Politics

The Spanish Government has finally issued today the highly expected reform of the labour market. Companies will be able to fire employees after paying 33 days of compensation, from which the State will pay 8.

The two main trade unions have announced a general strike against the job market reform planned by the Spanish Government. This reform has been discussed among the trade unions, business associations and the Spanish Government for more than 2 years.

Catalan Government President becomes president of the regional cooperation association. The Four Motors for Europe encloses four of the most dynamic regions of Europe: Lombardy, Baden-Württemberg, Rhône-Alpes, and Catalonia.

The pressure of Catalan Euro MPs has worked out. The European Commission has changed its initial position to not renew its only Catalan translator. Commissioner Reding has personally engaged in finding a replacement.

The high speed and capacity railway connection for freight and passengers connecting Spain with France will run along the Mediterranean shore. The option of going via Zaragoza through the middle of the Pyrenees clashes with the economic crisis.

Government and unions clash over success of strike action. Official figures suggest 11% of participation while unions raise the figure up to 75%. The salary cuts within the public sector adopted by the Spanish Government have infuriated the unions.

In a day focused on environmental acts, Catalan President asked forest defence associations to be on their guard this summer. Montilla also inaugurated a cycling park that links four important towns in Baix Llobregat, next to Barcelona.

The Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Party (CiU) trusts its same candidate to run for Mayor of Barcelona in the elections scheduled for the spring of 2011. Recent polls confirm Xavier Trias? hopes to win in his third attempt.

Parliament President considers waiting time on Catalan Statute for Autonomy to be unbearable

Head of Catalan Government demands ?respect? for Catalonia and warns of rupture with Spain

The text urges to choose between renouncing Catalan claims or renouncing the Spanish Constitution

Delay aims to provide more scope for action on talks between Arabs and Palestinians