New Legislation Removes Requirement for Residence Cards in Spain

The British Embassy in Madrid has advised of new legislation that has removed the requirement of residence cards for EU citizens in Spain. The new decree establishes a requirement for British Nationals and other EU citizens planning to reside in Spain to register with Spanish authorities. Royal Decree (240/2007), approved on the 16th February 2007 by the Spanish Council of Ministers, establishes that from the 28th March 2007, European Union citizens will no longer be issued with residence cards. However, the new decree requires all EU citizens planning to reside in Spain for more than three months to register in person at the Foreigners' Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) in their province of residence or at designated police stations. They will be issued a certificate stating their name, address, nationality, identity number and date of registration.

EU citizens in Spain who already have residence cards will not need to re-register until their residence card expires when they will be issued with a certificate.

The Royal Decree 240/2007 is a transposition of European Directive 2004/38/EC to Spanish legislation and more information on the new requirements will be available on the Spanish Ministry of Interior's website www.mir.es in due course.

The British Embassy in Madrid has recommended that Britons carry identification with them at all times in Spain.

New Monument to March 11th Victims Opened in Atocha Station

A new monument to the March 11th victims was opened at Madrid's Atocha Station by the King and Queen of Spain last Sunday, the third anniversary of the explosions.  The eleven metre high glass monument is inscribed with the names of the victims and comments from the books of condolence.  The glass tower is open every day of the year from 10.00am to 8.00pm.

The World Economic Forum has highlighted the "impressive" growth of the tourism over the years in Spain.  In its report on the competitiveness of travelling and tourism in 2007, the organization placed Spain at number 15 at a general level (among the 124 member countries).  When it comes to tourism infrastructure the WEF put Spain in second place in the world, behind France and Spain also came second in terms of natural and cultural resources, this time behind Italy

Equal Rights Law Passed in Spain

The Spanish Parliament has passed a new equal rights law that requires all companies with more than 250 employees to create gender equality plans, and the largest companies to have 40% female boards of directors within eight years and to ensure more Spanish women are elected into office. The law dictates that by 2015 40% of all seats on the boards of the country's largest corporations should be occupied by women.  It also increases the length of paternity leave, extends paid leave for employees caring for a sick relative and sets strict guidelines regarding sexual harassment.

Spanish Woman's Death Triggers Debate on Euthanasia

A bedridden Spanish woman suffering from muscular dystrophy who asked to be taken off the artificial respirator which was keeping her alive has died. The voluntary death of the Spanish woman has led to national debate on euthanasia.

Inmaculada Echevarria (51) died after she was moved to a state hospital in Andalucia. The Roman Catholic order running the hospital where she had been previously on a respirator for ten years refused to let her die.

Euthanasia is illegal in Spain, but the authorities permitted doctors to switch off the respirator under a law that grants patients the right to refuse treatment. Spain's Socialist government wants to legalize euthanasia as part of a wave of liberal reforms. The move provoked an outcry from the Church.

68 New Radar Speed Traps Installed in Spain

The Spanish Traffic Department (DGT) has installed 68 new radars throughout the country in an attempt to reduce the number of deaths on the roads. Fifty per cent of the radars are in Andalucia with Malaga province being the first to have a radar control on a secondary road installed in the whole of Spain.  Malaga's radars are in the following locations, A-357, km 38,93, 100kph at the Zalea crossroads and A-45, km 127,05, 100kph Las Pedrizas area. These two new radars bring the total in Malaga to seven. They will be in operation before Easter and are intended to prevent speeding, which is believed to cause at least 1,000 deaths per year. All the radars will be clearly visible and drivers will also be able to locate them on the DGT’s website, as the idea is not to increase fines but to reduce speed.  Furthermore, in the next few weeks, a special set of Guardia Civil speed traps will be in operation in several areas.

Madrid Airport Saved from Delays Top Spot by Heathrow

Barajas Airport has been named as the second European airport to have most delays last year.  London's Heathrow Airport saved Madrid from the top spot due to the problems created by the security scare last August.

