Bolivian President Evo Morales announced on Tuesday the expropriation of Spain’s Red Eléctrica Española (REE) shares at a power transmission company in Bolivia and ordered the Army to take over the firm's headquarters.
Spain's sickly economy faces a crisis of huge proportions said Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo as unemployment hit its highest level in two decades and Standard and Poor's weighed in with a two-notch downgrade of the government's debt.
European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said Argentina is in for long term consequences after sending “shockwaves” internationally with the announced plans to expropriate 51% of YPF shares owned by Spain-based Repsol oil and gas company.
Spain’s main oil corporation Repsol warned it could take legal action against companies that invest in YPF after Argentina seized control of the Spanish company's energy unit last week.
A member of the European Union assured it is not possible to negotiate an agreement between the EU and Mercosur without Argentina, as the Spanish Government planned after the country’s decision to expropriate YPF.
Spain will discuss a joint response with the United States to Argentina‘s forced nationalization of the YPF oil company, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said on Thursday.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo warned on Tuesday that “Argentina has just shot itself in the foot” as the expropriation of YPF oil and gas company might lead to “a break- up with both Spain and the international community.”
The Spanish government condemned Argentina’s announcement over the expropriation of YPF, calling it a “discriminatory” and “arbitrary” decision, and stated that it will adopt any measures deemed necessary to defend the interests of Repsol and every other Spanish company.
Britain will not negotiate with Spain on the question of sovereignty over Gibraltar without the approval of the colony's residents, Premier David Cameron said this week during a visit by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.