The PP will not give incentives for emancipation

The Popular Party has decided to not renew the Basic Income for the Emancipation in force since 4 years ago. The government's spokeswoman, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, has announced this measure in the press conference.

The Royal Decree of November 2007, that ajusted this incentive, indicated that, after 4 years, Ministry of Urban affairs had to make a follow-up and evaluation report about the implementation of the measure. The decision of maitenance, modification or abolition of the law will depend on the report.

At least 301.254 people received this compensation. 34.303 of them received it in the first half of 2011,12'8% more than in the first half of 2010.

This years budget was 364,1 milion €, but it was increased in 46,1 milion during the last year.

The Basic Income for the Emancipation came into effect in 2008 January and it was directed to young people between 22 and 30 years old that received less than 22.000€ as gross income during the previous six months.

Xabier

Merry Christmas

ZORIONAK ETA URTE BERRI ON 2012

multilingua team

CHANGES IN SPANISH ECONOMY

This Friday Spain will have a new president. Today, the future president told us what kind of politics is going to use in the next four years. Here we have them.

One of his objectives is to decreese the public budget deficit in about 16.500m euros. Also he is going to decreese the expenditure of the Spanish Public Administration. He is not going to repair the redundancies of the goverment employees, he will do only in basic services. He will remove the early retirement, but he will maintain them only in special situations. It will remove the days of holiday, the famous bridges (when you take more than one day of holiday), changing the holiday days to Mondays, saying that this kind of change will be better for the Spanish economy. But not all the news are bad, because he had said that he will update the retirement pensions with the IPC (Spanish reference to calculate the increase of the contracts, etc.) the 1st of January.

The economic and the unemployment situation in Spain is really dramatic. Spain has actually more than 5,400,000 people on an unemployment situation, more or less the 23% of the total.

He is going to do three different reforms in different fields. He will reform the finnancial sector and the public sector. The future president had said that the new goverment is not going to spend more than the minimum necessary. For example, one of his important changes will be the limit who is going to put into practice to all the Spanish public institutions, in the expenditure and indebtedness. He will change the finnancial system too, reorganizing balances, and promoving the fussion between different banks. For the public administrations and the factories he will promove a reform of the IVA (it is like a tax that it is impose to commercial transaction).

Erik Rios Salazar

THE BANK EXPECTED A RETURN INTO RECESSION IN SPAIN IN 2012

The AEB employer warns that it is difficult for private consume pull the economy through containment of wages and unemployment.
Is estimated that the Spanish economy will grow about 0.5% in 2011, far short of the forecast, because it predicts a sharp drop in the fourth quarter of the year which could follow another decline in the first months of 2012.

This way, at the end of March of next year, Spain could re-enter in recession, according to forecasts of economic-financial report in December of the Spanish Banking Association.

On the hopeful side, the employer is probable to achieve the fiscal consolidation target for the deficit does not exceed 6% of PIB this year.


The AEB adds that the Spanish economy has reduced its need for financing and debt but says it is very difficult for private consumption pull the economy if you consider containment of wages and high unemployment.

Jon Mikel

EXPERTS SAY ONLY 7 BANKS MAY WOULD EXIST AFTER RAJOY'S MEASURES

Everybody is waiting for the measures that the new spanish primer minister Rajoy is going to announce before the 31st of December. Labour reform and financial reorganization for the second wave of privatizations in the Spanish financial sector. This proccess will directly afect to investers; that's why the National Commission of the Stock Market (CNMV) is asking them for inform transparently about the real value of the stockholding. The aim is to not make problems because of irregular sales.

Experts say that no spanish bank may can keep existing without a merger having less than 100.000 milion € in assets. It would mean that only seven financial institution would exist.

This proccess will start in less than 6 months from the annoncement of these measures. It will affect to the stock market, also.



Xabier

THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS A BIG PIMPLE WITH UNITED KINGDOM

The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has criticized the UK´s stance for finding the better way to fix the crisis in the European Union. He has asked for a change of attitude from the UK and to its govern.
These words have gone out after a new failure for trying to find a solution at the reform of the European Union. The UK vetoed a treaty for the 27 members for the European Union, arguing it had to protect the Britannic industry and its economic interest.
Despite the veto of the United Kingdom, the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, said that he hoped to see the new fiscal deal signed by most EU states by early March.
This new deal is designed to allow closer monitoring of countries' spending, in order to prevent a repeat of the eurozone’s current debt crisis.
This attitude of United Kingdom's prime minister David Cameron's, has strained relations between his Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrat, its coalition allies at the govern.
The United Kingdom, in exchange for giving its agreement, asked for a specific protocol on financial services which was a risk to the integrity of the internal market. Criticizing this attitude, the French member of the European Parliament, Joseph Daul, said that "26 of the 27 states have shown responsibility", agreeing that "shared sovereignty is better than sovereignty taken over by the markets".

