palestinian health authorities. On Thursday, Sanchez met Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Israel Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

Persons: Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Pedro Sanchez, Alexander De Croo, Mohamed Abdel, Sanchez, Eli Cohen, De, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Netanyahu's, Jose Manuel Albares, Albares, Isaac Herzog, Mahmoud Abbas, Inti Landauro, Ari Rabinovitch, Andrew Gray, Emma Pinedo, Charlie Devereux, William Maclean, Grant McCool Organizations: Arab League, Spain's, Belgium's, Hamas, REUTERS, Spanish, Belgian, Israel's, Palestinian, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Israel, Cairo, Egypt, Gaza, Rafah, Spain, Belgium, Spanish, Hamas, Ramallah, Belgian, Madrid, Jerusalem, Brussels

☆ Spanish PM floats peace conference idea in meeting with Israel's Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo pose during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, November 23, 2023. "Today, more than ever, we need to bring back a serious and credible prospect for peace," Sanchez said after talks with Netanyahu. Sanchez said he and unspecified colleagues had proposed holding an international peace conference with the parties as soon as possible. "It is in Israel's interest to work for peace, and today, peace means the establishment of a viable Palestinian state that includes the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, according to the U.N. resolutions," he said. U.S. officials have said the time is not right to try to resume peace talks given the protracted intransigence of both sides.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Alexander de Croo, Benjamin Netanyahu, Borja Puig de la, Sanchez, Isaac Herzog, Mahmoud Abbas, Netanyahu, Alexander De Croo, De Croo, David Latona, Marine Strauss, Aislinn Laing, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Spanish, Belgian, Israeli, Reuters Acquire, Rights, Hamas, West Bank, European Union, Arab League, Organisation for Islamic Cooperation, West, of, Union, Palestinian Authority, Jerusalem, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem, Moncloa, Handout, Rights MADRID, U.S, Israel, Palestinian, Ramallah, Egypt, West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Barcelona, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Madrid, Oslo, Brussels

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez takes the oath of office during a ceremony at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, Spain November 17, 2023. Calvino, who is the frontrunner for the top job at the European Investment Bank scheduled to be announced at the end of the year, will also keep her position as first deputy prime minister, Sanchez said in a televised statement. Given the anticipated difficulty of passing laws with a minority government, Budget Minister Maria Jesus Montero will be promoted to be one of four deputy prime ministers. His four deputy prime ministers are all female. Junior coalition partner Sumar got five portfolios, keeping its share of power within the cabinet.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Andres Ballesteros, Nadia Calvino, Calvino, Sanchez, Teresa Ribera, Maria Jesus Montero, Jose Manuel Albares, Yolanda Diaz, Sumar, Felix Bolanos, Ana Redondo, Irene Montero, Ione Belarra, Belen Carreno, Inti, Aislinn Laing, Toby Chopra, Charlie Devereux, Ed Osmond, William Maclean Organizations: Spain's, Rights, Socialist, European Investment Bank, European, Energy, Labour, Socialists, Junior, Thomson Locations: Zarzuela, Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Maria Jesus Montero ,, Sumar

Sanchez's confirmation as premier would end four months of uncertainty since an election in July produced no outright winner. Authorities said 15 people were arrested in a 2,000-person protest on Wednesday night outside the Socialist Party headquarters in Madrid following clashes with police. Feijoo, who accused Sanchez of undermining the rule of law on Wednesday called for mass protests on Saturday Nov 18. Sanchez argued on Wednesday that an amnesty would help to defuse tensions in Catalonia. Reporting by Belen Carreño and Emma Pinedo; Writing by Charlie Devereux; Editing by Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez applauds, amnesties, Catalonia's, Sanchez, Pedro Sanchez, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Jorge Pueyo, Sumar, Patxi Lopez, Feijoo, Miriam Nogueras, Nogueras, Belen Carreño, Emma Pinedo, Charlie Devereux, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Spain's, Socialist, People's Party, Sanchez's Socialist Party, PSOE, ERC, Socialists, Authorities, Socialist Party, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Spain, Catalonia, Basque Country, Galicia, Madrid, Socialist

☆ Sanchez wins Spanish parliament's backing for new term as PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

His Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) had reached separate deals with a number of regional parties to earn their backing, including a contentious bill on amnesty for Catalan separatists that has sparked protests across Spain. Sanchez's bid garnered 179 votes in favour and 171 against, with no abstentions. The "nays" stemmed from the conservative People's Party, the far-right Vox and the People's Union of Navarre's lone lawmaker. PSOE's hard-left ally Sumar, Catalan pro-independence parties Junts and ERC, Basque parties PNV and EH Bildu, Galicia's BNG and the Canary Coalition all voted for Sanchez, who first acceded to the office in 2018. Reporting by Belén Carreño, Inti Landauro and Emma Pinedo; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Andrei KhalipOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, amnesties, Catalonia's, Sanchez's, Vox, Navarre's, PSOE's, Sumar, Galicia's BNG, Sanchez, Belén Carreño, Inti Landauro, Emma Pinedo, David Latona, Andrei Khalip Organizations: Spain's, Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party, PSOE, People's Party, People's Union, Junts, ERC, Canary Coalition, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Spain, Catalan, Basque

☆ Sanchez Wins Spanish Parliament's Backing for New Term as PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's lower house of parliament on Thursday voted to make Pedro Sanchez prime minister for another term by a wafer-thin margin, ending a protracted deadlock after an inconclusive general election in July. His Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) had reached separate deals with a number of regional parties to earn their backing, including a contentious bill on amnesty for Catalan separatists that has sparked protests across Spain. The "nays" stemmed from the conservative People's Party, the far-right Vox and the People's Union of Navarre's lone lawmaker. PSOE's hard-left ally Sumar, Catalan pro-independence parties Junts and ERC, Basque parties PNV and EH Bildu, Galicia's BNG and the Canary Coalition all voted for Sanchez, who first acceded to the office in 2018. (Reporting by Belén Carreño, Inti Landauro and Emma Pinedo; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Andrei Khalip)

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Sanchez's, Vox, Navarre's, PSOE's, Sumar, Galicia's BNG, Sanchez, Belén Carreño, Inti Landauro, Emma Pinedo, David Latona, Andrei Khalip Organizations: Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party, PSOE, People's Party, People's Union, Junts, ERC, Canary Coalition Locations: MADRID, Spain, Catalan, Basque

☆ Madrid streets barricaded ahead of tense Spanish investiture debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The amnesty deal with Catalan separatists has prompted a wave of protests across Spain. Authorities said 80,000 people gathered in Madrid on Sunday, while tens of thousands also attended demonstrations in Granada and Seville. Thousands have congregated each night for nearly a fortnight outside the Socialist Party (POSE) headquarters in Madrid. "We are Spaniards worried about Spain," said one young protester draped in a Spanish flag. The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an injunction by the far-right party Vox to suspend the investiture vote.

Persons: Sanchez, Pedro Sanchez's, Junts, Vox, Adolf Hitler, Esteban Gonzalez Pons, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Belen Carreno, Miguel Gutierrez, Charlie Devereux, Aislinn Laing, Emelia Organizations: Spain's, Amnesty, Spain MADRID, Police, ERC, Sanchez’s Socialists, People's Party, Authorities, Sunday, Socialist Party, Eastern, European, Sanchez's Socialist Party, PSOE, Junts, Thomson Locations: Spain, Spain's, Madrid, Catalan, Granada, Seville, Spanish, Hungary, Romania

Just holding the deal together through a full four-year parliamentary term will be a tough challenge, many predict. "The next legislative term will be very tough for the PSOE, it is likely it won't finish the whole term," said Catalan political analyst Joan Esculies. Spaniards have also been called to show their ire in town square demonstrations across the country on Sunday. For Andoni Ortuzar, the Basque Nationalist Party leader who also struck a deal with the Socialists on Friday, whether the government could hold would be a test of Spain's plurality. "We are different - we consider ourselves a different nation - and the question is whether we can live together comfortably," he said.

