Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin May 7

CLICK HERE FOR THE FEATURE ARTICLES "UK driving licences no longer valid for British residents in Spain" and "Non-EU tourists must prove they have €100/day to enter Spain"

It’s finally here! Our day of reckoning…

Many British citizens resident in Spain didn’t register to exchange their UK driving licences for a Spanish one when they still could (before December 30, 2020), and lots who tried were stymied by a thoroughly obtuse and broken system.

Some of us were just waiting for an agreement to be reached to allow Brits to continue to use their valid UK driving licence to drive in Spain. This agreement never came, and now the British Embassy in Spain has announced that, as of May 1, any British citizen who has been resident in Spain for more than six months can no longer drive legally using their licence.

This has created havoc for lots of Brits in Spain, who are having to be ferried around by friends who are able to drive legally in Spain. But it doesn’t apply to holidaymakers, who are still allowed to drive when they come to Spain because they’re not residents here.

That’s not to say there’s nothing that has their backs up, as more news was released this week about whether unvaccinated Brits can finally travel to Spain, how much cash tourists must legally have to be able to support themselves while they’re in the country, and how many drinks they’re allowed when on an all-inclusive holiday in the Magaluf or Ibiza.

And so we come to the end of the road

After being pushed back time and again while the Spanish and British government engaged in ‘negotiations’, the deadline could not be held off any longer and the day finally came when UK driving licences are not valid for driving a car in Spain if you’ve been a resident for more than six months.

It should be stressed that this doesn’t apply to non-residents and people only coming to Spain on holiday. They can still drive a hire car, for example, using their British licence.

But for people who live in Spain, the idea is that six months is long enough for them to learn to pass their Spanish driving test. Which may or may not be true, depending on how long you’ve been driving, your level of Spanish and the funds you have available.

There are theory classes to do, registration fees to be paid left and right, practical classes to get used to the Spanish way of driving (which it should go without saying has some differences from the way we drive in the UK…) and even then you only get three chances to pass your theory test (can be done in English, thankfully) and practical test (must be conducted in Spanish) before you have to pay to do it all again.

The system is basically geared to make sure people don’t pass first time, largely with the aim of squeezing more money out of learner drivers. In fact, it’s been estimated that it can cost anywhere between 400 and 1,500 euros to get a Spanish driving licence!

The UK government has still not given up on negotiations, they say, and messages from the British Embassy in Madrid have assured that they are trying to wrangle another of their famed grace periods, to allow Brits to keep driving – for now.

They have also offered a titbit of information this week as to why there has been such a delay in making this deal to allow Brits in Spain to keep their home licences after Brexit, when other European countries have reached an agreement relatively quickly and easily.

Basically, they say, it comes down to the fact that the Spanish government is asking for data on vehicle ownership that the DVLA is either unwilling or unable to supply, either because of data protection laws or because they simply don’t have it. Maybe if this issue can be resolved, there is still hope for Britons not to have to resit their driving exams and to be able to keep their UK licences.

But, by the same token, the Embassy is not promising anything, and are still recommending that anyone who absolutely must drive should sit their Spanish driving test and get a Spanish driving licence NOW, as they have been saying for over a year already.

Spain travel news

With the weather set to improve this weekend at long last, Spain is turning its head towards the upcoming season and looking forward to welcoming a renewed influx of British, German and French tourists now that travel has been made somewhat more straight-forward. In fact, before Easter had even hit, Britons once again topped the holidaymaker list here in Spain, and spent a whopping 1 billion euros in March alone, 20% of the total international traveller income.

Spain’s Tourism Minister is only expecting British visits to the country to “intensify”, not least because the government has scrapped the complicated SpTH locator form for UK passengers who hold an EU Digital Covid Certificate or an NHS Covid Pass. This of course still means they have to be double jabbed or to have recovered from Covid-19 in the last six months since, on the flip side, the Spanish government has decided to extend restrictions for unvaccinated non-EU travellers until May 15. This is a long-standing Covid safety measure, and essentially prevents unvaccinated travellers from the UK coming to Spain for tourism purposes. The restrictions don’t affect children under the age of 12, who don’t require any vaccinations or tests to enter Spain, but teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 who are unvaccinated must either have a recovery certificate or a PCR test carried out in the last 72 hours.