Aitor

'CAF' COMPANY IS WORKING FOR A NEW CONTRACT WITH SAUDI ARABIA

‘CAF’ company is working for a new contract to export new trains to Saudi Arabia. The contract is almost closed; and it contains the manufacturing of nine trains. Each train will have five wagons, and a locomotive. It has the option of add five more locomotive and seventeen more wagons. This is the second contract with Saudi Arabia in the last three years. In 2008’s June Saudi Arabia’s National Railways signed a contract with ‘CAF’ to manufacture and maintenance eight trains for four years. The contract was valued in 105 million euros. In the last contracts of ‘CAF’ we can find contracts with Houston in the United States (39 trains) and Auckland in Oceania (57 electric trains). In september, the benefits of the company were 84 million euros, 8% more than last year, 2010.

‘CAF’ is probably the most important factory in Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country. It’s located in Beasain, and the first creation of the company was in 1860, but it takes its actual name in 1971. It creates a lot of different trains and trams for everykind of cities. For example: Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Washington, Rome, Brussels, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Pittsburgh, Lisbon, Belgrade and more underground trains are made in ‘CAF’.

So, this is a good new for basque economy. Nowadays we are in crisis time, so everykind of upturn of our economy is good. We need to help our local companies, because they’ll be the best solution for the crisis in the future. We can say that without good and competitive companies, we’re not going to solve unemployment and economic problem in the Basque Country. That’s the reason why now all the political institutions have to help our local companies. If they help our companies giving everykind of material to go ahead, they’ll surprise us with this kind of news. Then, you’ll feel very proud of your country and the good work of it.

Erik Rios Salazar

'CAF' company's factory, in Beasain.

GOEM: Go on and employ me!

FOURTH DAY

Today was sight-seeing day in Germany. To start the day, we started by waking up, and having breakfast with our families like everyday. Then, we went to the bus station to take a bus to go to different places in the region.

First, we went to Esslingen by bus. There, we visited Esslingen castle, and from there we walked to the centre for a short guided tour. We visited the Christmas and Medieval Market. When we were there, we got something to eat in the Market. Everything was delicious!

The second stop of the journey was in Sindelfingen. In this town, we visited the place where the Mercedes cars are produced. It was incredible! The factory was enormous (the biggest in Europe, and probably in the world), and it was really incredible to see the machines and workers working so fast. A recommended visit!

To finish our visit in the region, we went to Metzingen, a famous place for its factory outlets, to do some shopping. It was really amazing!

To finish the day, we returned to Nürtingen, and then we went to our partner's home. We were very tired.

ERIK RIOS SALAZAR

GOEM: Go on and employ me!

THIRD DAY

Today was the day. We started our day as everyday in Germany. We woke up early in the morning, and we had breakfast before we went to school. When we arrived to the school, we were very nervous, because it was the day of our presentations.

But first, we do some different things. We were divided into different groups, but in each group there was a minimum of one person from each country. Then, they told us that we had to create a new product, and all the things that people usually do when they create a new product. For example description of the product, name of the company, logo, designs, advertising, price... So, we spent half of the morning doing that job in different groups. It was strange, we were very nervous. We knew that the other presentation was waiting for us.

At 11:15 a.m. we started to present the slideshows we prepared in our countries. We were the last ones, after the people from Norway and Northern Ireland. The presentations of the other schools were very well designed. We were very nervous, but that sensation dissapeared when the presentation started. We felt better then.

After the presentations we went to have lunch at the school’s Cafeteria, and during the afternoon we spent the time finishing our product design project, and then making a presentation about them. It was really entertaining to see all the products that people can imagine!

When we finished, we started to prepare the ‘Comenius Party’. The party started at 18:30, and it finished at 23:00 p.m, It was time to go home, and relax for the next day.

ERIK RIOS SALAZAR

GOEM: Go on and employ me!

Second day: Albert Schäffle Schule

This was our first day at school. We arrived around 8 o'clock in the morning and we had the chance of meet all the students there. Northern irish, norwegian, german and basque students met all together at rooms 126/127.

At first, we met our pre-desginated partner to make an introduction about the other in front of the whole group.

After that, we divided the big group into small ones and played some games through the school before going to the city.

