EU

Spain marks 40 years of EU membership, highlighting its transformation since 1986. Per capita income has soared from €7,300 to over €31,000, life expectancy increased to 84, and exports rose to 34% of GDP. These advancements underscore the profound impact of European integration on the nation’s development.

In Madrid, the recent eviction of 67-year-old pensioner Mariano Ordaz highlights the severe strain on the city’s housing market. Evicted on the fifth attempt, Ordaz faces homelessness as Spain sees a surge in rents, fuelling concerns of up to 60,000 evictions nationwide amid the lapse of an anti-eviction moratorium.

Four suspects have been arrested following the death of French far-right activist Quentin Deranque, who suffered a brain injury during a protest against MEP Rima Hassan, stated Lyon’s public prosecutor. Tensions rise ahead of municipal elections in March.

Finance ministers from eight European member states approved national defence investment plans worth €74 billion on February 17, 2026. A spokesperson for the Cypriot presidency stated this decision facilitates affordable loans under the EU’s Security Action for Europe scheme, which aims to enhance defence procurement.

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