Persons: Sanchez, Pedro Sanchez, Francisco Franco, Junts, Carles Puigdemont, Joan Esculies, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Andoni Ortuzar, Susana Vera, Emiliano Garcia, Puigdemont, Lluis Orriols, Ortuzar, Belen Carreno, Joan Faus, Emma Pinedo, Aislinn Laing, Alex Richardson Organizations: Deal, Spain's Socialists, Socialist, PSOE, People's Party, Socialists, Basque Nationalist Party, REUTERS, Catalan Socialist, Carlos III University, Thomson Locations: MADRID, BARCELONA, Catalan, Belgium, Catalonia, Spain, Madrid, Castilla, La Mancha, Spanish, Catalunya

☆ Spain's Sanchez wins support for PM bid amid anger over Catalan amnesty vow
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We have managed to secure a majority that will make possible the investiture of Pedro Sanchez," acting minister for parliamentary relations Felix Bolanos said in an interview with SER radio station. Opinion polls have painted a picture of a country divided over the question of amnesty, even within the ranks of the Socialist Party. With Junts and PNV and the national and regional left-wing parties, Sanchez would win an absolute majority of 178 out of 350 lawmakers. Later on Friday, the Socialist Party added one vote more to its wide coalition after Canary Islands' regionalist party Coalicion Canaria also agreed to back Sanchez. Bolanos said the Catalan amnesty law would help ease tension in Catalonia as it would free school directors, firefighters and other civil servants who helped organise an illegal referendum on the region's independence in 2017 from legal proceedings.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Jon Nazca, Junts, Sanchez, Felix Bolanos, Bolanos, Canaria, Carles Puigdemont, Belen Carreno, Emma Pinedo, Inti Landauro, David Latona, Jessica Jones, Aislinn Laing, Toby Chopra, Nick Macfie, Hugh Lawson, Andrea Ricci Organizations: European, REUTERS, Rights, Catalan separatists, National Basque Party, Canaries ' Coalition, SER, Socialist Party, Socialist, La, Sigma, Sanchez's Socialist Party, Interior Ministry, El Mundo, Socialists, Police, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights MADRID, Catalonia, Galician, Basque, Canary Islands, Junts, Madrid

☆ Spanish Socialists and Catalan Junts reach deal for government support, amnesty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A law granting amnesty to those prosecuted over Catalonia's attempt to secede from Spain was included in the deal, political leaders said and the deal text showed. The agreement included Junts lending its votes in parliament to support legislation for a full four-year term, he said. But Junts, which seeks another independence referendum, said supporting each law would depend on progress in talks involving Catalonia's political conflict. As a deal between Junts and the Socialists edged nearer in the past week, the mood in the country has become increasingly febrile, with protesters clashing with police outside the Socialists' headquarters in Madrid. An amnesty could exculpate as many as 1,400 activists and politicians involved in the attempt to separate Catalonia from Spain.

Persons: Junts, Feijoo, Puigdemont, Pedro Sanchez, Santos Cerdan, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Sanchez, Carles Puigdemont, Jaume Clotet, Belen Carreno, Joan Faus, Graham Keeley, Aislinn Laing, Charlie Devereux, Alison Williams, Toby Chopra, Bernadette Baum, Sharon Singleton, Alex Richardson Organizations: Companies Spain's Socialists, Conservative, Socialist Party, PSOE, Socialist, Socialists, Police, People's Party, Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party, Basque Nationalist Party, Thomson Locations: Catalan, Madrid, MADRID, Spain, Brussels, Junts, Catalonia, Belgium, Waterloo

And now Ben Hammou faces another blow as the German government moves to end pandemic-era tax breaks for the hospitality industry. The fiscally hawkish FDP party, which has control of the finance ministry in the three-way ruling coalition, backs letting the tax break expire, calculating that it would cost 3.3 billion euros ($3.5 billion) to keep it going in 2024. Many restaurants operate on tight margins, which makes them quite sensitive to tax increases. In Spain, Italy and France, the VAT on restaurants is at 10%, considerably lower than the expected 19% in Germany from 2024. The question is whether German restaurants are still struggling or have recovered well enough from the pandemic to withstand having the tax break removed, according to Tomas Dvorak, senior economist at Oxford Economics.

Persons: Omar Ben Hammou, Ben Hammou, Christian Lindner, Guido Zoellick, Thijs Geijer, Ingrid Hartges, DEHOGA, Steffen Marx, Tomas Dvorak, Maria Martinez, Christian Kraemer, Tanja Daube, Ulrike Heil, Belen Carreno, Giselda Vagnoni, Thomas Leigh, Matthias Williams, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Restaurant Association, ING, Reuters, Oxford Economics, Thomson Locations: Bavaria, BERLIN, Berlin, Russia, Ukraine, COVID, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Munich, Madrid, Rome, Paris

☆ Spain's Socialists win backing of Catalan separatist ERC, still waiting on Junts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BARCELONA, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Catalan separatist party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) reached a deal with Spain's Socialists (PSOE) to support acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's bid for a second term, both parties said on Thursday. However, the crucial backing of rival party Junts remains pending amid last-minute negotiations. Seeking the support of the Catalan parties, Sanchez said on Saturday he favoured granting an amnesty to people involved with Catalonia's failed 2017 independence bid. The agreement with ERC included "an amnesty for all", the Catalan party's chairman Oriol Junqueras told reporters, without elaborating. Junts held a meeting in Brussels to decide whether to back Sanchez's investiture, but it ended without an agreement with the PSOE, said a Junts source.