German students prepared for us a game. It consisted on some German students, distributed through the city centre, would ask us some questions and the groups had to try answering them correctly. The group that could answer all the questions would be the winner. We played it after the lunch break.

We finished the day having dinner all together in a local restaurant.

Xabi

GOEM: Go on and employ me!

First day: Arrival to Germany

Sunday morning, at 9 o'clock, we met at the bus station in San Sebastian. Our bus was leaving the city at this time. Our flight was taking off at 12:40 pm.
We arrived Stuttgart around 2 o'clock. Our host families were waiting for us at the terminal. They brought us to their hometowns and we spent the whole afternoon with them visiting each one's city, or watching films at home, etc.
We knew that irish students would arrive later in the afternoon. On the other hand, norwegians were arriving at night, but we did not meet them until next day. This was going to be our first day at the german school.

Xabier

GERMAN GLOBAL ECONOMY

The German economy is the fourth largest economy in the world after the United States, Japan and China. It is the second largest exporter and the second largest commercial surplus. It is also considered the economic motor of the European Union. In addition, Germany is ranked N º 12 in the world in the ranking of countries with higher per capita income.

Germany is economically the most powerful nation in the eurozone countries and Europe in general, followed by France and the UK (which is outside the Eurozone). France is considered its first partner in Europe.

Germany include other parameters like the large number of preserved forest area, according to Eurostat data, and that is the country with more beds in hospitals.

So, in conclusion, we can say that Germany is a country with a good future.


Nerea

Fitch doesn´t believe in Portugal

Fitch credit rating agency have brought Portugal's credit rating down from BBB- to BB+ and with no promising outlook.

Fitch justifies its decision because of the excessive debts in all the industries and the negative macroeconomic perspectives. Also, the agency has brought the Portuguese outlook down taking into account the European outlook and it's expected to decrease about a 3% in 2012.

Fitch believes that in the next two years, recession will make the deficit reduction plan become harder to carry out and it will be negative for the quality of financial assets. Anyway, the agency thinks that the commitment of Portugal with the plan is strong.

The expectations of Fitch is that the Portuguese debt will rise until 110% in 2011 and it will arrive to the 116% in the end of 2013. This crisis is also a risk for the financial system, that is leaving money to one of the most indebted private sectors in Europe.

So, if the Portuguese investments and work go wrong, it could mean a reduction of the credit rating. In the other hand, to fulfil EU's and IMF's program would relax the credit rating pressure and a potential raising would mean a better credit-profile for Portugal.

Bea

Angola offers help to Portugal

The angolan president, Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, says that his country is ready to help Portugal, its former metropolis, to fight against the Portuguese crisis.

Dos Santos spoke about it in the final of the two days visit of Portuguese prime minister Pedro Passos Coelho.

Analysts expect a 2.8% contraction of Portuguese economy for next year. In the other hand, their forecast about Angola is that the African country's economy is growing around 12%.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) accepted giving Portugal a rescue package valued in more than US$100.000 millions on condition that Portugal make many reforms, including privatisation of state companies.

In last years, Angolan investments in Portugal have grown and analysts expect these tendencies to continue privatizing many Portuguese companies.

Xabi

GERMANY'S EMPLOYMENT GROW UP IN THE THIRD QUARTER

Germany recorded in the third quarter the highest level of employment from the country's reunification in 1990, to reach a figure of 41.2 million workers, representing an improvement of 1.2% or 495,000 employees over the same period 2010, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).

However, Destatis said the increase between July and September is less than 1.3% in the second quarter and 1.4% of the first three months of the year.

In the third quarter, virtually all economic sectors experienced an increase in employment, being the most significant increase recorded in the business services sector (189,000 people), followed by services trade, transport and accommodation (138 000 people ), while 33,000 construction jobs were created.

By contrast, public services, education and health showed a decline of 10,000 jobs over the previous year, largely due to the impact of changes in military service.
Germany achieved in the third quarter, the best figure since reunification employment.

Jon

EACH GREEK CITIZEN SHOULD PAY 20,000 EUROS TO PAY ITS GOVERNMENT STOCK

This money could be used to reduce the liabilities of the country.

Greece is abusing of common resource, since 70% of the deposits it gets are debts. Between the other countries with smaller debt, compared to their contribution to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the Euro-zone, Finland is apart of the rest, with a debt of 7,000 € per capita.

Greeks are taking their money out from the banks because of fear.

This fear is causing a massive withdrawing of money, 5,000 million € in the last week.

In this situation, the Governor of the Bank of Greece, George Provopoulos, has asked political parties to form a government as soon as possible, to go on with the bailout and clear the uncertainty up.

