Economics

Spain Dares EU Budget Police to Start First Ever Sanctions

Commission to consider action on persistent deficit violations
Imminent election may persuade commission to postpone decision

People protest on the streets during the fifth anniversary of 15M movement on May 15. EU commissioners meet Wednesday to discuss taking action after Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy breached his country’s budget limit for a fourth successive year. — People protest on the streets during the fifth anniversary of 15M movement on May 15. EU commissioners meet Wednesday to discuss taking action after Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy breached his country’s budget limit for a fourth successive year.
Photographer: Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

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By Esteban Duarte and Ian Wishart

May 17, 2016 at 11:00 PM EDT

Updated on

May 18, 2016 at 5:26 AM EDT

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Spain’s caretaker government may be about to learn just how far its European Union budget masters can be pushed.

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Before it’s here, it’s on the Bloomberg Terminal