Gibraltar Tax Deal
Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has expressed “satisfaction” at an agreement that could take the Rock out of Spain’s blacklist of tax havens. But business leaders and unionists are being cautious about a deal that could “become poisoned” due to the instability of the UK government and the uncertain outcome of the upcoming elections in Spain.
The international tax treaty was signed yesterday by Spain’s Foreign Minister Josep Borrell and by the UK’s Cabinet Office minister David Lidington, and must now be ratified by the parliaments of both countries.
The agreement seeks to improve cooperation on tax matters, help resolve disputes over tax residency, and increase transparency and cooperation against tax fraud.
It is the latest in a series of deals between Spain and the UK over longstanding “irritants” involving the British Overseas Territory. In November of last year, London and Madrid signed four memorandums of understanding on matters such as tobacco pricing.
Rule Of Law Survey
SPAIN has ranked 21st in a new table which measured 126 countries worldwide on their respect for the rule of law.
Spain scored 0.71 out of one on the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index 2019. It scored 0.7 last year and came 23rd.
Spain came behind Germany, Britain, France and one place behind the US in the ranking while coming ahead of Portugal, Italy and Greece. Denmark came first with Norway and Finland second and third.
They surveyed some 3,800 experts and 120,000 households across the 126 countries to gather their data.
Big Press Statement
French President Emmanuel Macron has made an impassioned defense of a new Europe in a newspaper column published in each of the 28 member states this morning which he laid out his ideas for a “European renaissance” ahead of elections across the bloc in May.
Calling the vote “decisive” and warning of Europe being in danger, his words are intended as a wake-up call for the bloc as he seeks to push fundamental reform of the European Union.
A number of proposals made in the column which will appeared in newspapers ranging from the Guardian in Britain to Die Welt in Germany and El Paris in Spain aim at protecting and defending Europe’s citizens while giving the bloc new impetus in face of global competition.
Underage Speeder
AN underage girl has been arrested for driving at more than 220 kilometres per hour while her companion videoed her.
She was detained after the video, which was uploaded on the social media, was forwarded to authorities.
She was driving on the A-5 motorway near Badajoz accompanied by the 27-year-old man who had hired the car and was videoing the girl.
Both were identified from the video and summonsed to report to the police but although the man responded, the girl did not.
She was later arrested and has been charged with breaking the speed limit and driving without a license.