" These doubts are causing damages to the economy and the banking system". Since January 2010 the total number of deposits in Greek banks has been minimized 21%; these banks are depending more of the ECB (European Central Bank) to that depend more and more on the BCE (Central Bank of Spain) to maintain their liquidity.

Mercè

CAR SALES SINK

The cars registrations decreased 6,7% in October (57.278 units) in all regions except Baleares (+6.8%) and Canarias (+9.5%) Is the worst October since 1985 (only 45.000 units).

In the first 10 months of the year the sales of cars and SUVs in Spain go down in 19,7%

They are followed by four years in our country under one million in sales of cars per year.

GANVAM (National Association of Motor Vehicle Dealers, Repair & Parts ) says that the dealers only sell seven cars every week, 44% less than before the crisis.

Jon

THE BASQUE ECONOMY IS STILL SICK

The Economy and Finance Adviser of the Basque Government, Carlos Aguirre, has declared that the Basque Government does not hope a decrease of unemployed in Euskadi during 2012, but he hopes that the trend will change at the third quarter of the year. According to him, the unemployed will be about 10.8 per cent in 2012,; 0.3 per cent minus than in 2011.

These words has been said by him while he was presenting the budgets of the exercise 2012 for the Basque Country, which he hopes vote them at the Basque Parliament at 23 of December.

He has said that with these Budgets the government wants to create employ, giving warranty to the social services and help to the budget stability. He has defended that the Basque economy has gone out from the recession, but it is still very weak to create employ.

The Budget Project is about 10.449 millions €, a decrease of one per cent respect the budget of 2011. The consolidated budget will be an amount of 11.354 millions €, an increase of 0.5 per cent respect to the 2011 year.

He has noted that will be necessary to increase the public incomes to get stability the budget, and in this sense he has said that the Basque society has to do a bigger effort to get all goals for go out quickly from this crisis.

The Government is thinking to do something with the sale of publics property situated in Bilbao, Vitoria-Gazteiz and Donostia, and so to get more incomes for face this hard crisis.

Aitor

Trying to find solutions in Zarautz

The government team will begin tomorrow a series of meetings with neighborhood
associations to explain the situation and listen suggestions in Zarautz. The first meeting
is going to be tomorrow in the morning with one of the neighborhood of the town.

The principal aim of this is to explain the economic situation of the town and see first
hand the needs of each neighborhood to find solutions.

There will be two meetings per week, every Mondays and Thursdays from 19.30 to 21.00.
The first meeting is going to be tomorrow with the neighborhood association of Vista Alegre. Continuing with Mitxelena neighbors, Itxasmendi, Portu Azken, Kristau Biltoki Zaharra, Iñurritza, Etxezabala and the last meeting will be December 1 with Urteta's neighbors.

Mayor Juan Luis Illarramendi remarks:
"We want to explain the economic situation, receive suggestions of each neighborhood and set priorities among all. There is no money, but there are few resources and we must draw the line of action. In this regard, we appeal to all residents of the town to take part in these meetings.''








Janire

Georgia will accept the access of Russia to the WTO

Russian and georgian governments will sign a treath the next november 9th that will let Russia join the World Trade Organization (WTO). This joinment was blocked by Georgia.

Sergui Kapanadze (georgian vice-minister of foreign affairs) explained that both countries will decide some basics to choose the company that is going to control the administration of goods and duties. The last decision will be taken by Switzerland, country that has mediated in this conflict.

Kapanadze believes that the chosen company will satisfie both sides of the conflict.

Switzerland offered the international supervision of the tolls located in the separatist regions of South Osetia and Abkhazia. Georgia accepted inmediately this proposal, Russia did the same just some days ago. This proposal includes the electronic exchange of data about the merchandise movement between these territories.

The georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili, said that this agreement is a “diplomatic win” of Georgia that decided to block the russian joinment in 2008. This block due to the war happened in 2008 august between Russia and Georgia. Russia had asked for joining the WTO since 1993.

Dmitri Medvedev, russian president, had asked Georgia to let the block off as a first step to normalise relations between both countries. Russia, the biggest economy out of the WTO, hopes that its application to join the organization will be accepted in December 15th.

Xabier

Economy of the Basque Country. From industry to turism.

The economy of the Basque Country, from Industrialization to 1970, has been dedicated to the industry. Blast furnaces, factories, shipyards ... giving 11% of the GDP for industry in the country, a high percentage.

From the 80's, the industry entered in a dangerous crisis and things changed. But it has been able to get out because it is currently one of the richest regions of the country.

