European Union links with the UK post Brexit

Barcelona is a great city. Las Ramblas offer great eating and cafes, and great accommodation.  The train  from London to Paris, Barcelona and Madrid and Malaga... A fantastic trip, second to none. 

The Festival of Europe in Scotland is taking place next week. Many people would like to rejoin Europe, so it will be a good opportunity to examine the situation with Spain.  On energy, they are not doing well, as there was a big outage a couple of weeks ago. There was an election on 7 May 2026 in Scotland, so we will see what happens there.

When it comes to legal matters, Spain is really second to none. They respond in a timely manner, sometimes in Spanish, sometimes in English. They engage and are prompt and reliable. The Defensor del Pueblo can advise accordingly, as can the Human Rights Commission in Spain. 

We have been doing some research into legal matters in Spain and it transpires that the system is very user friendly and helpful, even when the problems emanate in the United Kingdom, when the UK is no longer part of the European Union.  Of course, if you speak the language, it is easier, but in my experience, you get replies in both Spanish and English.

Using Scotonomics, which is linked to IndyLive, Barcelona also wants independence. Barcelona City has said it is going to push ahead with its pilot scheme to roll out a cashless local currency  for  2017 and 2018 in the working class Besòs district in the northeast of the city with the idea is for the currency to become legal tender in 2019.  We start to explore this phenomenan with a Scotonomics paper 

Crimes committed in Northern Ireland are not often logged in the Republic of Ireland, although we know of one which was, as the Garda were very helpful.  Offences committed in Northern Ireland are not logged in England and Wales either, even Action Fraud.  Therefore Northern Ireland is in isolation.  Now, with the judicial system in disarray they do not really know what to do, as the cross border problems enter Scotland, who had nothing to do with the original problem, except that Scotland was the place deemed to be the place where a British citizen lived by the magistrates court in Northern Ireland.  As we understood it, a person can live where he or she likes, without judicial interference, but apparently not in this case. 

There are problems everywhere in the world, but Northern Ireland, with its links with Spain and the border with the Republic of Ireland seems to have more than most. Trading is practically impossible these days.  Brexit has caused problems which only now are starting to be understood in full. We will see if the policitians do the right thing and analyse the situation before moving forward.

In Spain, the laws against the bullying and harassment of women, are upheld.  Not so in Northern Ireland, or even the Republic of Ireland, where women are strong, but still bullied.  Spanish ladies are known to be tough and resilient, but it was not always the case.  In the Franco days, women were subservient.

Things are moving fast with the Ukrainian position, and Pedro Sánchez announces in Kyiv a new military assistance package for Ukraine worth €1 billion in 2025.

Presidents News 2025.2.24

It is good to see Spain standing with Ukraine. The Scottish Parliament also stand with Ukraine in solidarity.  Meanwhile the UK Government obfuscates.  Is it time Scotland joined the European Union.