In a letter of formal notice sent to Madrid on Thursday 17 July, the European Commission found that Spain had breached banking prudential rules and the principles of free movement of capital and freedom of establishment in connection with BBVA’s €13 billion takeover of Banco Sabadell.
The Spanish legislation gives the Spanish government “unfettered powers to intervene in bank mergers and acquisitions”, which encroach on the competences of the ECB and national supervisors, said...