http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/commentary-chislett-how-to-radically-cut-spains-unemployment-feasible-or-wishful-thinking#.VHBC9_TF-yM

A spate of major contracts won over the last month in Australia, Brazil and the US has strengthened Spain’s already commanding position in the global infrastructure market. The potentially most interesting development is Ferrovial’s take-over bid for Australia’s Transfield Services, as it is a stepping stone to China.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/ari52-2014-chislett-spain-leads-world-market-for-infrastructure-development#.VFpYXfTF_wc

Spanish banks sailed through the latest EU-wide health check, signalling they do not need any more capital. This follows several years of tough adjustments as a result of the near collapse of the financial system in 2012 that triggered a €41 billion bail out (exited in January).
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/commentary-chislett-spanish-banks-pass-eu-stress-test-with-flying-colours#.VE51movF_wc

Main events include: Spain wins UN Security Council seat; Catalan President scraps independence referendum, plans another form of consultation; public debt to exceed 100% of GDP in 2015, forecast to decline as of 2016, and Telefónica completes €8.6 billion purchase of Germany’s E-Plus.

http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/wcm/connect/5f82410045ea4d94acc2ae5de37d5b31/110_InsideSpain_ElcanoNewsletter.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=5f82410045ea4d94acc2ae5de37d5b31

The European Union’s annual report on Turkey’s accession negotiations, which have advanced at a snail’s pace since they were opened nine years ago this month, is like an end of term student report card. If an overall grade were to be assigned to Turkey it would be a C, with the comment that the government was trying harder but still had a long way to go to obtain the mark that would enable the country to join the EU.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/commentary-chislett-turkeys-eu-accession-trying-harder-but-still-failing#.VDftxSmSyyM

Even before Spain’s crisis and despite some notable political, economic and social achievements, the country’s image abroad and within Spain was out of sync with reality. This situation worsened during the recession, which is now over but the gap persists.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/ari43-2014-chislett-distance-between-spains-image-and-countrys-reality#.VC2GNimSzwd

My review of what’s happening in Spain. This one covers two months as it is not published in August when Spain closes down.
Otherwise, published every month since 2004.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/wcm/connect/3482cb80459422c2898be911646dbfa9/109_InsideSpain_ElcanoNewsletter.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=3482cb80459422c2898be911646dbfa9

The victory of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister for the last 11 years and an increasingly authoritarian and polarising figure, in the first round of the country’sfirst presidential election by popular vote, marks a significant turning point in the political life of a nation that has been a sluggish EU candidate since October 2005.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/commentary-chislett-erdogan-turkey-new-sultan#.U_17poCSzwd

The programme of reforms and austerity measures has set Spain on a path of accelerating growth, but the legacy from the crisis is such that unemployment will remain very high for several years yet.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/wp9-2014-chislett-spain-turns-corner-but-legacy-from-crisis-persists#.U-CWMICSyyM

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister for the last 11 years and an increasingly authoritarian and polarising figure, will run in the presidential election on 10 August. No one expects him to lose, least of all Erdogan himself.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/commentary-chislett-turkey-erdogan-run-first-direct-presidential-election#.U7gkeo2SyyM