SPAIN: The E6 Group & more – 26th Feb 2026

Buenos días from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Spain Update from the 26th of February twenty twenty-six. A quick summary of what's going down in Spain.

First up, on Thursday the 19th, the country revealed plans for an informal E6 group of the European Union’s six largest economies to coordinate policies and strengthen Europe’s global influence against the United States and China. The initiative emerged partly from concern that Europe could fall behind the U.S. and China economically and geopolitically.

The proposed bloc would include France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland, and aims to break political deadlocks that have slowed economic reforms within the EU.

Carlos Cuerpo, the Economy Minister, said the group would discuss difficult issues without red tape, focusing on deeper financial-market integration, securing supplies of critical raw materials, boosting defense investment, and strengthening the international role of the euro.

However, some smaller EU countries, including Ireland and Portugal, worry the initiative could create a two-speed Europe where large states dominate decision-making.

In other news, on Tuesday the 24th, a judge investigating the deadly DANA floods of October twenty twenty-four has taken the first formal step toward charging Carlos Mazón, the former head of the Generalitat Valenciana.

Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra sent a report to the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community asking it to investigate Mazón. As Mazón is now a regional MP, only that court can decide whether he should face charges.

The case examines possible responsibility for the storm that caused 230 deaths. The investigation has lasted more than fifteen months and included testimony from over 500 witnesses and experts. New witness statements from his driver and bodyguards have raised doubts about his version of events, particularly about when he arrived at government headquarters during the emergency. The judge believes earlier emergency alerts might have saved lives.

Meanwhile, Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right party Vox, has dismissed reports that Pope Leo the 14th warned Spanish bishops about the rise of the far right.

Speaking at a political event in Salamanca, in the west, on Tuesday the 24th, Abascal said the story was an invention from a bishop he accused of supporting immigration.

The controversy began after reports that the Pope told the Spanish Episcopal Conference his main concern in Spain was far-right ideology and the use of the Church to win Catholic voters.

The dispute highlights growing tension between Vox and parts of the Catholic hierarchy, especially over immigration. Spanish bishops have supported measures to regularize migrants, while Vox has strongly opposed them and accused some church leaders of benefiting from immigration policies.

This week, Sánchez announced the declassification of secret files to clarify events surrounding the failed 23-F military coup attempt to overthrow the government on the 23rd of February, nineteen eighty-one.

Forty-five years later, there are still questions about what truly happened. Key questions involve the role of King Juan Carlos I, the level of military support for the uprising, and possible civilian involvement. Historians also want records of phone calls between parliament, the royal palace, and military leaders.

However, experts warn that the documents may be incomplete or biased.

In the world of science, on Monday the 23rd, government statistics showed that Spain is attracting a growing number of researchers working in the United States through its Atrae talent program.

In the latest research program, over 250 scientists applied, and about one-third were working in the United States. In the end, thirty-seven researchers were chosen, and twenty-one of them came from U.S. institutions. Each will receive around one million euros to start a research team in the country.

Some scientists say more researchers are leaving the U.S. because conditions there have become harder. They point to political pressure on science, funding cuts, and tensions between the government and universities during the presidency of Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, the 24th, the meteorological agency AEMET warned that a large cloud of Saharan dust is moving across the peninsula this week, bringing hazy skies, poor air quality, and the possibility of blood rain (which happens when red dust mixes with rainfall). The event, called a Calima, is being driven by a storm front that is pulling sand from Morocco and Mauritania toward the Peninsula.

AEMET warned that fine particles will worsen air quality, and advised people with respiratory conditions to take precautions.

It is expected to spread beyond the country, reaching France, the UK, and even parts of Scandinavia later in the week.

Speaking of storms, in Galicia, in the northwest, the ancient Roman Walls of Lugo, one of the best-preserved Roman fortifications in the world, are facing a new threat: relentless storms and heavy rain. The wall has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since two thousand.

After weeks of heavy storms earlier this year, a section of the wall collapsed earlier this month when water soaked into the structure, causing stones to slide down. Experts later confirmed the fallen part was not original Roman work but a section rebuilt in the nineteen twenties.

Even so, the incident alarmed conservation teams and highlighted how changing weather patterns are putting pressure on the 1,700-year-old monument. Continuous rain prevented the wall from draining properly.

For our think piece this week, Mattie Brignal wrote for the Telegraph about the death of the British expat dream in Spain. Once a magnet for British retirees and second-home buyers, Brignal believes Spain is becoming increasingly hostile to foreign property ownership.

An increase in anti-tourist and anti-expat sentiment, driven by a worsening housing crisis, has prompted sweeping proposals targeting non-resident buyers. In the Balearic Islands, a new bill could ban non-residents from purchasing homes, aiming to prioritize locals over so-called speculators.

Nationally, Sánchez has proposed a 100% tax on properties bought by non-EU non-residents, potentially doubling costs for Britons.

Check out Brignal's full article with the link in the show notes.

In health news, on Wednesday the 25th, the central government announced plans to ban the sale of energy drinks to children under sixteen as concerns grow about their health effects.

The proposal is being promoted nationally by Pablo Bustinduy, the Consumer Affairs Minister, who argues that highly caffeinated drinks can harm minors’ physical and mental health. The government wants rules similar to those used for alcohol or tobacco age limits, preventing young teenagers from buying these products in shops or vending machines.

Next, on Tuesday the 24th, Barcelona ranked 14th in the world in Tripadvisor’s twenty twenty-six Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best destinations, standing as the only Spanish city to reach the top global tier this year. Bali ranked first, while Abu Dhabi got last place on the list at twenty-five.

The award is based entirely on traveller reviews and ratings collected over twelve months, with fewer than 1% of listings on the platform achieving this status.

Highlights that helped Barcelona get one of the spots were landmarks such as the Sagrada Família, strong influence from the Modernisme architectural movement, and a city beach.

And finally… an uplifting story about stepping out of your comfort zone.

A recent article by Euro Weekly News follows the story of Margarita Behrendt, an Austrian woman who decided to escape her painful divorce and start over with her young son in the hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera, Andalucia, in the south, hoping for a calmer life.

The article follows her life, saying that at first, it was daunting. She didn’t speak Spanish, everyday errands were a struggle, and her seven-year-old son quickly became her unofficial translator. But the warmth of Andalucia and its people, food, and culture helped her find her feet.

Today, the place she once fled to is now home - proof that sometimes a leap into the unknown is all it takes.

Wanna read the full story of Margarita? Link in the show notes.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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¡Hasta la próxima!