SPAIN THIS WEEK

Tuesday, 16 May 2017

14/05/2017 Mariano Rajoy highlights strength of Spanish economy in China The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, met in Beijing with the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, at the first event on his official visit to the country to take part in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. On his second day in China, the President of the Government of Spain attended the event's inaugural meeting, where participants exchanged opinions on the possibilities of developing the New Silk Road project.

12/05/2017 ​"The future demands innovation and connection", says Mariano Rajoy At the closing ceremony of the 'Connected Hub' Congress, the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, expressed his government's "firm commitment" to innovation in the automotive industry and highlighted that the heading of R&D+i will rise by more than 4% in this year's Budget.

10/05/2017 Mariano Rajoy receives chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, received the European Commission's chief negotiator for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the Frenchman Michel Barnier.

10/05/2017 Mariano Rajoy announces that 2017 Budget includes call for more than 100 additional posts for new judges and public prosecutors to "combat corruption" During the normal government control session held in the Lower House of Parliament, Mariano Rajoy, defended the "absolute independence" of the Public Prosecution Service "to prosecute crime".

09/05/2017 Mariano Rajoy meets with Secretary General of World Tourism Organization The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, held a meeting at Moncloa Palace with the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (WTO), Taleb Rifai, within the framework of the excellent relations the government has with this United Nations agency, which has its headquarters in Madrid.

09/05/2017 Spain will continue leading growth and job creation if budget stability and reforms are maintained, says Mariano Rajoy At the closing ceremony of the Annual Assembly of Family Business Institute Partners, the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, underlined the need to maintain the reform agenda in such areas as active employment policies, business competitiveness, and digitalisation of the economy and public administration.

08/05/2017 Mariano Rajoy receives President of Costa Rica at Moncloa Palace The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, received the President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís, at Moncloa Palace, within the framework of his first official visit to Spain. The President of Costa Rica was accompanied by his Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Economy, Foreign Trade and Tourism. During the course of their meeting, the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and addressed issues on the Ibero-American and international agendas.

08/05/2017 Mariano Rajoy argues that "imaginary rights of territories" never come before the rights of people At the ceremony to award the Francisco Umbral Prize to the writer Fernando Aramburu, whose work entitled 'Patria' has been chosen as Book of the Year 2016, the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, stressed that this novel is "a work of real fiction" that "must be read" to "remind us of an important part of our recent history" and "to open our eyes to the truth".

12/05/2017 Government approves new reform of stevedore sector The aim is to modify the current situation of the stevedore sector in Spain, which only allows workers that belong to the Stevedore Management Company (Spanish acronym: SAGEP) to be hired, thus violating European law and subjecting Spain to multi-million euro fines.

12/05/2017	Inflation rises to 2.6% due to tourism services and energy prices
10/05/2017	Price competitiveness of the economy improved against the OECD in the first quarter 2017
10/05/2017	​Spain opens its Pavilion at 57th Venice Biennale
10/05/2017	Minister for Public Works presents new Air Navigation Plan 2017-2020
09/05/2017	Juan Ignacio Zoido meets Director General of International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Ambassador William Lacy Swing
09/05/2017	​Research vessel 'Emma Bardán' begins 'BIOMAN 2017' campaign in Bay of Biscay
09/05/2017	​Minister for Health presents Barcelona's candidature to host European Medicines Agency
09/05/2017	Spain and Hong Kong to have new direct air route as from July
08/05/2017	Virtual reality arrives at the National Archaeological Museum
08/05/2017	Three alleged Jihadi terrorists were arrested, two in Badalona and Salou, and a third in Tangiers (Morocco) for membership of DAESH terrorist cell
08/05/2017	Íñigo Méndez de Vigo sends condolences on death of Hispanist Hugh Thomas