Business & Finance
Meet Starline: The Ambitious Project To Connect Europe With A High-Speed Train Line That Functions ‘like A Metro’ – Olive Press News Spain
A BOLD new proposal could soon transform the way Europeans travel across the continent.
Unveiled by Copenhagen-based think tank 21st Europe, Starline is a visionary plan to connect 39 cities in Europe with a vast high-speed rail network – one that runs with the simplicity and regularity of a metro system.
Spanning 22,000 kilometres, the network aims to link countries across the whole of Europe, with trains operating at speeds of 300-400 km/h.
That would slash travel times across the continent – turning current day-long journeys into seamless, cross-border commutes.
“A truly integrated rail system is no longer just a matter of convenience; it’s a strategic necessity for Europe’s resilience in the 21st century,” said 21st Europe in a statement.
While the European Union already supports the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) to improve continental connections, Starline’s backers believe current efforts fall short of what’s needed.
“Despite public demand, cross-border travel remains fragmented, slow, and expensive,” the think tank argues, pointing to inconsistent ticketing, outdated stations, and varying train standards across countries.
Starline wants to change all that. Built on both new and existing infrastructure, its unified design would offer a metro-like experience.
The trains will be easily identified by their deep blue livery, a nod to the EU flag, complete with star detailing along the sides.
Inside, passengers would find a modern layout without traditional class divisions.
Instead, carriages will feature quiet zones for working, family-friendly areas, cafes, and comfortable open-plan seating.
At full speed, Starline could cut travel times dramatically, and the environmental payoff could be just as significant.
With transportation accounting for nearly 29% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, Starline aims to curb short-haul flights – reducing aviation’s footprint by up to 80%.
“A bold shift to high-speed rail might be Europe’s best chance to meet its 2050 net-zero goals while ensuring mobility remains both fast and green,” said the organisation.
Starline’s ambition extends beyond trains themselves. The network plans to build new stations just outside major cities, designed as cultural and social hubs.
These spaces would go beyond platforms and ticket machines, offering restaurants, concert halls, museums, sports venues, and public event areas – making them destinations in their own right.
“Railways were always about more than transport,” said 21st Europe founder Kaave Pour. “They shaped economies, cultures, even national identities. Today, we need them to do the same for Europe.”
Under the proposal, the network would be publicly funded and operated by approved national rail companies.
A new European Rail Authority (ERA) would oversee operations, ensuring interoperability, harmonised labour agreements, and shared safety regulations across borders.
Tickets would be available through a unified, open platform – much like air travel today – with AI-driven security at stations and pricing that undercuts both short-haul flights and current rail fares.
Starline is still in the concept phase, and its rollout would take decades, but 21st Europe insists this is a blueprint for real change.
The think tank estimates that, like China’s high-speed rail revolution, Starline could generate millions of jobs and contribute significantly to urban GDP growth.
“Now, we begin building the network to push for real change, bringing together policymakers, designers, and industry leaders to turn vision into action,” the group said.
Apple
More Trouble Brewing With Trump After Brussels Slaps US Tech Giants With Massive €700m Anti-Competition Fine – Olive Press News Spain
THE European Union has handed out fines totalling €700 million to US tech giants Apple and Meta for breaching digital competition rules.
The news is set to further annoy US President Donald Trump who has repeatedly opposed rules laid down by the EU and the impact they have on American firms.
The penalties come under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which ensures fair business practices by tech companies.
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The European Commission has penalised Apple to the tune of €500 million for stopping app makers from directing users to cheaper options outside its own App Store.
Meta has been fined €200 million because it forced Facebook and Instagram users to choose between seeing personalised adverts or paying to avoid them.
Former Spanish environment minister and now EU commissioner, Teresa Ribera, is the commission executive vice-president in charge of competition.
She said that Apple and Meta had fallen short of compliance with the DMA ‘by implementing measures that reinforce the dependence of business users and consumers on their platforms’.
The commission had ‘taken firm but balanced enforcement action against both companies, based on clear and predictable rules’, Ribera added.
“All companies operating in the EU must follow our laws and respect European values.”
Apple accused the commission of ‘unfairly targeting’ it and added that it ‘continues to move the goal posts’ despite the company’s efforts to obey the rules.
Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, said “The Commission is attempting to handicap successful American businesses while allowing Chinese and European companies to operate under different standards.”
Apple and Meta have to comply with the decisions within 60 days or risk unspecified ‘periodic penalty payments’, according to the commission.
Both companies have previously indicated that they will launch appeals if rulings went against them.
Business & Finance
Spain leads Europe with a third of workers overqualified for their job as wages remain stagnant
THIRTY-FIVE percent of those employed in Spain are overqualified for their jobs leading to a national ‘brain-waste’ phenomenon.
Recent data from Eurostat found Spain had the highest overqualification rate in Europe in 2024, with people with tertiary education working jobs that do not require such a high level of education.
With some of the highest numbers of university graduates in the EU, it seems Spain is wasting its talent. People are forced to accept jobs not in their field and are being severely underpaid.