Once the plane tickets, Covid tests and accommodation are paid for, visitors had better still make sure they have plenty of dosh left over, as a statement was issued this week to remind UK tourists that they need to be able to prove they have enough money to cover their trip, and Spain and France have some of the toughest requirements of the 26 Schengen countries.

Essentially, travellers arriving in Spain from third countries must have funds to cover 100 euros per day for the duration of their trip, which is equivalent to 10% of the Spanish monthly minimum wage. Now, this is nothing new. In fact, it’s a regulation that has been around the EU for years. Naturally, border guards can’t check the financial standing of every single traveller, and most people will go through their lives never having been checked, but the Spanish do reserve the right to check, as some 135,000 third-country nationals can attest after they were refused entry back in 2020 for not meeting the correct requirements.

Even with all this palaver it seems you will be lucky to get to where you’re going if you travel with one particular airline that is no stranger to the headlines. Ryanair made an embarrassing blunder last weekend when it forgot 14 passengers waiting to board a plane at La Palma airport headed for Malaga, and took off without them. The travellers were told to wait for a shuttle bus to take them to the flight, and then watched in shock as their plane took to the air while they were still on the ground. The passengers were put on another flight later that day, but the rub for many was that Ryanair only offered them a paltry four-euro voucher for their trouble.

Your destination when travelling to Spain is another important consideration, particularly if you like a tipple or two, and the Balearic Island government has reiterated its zero-tolerance approach to boozed-up Brits. Several airlines announced a few months ago that all-inclusive resorts on the islands would be limiting the number of free alcoholic beverages on offer to six per day – three at lunch and three at dinner – but this week, the government clarified that the booze restrictions only apply to Magaluf and El Arenal, plus the Balearic party island of Ibiza.

In these popular destinations, happy hours and two-for-one drinks promotions will be prohibited, advertising party boats is banned and shops won’t be allowed to sell alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am. The authorities have also promised to come down hard on “tourism excesses” and hefty fines will be handed out for any drunk and disorderly behaviour.

Coronavirus

With our collective minds seemingly turned so much towards travel, it’s easy to forget that we’re still in the midst of a pandemic, but the reality is that Covid just doesn’t seem to be loosening its grip on Spain. Despite the fact that almost 93% of the population over the age of 12 is now double jabbed, the older population appears to be bearing the brunt of the pandemic once more, and hospital admissions jumped up by another 4% this week.

Another worrying development is the discovery of a new coronavirus strain in Asturias which has hardly been seen anywhere else in the world, with the exception of South Africa. Although several cases of this variant have now been confirmed in Spain, experts can’t find any link between these patients and South Africa, and are frankly baffled. Studies are ongoing, of course, but scientist have warned that this strain already appears to be more transmissible than both Omicron and stealth Omicron.

CORONAVIRUS LATEST NEWS

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Murcia

While the weather is beginning to pick up again now, with sun and warmer temperatures forecast for at least the next week, there was flash flooding, hailstorms and even a tornado in Murcia this week. The worst hit areas were the north of the Region, in towns like Caravaca de la Cruz and Mula, where homes, business and – crucially – health centres found themselves ankle-deep in dirty water. It has been estimated that the weather front has caused 16 million euros’ worth of damage to farms and orchards in the area, which will be harmful for the economic fates of farmers and may have a knock-on effect on the price of apricots, lemons, peaches, almonds and nectarines.

The Mar Menor has also suffered the effects of the wildly changing weather, but also, as we know, the entry of nitrates from wayward farm water into the ecosystem, which knocks the delicate balance of the natural habitat out of whack. Many plans to save the Mar Menor have been proposed, including introducing 60 million oysters into the lagoon. The latest scheme is to ‘inject’ oxygen into the water to counter/-balance the effect of the pockets of anoxia (lack of oxygen) that caused the so-called ‘green soup’ of last August and killed off all those thousands of fish. Let’s see if it works…

The other regrettable natural disaster since our last update was that of the fire at the Villas Caravaning campsite in La Manga del Mar Menor last Friday evening, in which a man sadly lost his life. The truth is that it was not likely to be caused naturally, as this is hardly the first time that this caravan park has suffered debilitating fires. There was a particularly strong blaze that burned up 12 families’ homes last October due to what was described at the time as a lack of water pumps to put out potential fires. Bizarrely, it seems they still haven’t learned their lesson six months on, and this time it cost a man his life.