Persons: Esquerra, Pedro Sanchez's, Junts, Sanchez, Catalonia's, Oriol Junqueras, Pere Aragones, Felix Bolanos, Bolanos, Junqueras, Emma Pinedo, Belen Carreno, Charlie Devereux, Joan Faus, Gareth Jones Organizations: ERC, Spain's Socialists, PSOE, Thomson Locations: BARCELONA, Catalan, Basque, Spain, Brussels

☆ STC reportedly drops plan to up stake in Spain's Telefonica to 9.9%
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Spanish Telecom company is displayed atop the company's building in Madrid, Spain, September 6, 2023. Telefonica and STC declined to comment on the report. In September, Saudi Arabia's largest telecoms operator amassed a 9.9% stake worth 2.1 billion euros ($2.23 billion) in a move to become Telefonica's top shareholder, though it added it did not intend to acquire control or a majority stake. STC's holding consists of 4.9% of Telefonica's shares and financial instruments that give it another 5% in so-called economic exposure to the company. As Telefonica is considered a defence service provider, the Spanish defence ministry has a say in acquisitions and holdings between 5% and 10% unless the buyer commits not to request a seat on the board.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, David Latona, Belen Carreno, Jesus Aguado, Hadeel Al, Andrei Khalip Organizations: Spanish Telecom, REUTERS, Rights, STC, Telefonica, El Economista, Saudi, Inti Landauro, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Saudi, Spanish, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Riyadh

☆ Spain to create emergency accommodation for 3,000 migrants
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Borja Suarez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Spain said on Thursday it would create additional emergency accommodation for 3,000 undocumented migrants in military barracks, hotels and hostels amid a 55% jump in arrivals by sea this year, which has triggered political tension. Escriva declined to disclose how many additional beds will be created, but a ministry source told Reuters it would be around 3,000 in total. But this time the central government's approach has been to expand emergency accommodations across the country, hoping to ease pressure on the Canaries. Following police screenings, migrants will be placed in the military barracks, hotels, hostels and other types of accommodations on a voluntary basis, the ministry source said. Escriva argued the situation was well-handled and manageable, and said some conservative politicians were whipping up what he called xenophobic rhetoric.

Persons: Borja Suarez, Jose Luis Escriva, Escriva, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, Belén Carreño, Joan Faus, Emma Pinedo, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Gran Canaria, REUTERS, Rights, Union, Canaries, Madrid, Thomson Locations: Spanish, Arguineguin, Gran, Spain, Rights MADRID, Madrid, West Africa, Canary, Italy, Lampedusa

☆ Spanish potential coalition government to reinforce banking tax
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, Oct 24 (Reuters) - The leader of Spain's leftist platform Sumar, Yolanda Diaz, said on Tuesday an agreement for a potential coalition government with the Socialist Party envisaged extending and reinforcing a windfall tax for banks and large energy companies. Their potential coalition has yet to win the backing of other parties in parliament. Companies currently pay between 23% and 25% on underlying profit. The deal, which came after acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met with Sumar leader and acting Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz on Monday, also includes a proposal to reduce working hours while preserving the same pay. Reporting by Belen Carreno, Emma Pinedo, Jesus Aguado, writing by Andrei KhalipOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yolanda Diaz, Pedro Sanchez, Belen Carreno, Emma Pinedo, Jesus Aguado, Andrei Khalip Organizations: Socialist Party, Companies, Labour, Thomson Locations: MADRID