While education is encouraged and praised in Spain, Southern Denmark University business professor Maria Elo explained it doesn’t mean the labour market can ”accommodate all this talent.’
Spain has been leading this EU statistic for several years, highlighting a work market dominated by low-paying service-based jobs.
More than 75% of Spain’s job market is made of service-based work, mainly in areas such as tourism, hospitality and sales. These are all professions that do not always require a university qualification.
Because of this, if people want to climb the career ladder, they are forced to look for jobs elsewhere, outside of Spanish borders. Many people who choose to stay aspire to become a civil servant (funcionario) as it offers a stable and high income.
Foreigners living in Spain are those who end up working a job they’re overqualified for most often, expat media company The Local reported. Furthermore, a 2023 Eurostat report noted that it’s more likely a foreigner’s formal qualifications will not be fully used in the labour market compared to a local citizens. Language barriers can contribute to this.
Spanish women workers are the most overqualified in all of Europe. Last year, 35.8% of female workers were overqualified, while the European Union average was 22.2%.
Immigrants from non-EU countries, trained in professions such as medicine, nursing, dentistry and law, also have to apply for their qualifications to be recognised by the Ministry of Education. This process can take up to two years, meaning immigrants are forced to take on jobs they’re overqualified for.
Stagnant wages
Wages in Spain remain notoriously low and have remained this way for decades. The average salary is €26,948.87 and the modal salary (most frequent) is even lower, between €14-18,000.
In comparison, average annual salaries in 2023/4 were 56% higher in Germany, 43% higher in France and 8% higher in Italy, according to OECD figures.
It has been argued the lower wages in Spain are a reflection of the lower cost of living here. Yet economist Ignacio De La Torre said Spanish salaries are low even when adjusted for the cost of living. The cost of living is increasing each year too, as evidenced by rising rental prices which have inspired nationwide protests.
Spain also has one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe, where just over 70% of people aged 20-64 are employed.
A shortage of jobs and high unemployment could mean people will accept any job offered, no matter the pay or their qualifications.
Following Spain’s stats was Greece with 33% and Cyprus with 28.2% of people overqualified for their jobs.
READ MORE:
Business & Finance
Spain Leads Europe With A Third Of Workers Overqualified For Their Job As Wages Remain Stagnant – Olive Press News Spain
THIRTY-FIVE percent of those employed in Spain are overqualified for their jobs leading to a national ‘brain-waste’ phenomenon.
Recent data from Eurostat found Spain had the highest overqualification rate in Europe in 2024, with people with tertiary education working jobs that do not require such a high level of education.
With some of the highest numbers of university graduates in the EU, it seems Spain is wasting its talent. People are forced to accept jobs not in their field and are being severely underpaid.
While education is encouraged and praised in Spain, Southern Denmark University business professor Maria Elo explained it doesn’t mean the labour market can ”accommodate all this talent.’
Spain has been leading this EU statistic for several years, highlighting a work market dominated by low-paying service-based jobs.
More than 75% of Spain’s job market is made of service-based work, mainly in areas such as tourism, hospitality and sales. These are all professions that do not always require a university qualification.
Because of this, if people want to climb the career ladder, they are forced to look for jobs elsewhere, outside of Spanish borders. Many people who choose to stay aspire to become a civil servant (funcionario) as it offers a stable and high income.
Foreigners living in Spain are those who end up working a job they’re overqualified for most often, expat media company The Local reported. Furthermore, a 2023 Eurostat report noted that it’s more likely a foreigner’s formal qualifications will not be fully used in the labour market compared to a local citizens. Language barriers can contribute to this.
Spanish women workers are the most overqualified in all of Europe. Last year, 35.8% of female workers were overqualified, while the European Union average was 22.2%.
Immigrants from non-EU countries, trained in professions such as medicine, nursing, dentistry and law, also have to apply for their qualifications to be recognised by the Ministry of Education. This process can take up to two years, meaning immigrants are forced to take on jobs they’re overqualified for.
Stagnant wages
Wages in Spain remain notoriously low and have remained this way for decades. The average salary is €26,948.87 and the modal salary (most frequent) is even lower, between €14-18,000.
In comparison, average annual salaries in 2023/4 were 56% higher in Germany, 43% higher in France and 8% higher in Italy, according to OECD figures.
It has been argued the lower wages in Spain are a reflection of the lower cost of living here. Yet economist Ignacio De La Torre said Spanish salaries are low even when adjusted for the cost of living. The cost of living is increasing each year too, as evidenced by rising rental prices which have inspired nationwide protests.
Spain also has one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe, where just over 70% of people aged 20-64 are employed.
A shortage of jobs and high unemployment could mean people will accept any job offered, no matter the pay or their qualifications.
Following Spain’s stats was Greece with 33% and Cyprus with 28.2% of people overqualified for their jobs.
READ MORE:
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More Trouble Brewing With Trump After Brussels Slaps US Tech Giants With Massive €700m Anti-Competition Fine – Olive Press News Spain
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