Covid, meanwhile, has cost a woman her job. Specifically, this is British expat Joanne Scott, who has sadly been forced to resign her post as Councillor for Foreign Residents with Los Alcázares Town Hall due to the effects that long Covid is still having on her ability to perform her duties to the fullest, despite having recovered from the disease. “I have recently had Covid and it has left me with consequences that are not compatible with the job of a councillor,” Joanne said. “It is not something you can do if you are not fully capable.” She is now going to focus on running her bar-restaurant ‘La Zona’ in Los Narejos and caring for an elderly relative who lives with her, and we wish her all the best of luck!

Another expat, John Lyman, who lives on the Condado urbanisation in Mazarrón, went missing earlier this week when he went out for a bike ride without his mobile phone and never came back. His wife Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin May 7

sounded the alarm and friends, well-wishers and the Mazarrón local police force pulled together on Facebook to send out a web of messages so that anyone who spotted John could inform them immediately. And it worked! Within 48 hours, people sharing information of John’s movements had managed to locate him and bring him back. He was found shirtless and disoriented but otherwise unharmed. He is now being cared for in a Cartagena hospital.

So, was there any good news in Murcia this week or was it all disappearances and disasters?

Well, the local travel news is looking promising as the airport bus that goes from Corvera airport to Murcia city and Cartagena is due to resume service in June. The decision has been made to cope with the expected influx of passengers over the summer season, as the Murcia airport has steadily been increasing its number of passengers since Covid-19. To begin with, there will be a total of six round trips coming from and going to the airport. This will be welcome news for travellers who before were forced to get a taxi to their destination, and it remains to be seen if any more routes will be put on as the summer gets into gear.

Finally, the world’s largest cruise ship, ‘The Wonder of the Seas’, docked in Cartagena this week with 3,700 passengers disembarking to sample the delights of the city. Another two cruise ships brought with them an additional 1,200 tourists, in what local businesses are hoping is the start of a bumper tourist season after the quiet Covid years.

For news on all the events coming up soon in the Murcia, Alicante and Andalucía areas, be sure to CHECK OUT OUR EVENTS DIARY!

Spain

There was tragedy for one Irish tourist in Spain this week when he was rushed to hospital, unconscious and suffering from serious injuries after he fell from the second-floor balcony of his apartment building in Mallorca, reportedly drunk.

The government has issued several warnings about the dodgy practice of ‘balconing’, which has become increasingly popular with tourists in resorts like Magaluf and Santa Ponsa and now carries expensive fines. It involves holidaymakers, often fuelled by booze, climbing over balconies to other apartments, or even diving from a height into the pool below, often with deadly consequences.

For those who are staying more permanently in Spain and not just visiting on holiday, you may want to join the thousands of Britons and non-EU citizens who are opting to get a golden visa to be able to reside in the country. Numbers of golden visas in Spain have reportedly skyrocketed post-Brexit.

Often associated with Russian financial moguls, the golden visa allows UK citizens who spend a minimum of 500,000 euros on a Spanish property unrestricted access to the Schengen zone, once they take out adequate health insurance and have enough money to cover their stay.

The Spanish government has reported an exponential rise in Brits applying for this visa since the UK left the EU and more and more UK citizens are attracted by the possibility of remote working from Spain.

Alicante

It’s been a changeable spring week for the most part in Alicante, with many areas once again experiencing heavy rain and storms, and the capital of the community experiencing the wettest May day since 1871.

Not to be deterred, Alicante province is setting its sights on summer (and hopefully warmer weather), with tourists and locals alike being delighted to hear that Benidorm’s famous theme park, Terra Mítica, will be reopening on June 4, with its usual array of hair-raising roller coasters and exciting shows.

Not everyone in Benidorm is content, however, as the local government has decided to turn many of the free parking areas into green paid parking zones for visitors, a measure many feel is just a sneaky way to implement the controversial tax while robbing residents of parking spaces.

