BRUSSELS
SPAIN took over the presidency of the European Union for six months yesterday, with ambitious aims of securing the bloc’s economic recovery even as it tackles severe challenges to its economy at home.
Following Sweden’s busy six months at the helm, Spain has its work cut out to overcome a growing budget deficit while trying to work out a coordinated strategy among 27 EU member states to guide them out of the financial crisis.
Sweden’s presidency set a high standard for planning and organisation, successfully ushering in the Lisbon reform treaty, designed to smooth decision-making in the EU.
Spain has sought to play down expectations for its tenure, with Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos saying this month it would apply itself modestly and discreetly. “Spain will not abandon its responsibilities … but we will do it with modesty, with discretion, through our work and our support,” he told a briefing in Brussels.
First Balearic-born baby of the year
STAFF REPORTER
ISLAND-WIDE
THE first birth of the New Year in the Balearics made news yesterday when baby Mateu Moya Juan came into the world at Can Misses hospital in Ibiza at 8 minutes past midnight.
The regional ministry for Health reported that the second birth of 2010 in the Islands – Jaume Cladera – happend at 10 minutes before 1am at the District Hospital in Inca on Majorca.
FORMENTERA STILL AWAITS FIRST BABY OF 2010 These two events were followed at 1.05am by the birth of Ainhoa Barragan Cañavate who was born at Son Llatzer hospital east of Palma, and by Diego who was born to Majorcan parents at Manacor Hospital at around 1.46am. The first child to come into the world at Son Dureta’s University Hospital was at 3.10am with the birth of Vega Vaquer Campuzano.
The island of Minorca had to wait a little longer for its first baby of 2010 when Alex Alles Carreras was born at 9.08am in the Mateu Ofila hospital.
By lunch-time yesterday, Formentera was still awaiting its first birth of he new year.
Mothers and infants were all reported to be doing fine, reported hospital sources.
The main reason for tourists visiting Spain is its temperate and enviable weather. The weather Spain is governed by the topography of the regions and the seasons. Northern Spain has the most pleasant and cold weather and Southern Spain is generally hot and preferred during the summers to beat the heat. Central Spain is very hot and preferred duri
ng the spring and fall. Summer is observed between the months of June and September, winter from December to March paving way for the skiing community and spring and fall during September and December.