☆ EU only wants free trade deal with India that gives it 'real' market access
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VALENCIA, Spain Oct 20 (Reuters) - European Union member states want to close a free trade deal with India, but only if it grants real access to the Asian country's markets, Spanish Deputy Trade Minister Xiana Mendez said on Friday at an EU meeting chaired by her country. "There is an enormous interest from the member states, but only if there will be an access to the real market, without which the deal would be emptied." The European Union also expects to reach an agreement with the United States on steel trade by the end of the year, said Mendez. The main proposal is to finalise the deal with the United States before the end of the year," she said. Reporting by Belen Carreno and Inti Landauro, editing by Andrei Khalip and Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xiana Mendez, We've, Mendez, Donald Trump, Belen Carreno, Inti, Andrei Khalip, Susan Fenton Organizations: Union, Trade, European Council, EU, United, U.S, Thomson Locations: VALENCIA, Spain, India, EU, Spanish, Valencia, United States, Washington, China

☆ EU, US could agree on critical minerals despite steel failure, says France
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Francois Lenoir/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsVALENCIA, Spain, Oct 20 (Reuters) - The European Union and the United States could reach a deal on critical minerals over the coming weeks or months despite their failure to agree an accord on steel and aluminium, French Trade Minister Olivier Becht said on Friday. The discussions were intense and I hope they will restart as soon as possible," Becht said before an EU ministers' meeting on trade in Valencia, Spain. "It's in both the interest of Europe and the United States to have this agreement," Becht said. The United States has suspended import tariffs on EU steel and aluminium imposed by then-President Donald Trump in 2018, but on condition both sides agree measures to address overcapacity in non-market economies such as China, and promote greener steel. Reporting by Belén Carreño; editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mike Pence, Francois Lenoir, Olivier Becht, Joe Biden's, Becht, Donald Trump, Belén, Philip Blenkinsop, Barbara Lewis Organizations: European Commission, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, French Trade, EU, Trump, U.S, United, Washington, World Trade Organization, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Rights VALENCIA, Spain, United States, Valencia, Europe, China

MADRID/BRASILIA, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Argentina and Brazil are requesting 12.5 billion euros ($13.2 billion) in financial aid from the European Union in talks to conclude a trade agreement with South America's Mercosur bloc, according to a document seen by Reuters. Three EU and South American diplomats confirmed the Argentine request, which is backed by Brazil, in the rotating presidency of the four-nation Mercosur. A European diplomat involved in the talks told Reuters the 12.5 billion euros number was "floated" but that any support "would not be anything like that figure." The new aid request was made in a Mercosur counterproposal to an EU addendum proposing environmental safeguards. But the financial aid request and reopening of the public procurement chapter could prevent a final deal this year.

Persons: videoconferences, Xiana Mendez, Belen Carreño, Anthony Boadle, Brad Haynes, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: European Union, South America's Mercosur, Reuters, EU, South, Argentine, Mercosur, Thomson Locations: MADRID, BRASILIA, Argentina, Brazil, Mercosur, Uruguay, Paraguay, European, Brussels, Brasilia, Valencia

☆ Spain's Acting PM Sanchez Meets Catalan, Basque Separatists in Bid for New Term
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's Pedro Sanchez met with Catalan pro-independence party Junts and became the first Spanish prime minister to hold official talks with Basque separatist party EH Bildu on Friday, as the caretaker leader seeks to form a new government. Sanchez's Socialists need support from Catalan and Basque separatist groups to win an investiture vote before Nov. 27 or face a fresh election next year after an inconclusive vote in July. "We're still far from a historic compromise," Junts parliamentary spokesperson Miriam Nogueras said about a potential agreement, after meeting Sanchez. Bildu helped Sanchez form a government in 2020 by abstaining in the investiture vote and has already pledged unconditional support as he seeks a new four-year term in office. "Today's photo of Pedro Sanchez with Bildu ... is undoubtedly a picture of humiliation," said Cuca Gamarra, parliamentary spokesperson for the opposition People's Party.

Persons: Spain's Pedro Sanchez, Junts, EH, Miriam Nogueras, Sanchez, Nogueras, Esquerra, Mertxe Aizpurua, Gorka Elejabarrieta, Bildu, Pedro Sanchez, Cuca Gamarra, Joan Faus, Belen Carreño, Charlie Devereux, Andrei Khalip, Alexander Smith Organizations: Catalan, Basque, Sanchez's Socialists, ETA, Bildu, People's Party Locations: MADRID, Spanish, Catalan, Basque, Catalonia, Spain

[1/5] European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends the informal meeting of European heads of state or government, in Granada, Spain October 6, 2023. On Thursday night, Von der Leyen was visiting Granada's famed Alhambra Palace and fortress - built by the city's Muslim rulers in the 13th century - when she complemented guide Sumaya Abdelbi on her silk scarf. Abdelbi, who was born in Germany and is of Moroccan origin, briefed Von de Leyen and her husband on the palace. "I told her that she was now also part of the history of the Alhambra and she was very impressed," Abdelbi told Reuters. As Von der Leyen was leaving the event, Abdelbi saw her again and shouted: "I want to give you my scarf!".