For those opting to leave the car at home, the news isn’t much better, as it’s been confirmed this week that the vast majority of low-cost AVE trains travelling from Alicante to Madrid will now have their destinations as the new Chamartín Clara Campoamor station rather than Atcoha, which will add around 30 minutes onto the journey. Only Renfe will continue to operate eight services to the Atocha station, but the situation is only temporary – well, if you consider six years to be temporary, that is – and in the meantime, plans are underway to make both destinations through stations, so that in the future, all trains from Alicante will have the option of stopping at either.

Rail operator Iryo was keen to point out the benefits of Chamartín, which is closer to the financial district and the iconic Puerta del Sol, and a huge cash injection aims to position it as “one of the most avant-garde in Spain.”

Closer to home, the Spanish Police caught a wanted Polish fugitive as he touched down at Alicante-Elche airport on a flight from Ireland this week. The fugitive was nabbed by officers who were carrying out routine passenger inspections at Alicante airport, and on running his details discovered that he was wanted for taking out contracts with numerous telephone companies in 2011 and 2012, receiving free high-end mobiles and selling them on without ever paying a penny.

In another major coup, the Guardia Civil in Alicante have dismantled a narcotics organisation made up of 7 people who sold cocaine throughout the province from a bar run by one of its leaders. According to official sources, the drugs were stored in Tupperware containers inside microwaves in the kitchen of the pub until they were ready to be sold.

In an unusual twist, it was learned that the gang operated a ‘telecoca’ service, whereby the bar would take orders for drugs which would then be hand delivered to the homes of customers.

Andalucía

Seville hosted its popular annual Feria de Abril festival this week. Despite literally translating as ‘April Fair’, it has been held at the beginning of May because it traditionally starts two weeks after Easter. It’s normally a riotous event of traditional ‘Sevillana’ flamenco costumes, dancing and flowers, along with the obligatory eating and drinking to excess that is the mark of any good Spanish party, and this year promised to be better than most because the festival was back after two years away due to Covid.

However, tragedy struck at the fair for one attendee when a horse died in the street from exhaustion, overwork and overheating. According to Spain’s animal rights party, Pacma, several animals faint during the celebrations every year, but this year it sadly went one step further when the unfortunate horse died over the weekend on Avenida de Presidente Adolfo Suarez, close to the fairground.

In response to what it calls the “cruel exploitation” of animals, Pacma is calling on the City Council of Sevilla to implement “the immediate cessation of the use of animals”. This kind of thing really shouldn’t come as a surprise anymore, as animal cruelty for sport is so institutionalised as part of the culture that many people no longer even bat an eyelid.

The other person who was trying to protect animals this week was the 27-year-old man who sadly lost his life in Malaga on Saturday night, April 30, after being hit in the head by a train whilst trying to save his dog from the being hit in the municipality of Ronda.

Several onlookers witnessed the tragic accident, which occurred at 9.20pm on the Antequera-Algeciras line, while waiting at the train station on Calle Doctor del Pino. According to sources, the man came close to the tracks when trying to pick up his dog to keep it safe because the train was coming, and it hit him on the head.

Police and paramedics were unfortunately unable to save the young man. It is not known whether or not the dog survived.

You may have missed…

Spanish banks scrap free banking from April 30.
After several blissful weeks of free banking in Spain, many clients are about to feel the pinch as both Santander and CaixaBank introduce new charges from April 30, which can reach a painful 240 euros per year.
Calblanque beaches in Murcia chosen among the 40 best in Europe.
A recent article by The Guardian highlighted several sandy Spanish stretches as some of the ‘40 best beaches in Europe’, and Murcia’s own Calblanque beaches were given pride of place on the list.
DGT warning and possible fine for playing music in cars in Spain.
Spain’s Traffic authorities have caused quite a stir this week by advising motorists about the type of music they should listen to whilst driving.
Vice president of Hostetur dies while sailing in La Manga.
The vice president of the hotel business association (Hostetur), José María Cano Vilar, sadly passed away on Saturday April 30 while out sailing in a regatta with his family in La Manga del Mar Menor.
Greenpeace activists scale Malaga power plant accused of using Russian oil.
Around 30 Greenpeace activists scaled an electricity factory in Campanillas in Malaga to unfurl a 15-metre-wide banner on the chimney and cooling towers, slamming the plant for burning Russian gas “that finances the war in Ukraine”.

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