SPAIN THIS WEEK

Monday, 21 August 2017

20/08/2017 ​President of the Government attends mass for peace and in tribute to victims of terrorist attacks in Catalonia The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, took part in the mass for peace and in memory of the victims of last week's terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils. The ceremony was held in the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and was presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain.

19/08/2017 ​Spain maintains counter-terrorism alert at level 4 and bolsters this with additional measures The Minister for Home Affairs, Juan Ignacio Zoido, informed the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, on Saturday morning of the decisions taken at the extraordinary meetings of the Terrorist Threat Assessment Board. The experts that took part in the meeting agreed that it was not necessary to step up the terrorist alert to level 5, the highest level on the scale.

18/08/2017 Mariano Rajoy calls for unity of political forces in fight against terrorism The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, stated in Catalonia that unity is essential for defeating terrorism and generating trust. He also remarked that the priorities are attending to the wounded in the attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils and arresting the criminals as rapidly as possible.

18/08/2017 Mariano Rajoy attends minute's silence in memory of victims of attacks in Catalonia The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, attended a minute's silence in Plaza de Cataluña for the pain and suffering caused by the attacks on Las Ramblas in Barcelona and in Cambrils. Beforehand, Mariano Rajoy met with leaders of the State law enforcement agencies at the Government Representative's Office in Catalonia to examine the situation following these terrorist attacks.

18/08/2017 Mariano Rajoy expresses solidarity with victims of attack in Barcelona The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, stated in Barcelona, to where he travelled following the terrorist attack carried out in the same city, that the people of Spain are united in their grief and in their "firm will to defeat those who wish to tear down our values and our way of life". Mariano Rajoy announced three days of official mourning and that the Counter-Terrorism Pact will shortly be called to strengthen unity in the fight against terrorism.

16/08/2017 Government agrees to proceed with binding arbitration to resolve employment dispute in El Prat The parties involved in the dispute will be required to mutually agree on the appointment of an arbitrator within 24 hours of receiving notification of this decision. In the event that no agreement is reached on this appointment, the arbitrator will be appointed by the Ministry of Public Works within the following 24 hours and will hand down its ruling within ten days.

18/08/2017	​Minute's silence at Moncloa Palace for attacks in Catalonia
17/08/2017	​Spain launches third expedition to wreck of Nuestra Señora de Las Mercedes