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Juan Medina, Ursula Von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, Granada's, Von de Leyen, Abdelbi, Belén Carreño, Andrei Khalip Organizations: European, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Alhambra, Reuters, EU, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights GRANADA, Spanish, Alhambra, Germany

Not only in the EU but in all of Europe," Zelenskiy said on his arrival, warning of Russian "disinformation attacks". "It does worry me," Biden said on Wednesday, though he added that a majority of U.S. lawmakers continued to support funding Ukraine. In Slovakia, former prime minister Robert Fico's party came first in a parliamentary election on pledges of halting military aid to Ukraine, while Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said Warsaw was no longer arming Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday he was "very confident" that U.S. support for Ukraine would continue. Many EU leaders have condemned the Azerbaijani operation, which triggered an exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

Persons: Zelenskiy, Spain Zelenskiy, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, U.N, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Democrat Biden, Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Robert Fico's, Mateusz Morawiecki, Pedro Sanchez, Ilham Aliyev, Belen Carreno, Andreas Rinke, Anna Pruchnicka, Gareth Jones Organizations: Political, EU, British, U.S, Republican, Democrat, European Commission, Kyiv, Polish, European Union, NATO, Spanish, Thomson Locations: Spain, Europe, Balkans, Caucasus, Granada, GRANADA, Kyiv, Spanish, Ukraine, Norway, Albania, Russia, Poland, Brussels, U.S, Slovakia, Warsaw, EU, East, Africa, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Nagorno, Karabakh, Baku, Berlin

☆ Choppy waters as Europe navigates China-US rivalry
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Mark John | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The fracturing of the rules and bonds tying the global economy together - so-called "geo-economic fragmentation" - seemed implausible only a few years ago. Nowhere is it more pressing than for Europe, whose wealth has always relied on trade, from its rapacious colonial history through to its reinvention as self-styled champion of WTO rules. Both the United States and Europe have been hardening their stance towards Beijing while stressing the rules of world trade must be fairly applied. The main EU concern is that the U.S. proposals could break WTO rules by discriminating against third parties. "And we really hope ... that after the election in the United States this is going to continue."

Persons: Jon Nazca, Gordon Brown, Brown, Brad Setser, Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Wang Huiyao, Petra Sigmund, Philip Blenkinsop, Joe Cash, Belen Carreno, Mark John, Catherine Evans Organizations: Triple, Majestic, APM, REUTERS, Trade Organization, USA, International Monetary, European, Reuters, for, Thomson Locations: Algeciras, Spain, China, Europe, America, American, United States, Moroccan, Marrakech, Beijing, Washington, Brussels, U.S, EU, for China, IMF, Madrid

[1/3] Spain's King Felipe shakes hands with Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez before their meeting at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, Spain, October 3, 2023. Juanjo Guillen/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Spain's acting Prime Minister predicted "complex talks" with other political parties to form a government on Tuesday, after he was nominated to seek their backing for a new mandate. Sanchez was invited by Spain's King Felipe VI to try to form a governing majority after Feijoo last week failed in his bid to become prime minister. Asked about a referendum, Sanchez said Catalans were looking to "turn the page" and to find a "reunion" with Spanish society. House Speaker Francina Armengol said earlier that Sanchez had yet to share his proposed schedule for the investiture vote.

Persons: King Felipe, Spain's, Pedro Sanchez, Juanjo Guillen, Sanchez, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Spain's King Felipe VI, Feijoo, Junts, Pablo Simon, Carlos, Carles Puigdemont, Mr Sanchez, Mr Puigdemont, Yolanda Diaz, Francina Armengol, David Latona, Belen Carreno Emma Pinedo, Inti, Charlie Devereux, Andrei Khalip, Nick Macfie, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Socialists, ERC, Catalans, Carlos III, Labour, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Basque, Catalan

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