Drivers on the Costa del Sol will have to prepare for much higher AP-7 toll charges starting Monday, June 1 as the special summer rates take effect.

Patricia Navarro, president of the Popular Party in Malaga, has described the adjustment as an “infernal price hike” and demanded action from the Spanish government.

Full journey costs increase

Users completing the full route from Fuengirola to Manilva will pay €19.55 instead of the previous €12 during the peak period.

Navarro warned that the Spanish government has already increased its toll revenue by 10 per cent, raising collections from €30 million to €35 million over just two years. She insists this extra money should return to Malaga province to offer discounts for regular AP-7 users rather than disappear elsewhere.

Political demands grow louder

Navarro criticised the current situation in which funds fail to support local needs such as improvements to the congested A-7 road or construction of a third lane between San Pedro Alcantara and Puerto Banus. She called on the government led by Sanchez to stop squeezing residents in this way especially now that the high tourist season begins.

Details at each toll booth

Drivers can expect the following prices for light vehicles at the main toll points along the Costa del Sol stretch of the AP-7. All figures include VAT and show the change from normal season to special summer rates.

Special summer rates will be in place for the whole of June, July, August and September. The full list of prices can be found at autopistsdelsol.com and includes commercial vehicles too.

Advice for regular users

People who travel the AP-7 often can reduce their costs through the Via-T electronic payment system. Discounts increase with the number of journeys completed each month and may even allow some loyal users to keep normal rates year-round.

All drivers should check their exact route costs in advance using the official Autopista del Sol calculator to avoid surprise charges at the booths.

Navarro repeated her call for the government to direct toll income towards practical help for Malaga residents instead of allowing the pressure on motorists to continue unchecked.

Anyone planning journeys between towns in the Costa del Sol area during the coming months needs to budget for these higher tolls or consider alternative routes where possible.

Motorists face this change every year with the arrival of peak tourist season, yet many still get caught out by the sudden jump. Regular commuters who use the road daily for work or family visits will notice the biggest impact on their budgets over the next four months. Families heading out for day trips or holidays along the coast should factor in the extra expense when planning travel between Fuengirola, Marbella, Estepona and further west to Manilva.

Princess Leonor has attended the Día de las Fuerzas Armadas (Armed Forces arade) for the first time alongside King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, appearing with her father during the national military parade held in Vigo on Saturday May 30.

The event, which brings together Spain’s armed forces each year in a different city, was presided over by King Felipe VI and marked a significant moment in the public military role of the Princess of Asturias, who is currently completing her military training.

Leonor joined the Royal Family on the tribune and took part in the official programme as the parade unfolded along the Galician city’s waterfront, where thousands of service personnel were deployed.

First participation in a major military ceremony

This was the first time Princess Leonor has attended the central Día de las Fuerzas Armadas parade alongside the King, making it her most prominent appearance to date in a national military ceremony of this scale. According to official reporting, she attended as part of her ongoing military instruction, which has included training across the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Her presence had been confirmed shortly before the event following an adjustment to the Royal Household’s schedule. The King and Queen were accompanied by their daughter during the tribune ceremony, where they observed the march-past of military units and equipment. Leonor is expected to continue participating in major institutional events as part of her preparation for her future role as Commander-in-Chief.

Large-scale military display in Vigo

The parade was part of a programme of defence activities held in Vigo over several days. More than 3,700 personnel took part, supported by units from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Guardia Civil and the Military Emergency Unit.

The display included infantry formations, cavalry units, military vehicles and coordinated marching groups. A naval and aerial programme had also been planned as part of the wider celebrations, reflecting the operational capabilities of the armed forces.

Large crowds gathered along the waterfront to watch the procession, which began in the morning under overcast conditions. The city had hosted several related demonstrations in the days leading up to the main parade, including naval and amphibious exercises.

Weather disruption and cancellation of aerial display

The event was affected by adverse weather conditions, which led to the cancellation of the scheduled aerial display. The decision was taken shortly before the parade began due to safety concerns linked to cloud cover and wind conditions.

As a result, the planned flypast by aircraft formations and parachute units did not take place. The cancellation was communicated during the event, with the ground parade continuing as scheduled.

Despite the disruption, the ground procession proceeded without alteration, with military units maintaining the planned route and timings.

Incident during flag ceremony

A separate incident occurred during the flag-raising ceremony at the start of the event when the national flag fell to the ground after a technical failure in the hoisting mechanism. Reports from the scene indicate that the malfunction was caused by a mechanical issue with the mast system.

