Wrap up 2025: Transición energética y ESG

Spain's draft Royal Decree introduces stringent energy sustainability, environmental, resilience and digital sovereignty requirements for data centers, including renewable additionality, hourly correlation, and efficiency standards. The regulation applies to all access and connection permits obtained after entry into force, with specific compliance deadlines for projects in progress and those with granted permits not yet connected to the grid.

Spain has launched a €9 billion electricity capacity market following EU approval, introducing a centralised mechanism that procures firm capacity through sealed-bid auctions administered by Red Eléctrica de España. The framework prioritizes renewable generation, storage, and demand-side resources for new investments while imposing strict emission limits on existing generation facilities.

El RDL 7/2026 es una norma extensa, que incorpora medidas en diversos órdenes de la actividad económica.

Starting in 2013, several investment treaty claims have been filed in the field of renewable energy against several European countries, alleging a breach of the Energy Charter Treaty.

Royal Decree-Law 7/2026 of 20 March, approving the Comprehensive Plan in Response to the Crisis in the Middle East (RDL 7/2026), entered into force on 22 March. It was ultimately ratified by the Congress of Deputies on 26 March.

The Government has approved Royal Decree 986/2024, of September 24, approving the update of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan, now called 2023-2030...

The new regulation, which took form of Royal Decree 962/2024 of 24 September ("Regulation"), subjects offshore renewable installations to a competitive bidding process —with some exceptions (e.g., installations that are innovative or located in State ports of general interest).

The mainland electricity system is implementing a capacity market mechanism designed to guarantee power availability during critical periods. This initiative will compensate energy providers who commit to maintaining reserve capacity, addressing potential supply shortfalls. The framework represents a strategic approach to managing grid stability and preventing power disruptions.

El Real Decreto Ley 25/2026 introduce medidas urgentes para el sector de hidrocarburos y energía eléctrica como parte del Plan Integral de Respuesta a la Crisis en Oriente Medio. Las disposiciones buscan prevenir incrementos desproporcionados en los precios energéticos y asegurar el suministro durante el período invernal.

The draft Royal Decree on the sustainability and energy efficiency of data centers will be subject to public consultation until 15 September 2025.

As a result of operational constraints related to the enhanced social media vetting of H-1B and H-4 visa applicants that will go into effect on December 15, 2025, U.S. consulates in India have begun automatically...

President Trump issued an executive order implementing the Graham Act, which establishes substantial new tariffs on Russian goods and countries purchasing Russian energy, but simultaneously waives their application. The order creates a monitoring framework that leaves open the possibility of future enforcement while maintaining existing Russia sanctions regimes.

On January 12, 2026, President Trump announced via Truth Social: "[e]ffective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay...

On September 18, 2026, President Donald Trump signed into law the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (Act), a significant package of sanctions, trade restrictions and related measures...

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today issued Russia-related General License 135 (GL 135), “Authorizing Transactions Related to the Sale, Delivery...

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a final rule that will shift the H-1B cap registration selection process from a random lottery to a weighted selection process...

China has a VAT rebate system that reduces the 13% domestic value-added tax (VAT) on certain exported goods.

On August 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed rule that would impose a $103,265 fee on all cap-subject H-1B petitions.

Last month, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued an order granting a five-year exemption from registration as a national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934...

Welcome to Cross Examining Cyber, a podcast brought to you by Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer. In this series, we speak with leading cyber practitioners, business leaders and policymakers about the issues shaping...