SPAIN THIS WEEK

Monday, 13 March 2017

10/03/2017 "We must not undo the reforms undertaken, but rather push on and improve them", says Mariano Rajoy The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, explained in Brussels that the European Council has agreed to boost investments, push on with structural reforms and apply responsible fiscal reforms. He also reiterated that 2017 will be good for Spain in terms of economic growth and job creation.

09/03/2017 Mariano Rajoy meets with Prime Minister of the Netherlands The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, met with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, within the framework of the European Council being held in Brussels.

09/03/2017 "I am optimistic about evolution of European and Spanish economies", says Mariano Rajoy Upon his arrival in Brussels to attend the ordinary meeting of the European Council, the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, expressed Spain's support for the continuity of Donald Tusk as President of the European Council for the next two and a half years because, in his opinion, he has done "a good job" and "Europe needs stability".

08/03/2017 Mariano Rajoy advocates a "great national pact on work-life balance and shared responsibility" The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, at an event held to celebrate International Women's Day, argued that equality "begins with employment" and that "we must continue to pull down barriers, reduce gaps and pave the way for women leaders".

08/03/2017 ​ "This is the 8 March with the most women in work in our country ever", says Mariano Rajoy During the habitual government control session held in the Lower House of Parliament, the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, "strongly" expressed his "outright" condemnation of the "violence perpetrated against women". On another note, he stressed that "a very significant part" of the agreements signed at the start of this legislature have already been complied with.

07/03/2017 Mariano Rajoy receives President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, received the President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Ricardo Blázquez, at the Moncloa Complex.

06/03/2017 The future of EU consists of "offering response to challenges and uncertainties" it faces, states Mariano Rajoy At the meeting of the leaders of France, Spain, Germany and Italy held in Versailles, the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, underlined that the European Union is a "success story" and that its priority at this time must be to more effectively tend to the problems of its citizens. He also claimed that Spain "is willing to go even further with integration" with those countries that opt for this path.

06/03/2017 ​Mariano Rajoy talks with CEO of PSA Group on situation of the group's Spanish factories and their employees The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, spoke by phone on Monday morning with the CEO of the PSA Group, Carlos Tavares. This conversation took place shortly after the details were announced on the takeover of Opel by the PSA Group from General Motors.

10/03/2017 Government lowers contributions for companies with low accident at work rate This reduction will apply to contributions for professional contingencies and will affect those companies that have considerably reduced the number of accidents at work and occupational diseases. The Council of Ministers also agreed to allocate more than 321 million euros to State housing subsidies in 2017.

12/03/2017	Spain is the second-placed EU country in terms of receiving funding under the Juncker Plan in 2016
11/03/2017	The Venice Commission backs the 2015 reform of the Constitutional Law on the Constitutional Court
10/03/2017	Spain and three other European countries sign agreement in Belgium on Guidelines for Assistance to Victims of Terrorism
09/03/2017	Official trip by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to Algiers
08/03/2017	Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Head of Delegation of Colombian Government at dialogue in Havana
08/03/2017	Álvaro Nadal remarks on good progress of new Spanish tourism products
08/03/2017	Guardia Civil locate stash belonging to terrorist group ETA, with seven drums containing explosive materials in Irun (Guipuzcoa)
08/03/2017	Maritime Rescue service coordinated rescue and aid to 18,000 people in 2016
07/03/2017	Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation receives representatives from Amnesty International
07/03/2017	Minister for Public Works announces 11.5% reduction in ENAIRE route tariffs between 2018 and 2020
07/03/2017	Spain takes part, together with France, in the European Twinning Project on Civil Protection in Algeria
07/03/2017	Tax Agency collected 14.88 billion euros in 2016 from its fight against fraud
06/03/2017	European Commission grants Spain additional quota to withdraw 3,015 tonnes of fruit and vegetables from the market within framework of exceptional measures to cope with Russian veto