The incident prompted an immediate response from organisers, and the King later instructed that the ceremony continue with an alternative flag display from the Guardia Real in order to maintain the formal sequence of the event.

The moment drew attention from attendees and was visible during the live broadcast of the ceremony.

Significance of Leonor’s role

Princess Leonor’s presence at the parade is seen as part of her gradual integration into official military duties. As heir to the throne, she is expected to assume the role of Supreme Commander of the Spanish Armed Forces in the future, following the constitutional role held by the monarch.

Her participation in Vigo follows previous appearances at other national military events, including the National Day parade in Madrid. However, the Vigo ceremony represents her first attendance at the Día de las Fuerzas Armadas alongside King Felipe VI during a full-scale national parade outside the capital.

Officials present included the Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, and senior military commanders responsible for coordinating the event.

Final take 

The Día de las Fuerzas Armadas in Vigo combined large-scale military participation with ceremonial significance for the Royal Family. While the event was disrupted by weather conditions and a technical failure during the flag ceremony, it also marked a notable step in Princess Leonor’s public military role, as she appeared for the first time alongside King Felipe VI at the national parade in this context.

Portugal has notified the European Commission that it may temporarily suspend the collection of biometric data under the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) at certain border crossing points, in order to manage passenger congestion at airports.

The notification allows Portuguese border authorities to pause the collection of biometric data in specific locations when passenger flows exceed processing capacity. The measure is applied on a limited, case-by-case basis.

According to EU rules, member states may temporarily suspend the biometric registration process at specific border points, but they must inform the Commission in advance and specify where and for how long the suspension applies.

Purpose of the notification

The notification made by Portugal relates to the use of this contingency measure when operational conditions require it, particularly during periods of high passenger volumes. The aim is to reduce delays at border control while maintaining overall border management procedures.

Under the EES framework, suspensions are not permanent changes to the system. They are time-limited operational measures used when standard biometric processing creates congestion or long waiting times.

Portuguese authorities have previously used similar measures during periods of disruption at airports, including Lisbon, where queues increased following the introduction and phased rollout of the system.

Operational context in Portugal

Portugal has already experienced repeated congestion at border control points since the phased introduction of the Entry/Exit System. At Lisbon airport in particular, waiting times increased significantly during earlier stages of implementation, with authorities at times reverting to manual checks when queues became excessive or when infrastructure capacity was exceeded. 

In December 2025, the government temporarily suspended full use of the EES at Lisbon airport for a period of three months after admitting operational constraints in the arrivals area. The measure was taken to manage passenger flow and reduce delays while border staffing and processing capacity were adjusted. 

The system has since been reintroduced in phases, with Portuguese authorities confirming that EES processing is now active again across border points, although they continue to apply operational adjustments where necessary depending on passenger volumes.

What the suspension means in practice

The notification does not mean the suspension of the EES itself. Instead, it refers only to the temporary suspension of biometric data collection at specific border control points when needed.

For travellers arriving in Portugal, this may mean:

• In normal operation, non-EU travellers will continue to be registered in the EES and provide fingerprints and a facial image on first entry 
• During suspension periods at specific locations, border authorities may revert temporarily to manual passport checks 
• Any suspension is expected to be limited in time and location, and does not affect the overall requirement to comply with Schengen entry rules 

In practice, this means most travellers will not notice a change unless they arrive during a period when the contingency measure is activated at a particular airport or border post.

What it means for people travelling to Portugal

For passengers travelling to Portugal from outside the EU and Schengen area, entry requirements remain the same under EU law. Travellers must still present a valid passport and comply with the 90/180-day rule for short stays.

Where the EES is fully operating, first-time visitors will still be required to provide biometric data, and their entry and exit movements will be recorded electronically.

Once the temporary suspension is activated at a specific border point, travellers may experience:

• Faster processing times at passport control 
• Reduced use of biometric kiosks during peak congestion 
• A return to manual document checks in some cases 

However, this does not change eligibility requirements for entry, visa rules, or the legal limits on stay in the Schengen area.

Administrative oversight

The European Commission oversees the implementation of the EES across member states, while national border authorities are responsible for deciding when contingency measures are necessary and notifying Brussels accordingly.

In Portugal, border management operations are carried out by national police authorities at airports and external borders, who apply the system in line with EU regulation and operational guidance.

Outlook

Portugal’s notification to Brussels relates to a temporary operational safeguard within the EU Entry/Exit System rather than a change in policy. It allows biometric processing to be paused at specific border points when necessary to manage congestion, while maintaining the wider requirement for electronic entry and exit recording for non-EU travellers.