Spain Prepares Register of Gibraltar Residents who have Spanish homes 'to avoid fiscal fraud'

The Spanish tax authorities are to intensify their campaign about Gibraltar residents who have homes in the Spanish neighbourhood, by producing a register of those who have such homes but as non-residents in Spain. This has been made known by Pilar Fernandez, who is the special representative of the Spanish tax authorities in Andalucia, Ceuta and Melilla. Their aim is to concentrate principally in the Campo area where many Gibraltar residents have homes, this is to avoid fiscal fraud, she said.  It is well known that there are several housing developments in the Campo area near the Rock which have attracted Gibraltar purchasers.

Spain's Prado Museum to Send Old Masters to China

The Prado Museum is to send some of it most valuable Old Master paintings to China, the Culture Ministry said last Thursday, 15th March.  A selection of 50 paintings, including masterpieces by Titian, El Greco, Velazquez, Tintoretto, Rubens, Van Dyck, Tiepolo and Goya are to be exhibited later this year in Beijing and Shanghai. Titled "From Titian to Goya. Grand Masters of the Prado Museum," the exhibition shows "an essential selection, representative of the variety of schools present at the museum," said Miguel Zufaza, director of the museum.

Block of Ice Falls from Sky in Madrid

A football sized block of ice fell out of the sky on to the roof of an industrial building in Madrid last week, damaging the roof but without causing injuries. Samples from the block have been taken for analysis.  Scientists have said the most likely explanation is a sudden freeze in the upper part of the Earth's atmosphere forming ice blocks that then fall into a restricted area. A series of ice blocks fell around Spain in 2000.

New John Lennon Statue Unveiled in Almeria

A new statue of John Lennon has been unveiled in Almeria. The bronze work by Carmen Mudarra portrays Lennon at 26 years old.   Lennon wrote “Strawberry Fields Forever” when he was in the city in 1966 for the filming of Richard Lester’s film, How I Won The War. 

New AVE Link Between Sevilla and Malaga

A  planned new section of AVE high speed track will place Sevilla less than an hour away from Malaga when it opens in 2010.  A third of the new track is currently under construction, and current travelling times of 75 minutes will be cut to 55 minutes when the new line comes into operation.

Vialia Commercial Centre Fined for Opening Sundays

The Junta de Andalucia has announced a 90,000 Euro fine for the Vialia commercial centre at the new railway station in Malaga.  The fine has been imposed on the centre for opening on Sundays and has been welcomed by other small businesses in the area and trade unions.  Vialia claimed that a legal loop hole allowed shops in railway stations to trade on Sundays.  The company will also be fined an additional 10,000 Euros for every future Sunday they open for business without authorisation.

New Footpath for Barriada del Puente and Bellavista

The Ayuntamiento has decided to pave 2 kilometres of road between the Barriadas of El Puente and Bellavista. The work will begin within a month with a budget of 433,416 Euros and should be complete within 3 months.  The pavement will be 3 metres wide and will feature green areas with seating and lighting.

New Organic Market in Coin

Today, Saturday 17th March, Coin will hold its first organic produce market.  The market has been organised by the Ayuntamiento and the agricultural collective COAG.  There will be a total of 16 stallholders with agricultural produce including citrus fruits, avocados, honey, oil, olives, eggs, cheese and more.  The market will be held monthly on the third Saturday of each month, although the Ayuntamiento did not rule out fortnightly or even weekly, depending on demand.  The market will be held in the Plaza de la Villa, where of the 16 stands, two will be local farmers.  A council spokesman explained that this location has been chosen due to the fact that the old Coin market was held there.

Malaga 0 - Murcia

A goalless draw secured a vital point for Malaga although it still left them just one place and two points above the drop zone. The team has not won now in five games.  Malaga's next game is away to Poli Ejido on Sunday 18th March, kick off 5.00pm.

Sevilla Drawn Against Tottenham in UEFA Cup

UEFA Cup holders Sevilla have been drawn against Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter finals of this year's UEFA Cup competition.  The first leg will be played in Sevilla on the 5th April with the return leg at White Hart Lane on the 12th April.

Pole Position for Raikkonen in Melbourne

Kimi Raikkonen will start the first race of the 2007 Formula One season on pole position after qualifying fastest in Australia. Defending world champion Fernando Alonso was second for McLaren, with Nick Heidfeld third and Lewis Hamilton fourth.

Nadal to Play Roddick in Indian Wells Masters

Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick will contest the semi-final of the Indian Wells Masters tournament today, Saturday 17th March.  Nadal and Roddick have not played since the 2004 Davis Cup final, when Nadal beat Roddick.

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