Nowadays, with the Guggenheim, its beaches, its gastronomy and its landscapes the Basque Country have important revenue. The tourism. Rural tourism, cultural tourism, or sun and beach tourism have become important revenue for the region. For this reason has centered on tourism.


Nerea

THE LUXURY HOTEL MARIA CRISTINA WILL CLOSE ITS DOORS

The luxury Hotel Maria Cristina will close its doors during nine months after a very hard and long negotiation. The reformation will cost about twenty millions of euros, four of them will be pay by the city hall and the rest by Starwood, the company which management the Hotel Maria Cristina.

The main point will be the decoration, air condition, pipes and electricity. They are going to change all the furniture but keeping the belle epoque style with lilac, gold and turquoise colors. Other important point is the cooperation with the workers because they are going to be in a ERE throughout the renovation.

The people of Donosti are very glad for the invest of a large foreign company in one of the most important and old building of the city.

See you soon Hotel Maria Cristina¡¡

Beatriz

LAST DAY: A STEP FURTHER

This is our last day in Daruvar, Croatia. We woke up at 8:00 a.m. and we went to the library, near the city centre. There, we divided in groups, and we prepared some slideshows with the photos we took in different places of Daruvar two days ago. When we finished, we explained the slideshows to the rest of the groups. Then, the Croatian television came to interview us about the project. It was an excelent new experience!

We went to take a coffee before the lunch, that it was in a restaurant near the library. After the lunch, we had some free time before the dinner, so the croatian students propose us to go to the spa again. We went there, and we had a very good time with the rest of the students. We left the spa about five o'clock p.m. and then the croatian students told us to have a good time at night, to finish the experience.

We had dinner and we weared our best clothes to say goodbye to our students. We had a very good time at night in a bar in the city centre, but some people were crying when the party was finishing.

We finished at 1:30 a.m. aproximately, because on Saturday we had the bus to go to Zagreb at... 5:00 a.m.!

We all think that this was our best experience in our life. We made a lot of new friends, we show our city and culture to other countries with our project, and we improved a lot our english... and a little bit our croatian!

Thanks a lot for this fantastic experience!

One group of students preparing the slideshow.


ERIK RIOS SALAZAR

FIFTH DAY: A STEP FURTHER

Today we had been in Zagreb and we spent the whole day there. We met a guide and he explained us many interesting things and places about the city with the help of some croatian students. We went up onto the sorther funicular of the world!!!! It was fantastic!!!!
After lunch slovenian students went back to their hometown. In the afternoon we had free time and at 7 o'clock we went back to Daruvar.


NEREA

And here, some photos about our visit to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.

FOURTH DAY: A STEP FURTHER

Today we spent our morning at Croatians students school. We had made mixed groups
to make a presentation of all the proyect participants countries.

After lunch, the teachers gave us different topics to take pictures about it.

To finish the day with our partners we went to the spa and we had a very good time!



And tomorrow.... ZAGREB! :)


Janire

One of the groups, taking photos near the lake.


Croatian students and we, having fun in the spa, during the afternoon.

THIRD DAY: A STEP FURTHER

Today we had a wonderful day. We started the day showing our presentations to the other local and foreign students (Croatians, Turkish, Polish, Slovenes) in Daruvar school. We were very nervous before our presentation, but finally we had done it very well and other students and teachers were astonished with San Sebastian and its sightseens. We also were impressed with their countries and cultures.
After that, we went to have lunch with all the students and teachers to a nice restaurant, we ate typical food from Croacia and we enjoyed our menu, it was really good!
When we finished eating we went back to the school and started preparing the project's web page.
To finish our day with them, the Croatian students prepared a touristic walk around Daruvar, showing us its monuments and interesting places. They offered us a local tea and they gave us a coin to throw it to a ''magic'' fountain.

We had a very good time today with all the group and we are looking forward to go tomorrow to the termal spa.

SECOND DAY: A STEP FURTHER

Our partners are arriving in the afternoon so we visited the area and the city of Pozega.
In the evening we all met and had a welcoming dinner offered by our hosts.
Congratulations to the chefs and all the staff !!!!


Janire and Nerea

Our group, visiting Pozega the first day.

LEONARDO PROJECT. FIRST DAY: A STEP FURTHER

First meeting in Croatia

Ekonomska i turística skola Daruvar , HR Croacia
Aksaray Hotel Management and Tourism Vocational High School, Aksaray, TR Turquia
Zespól Szkól Ekonomicznych, Starogard Gdanski, PL Polonia
Ekonomska in trgovska sola Brezice, Brezice, SI Eslovenia
IES Xabier Zubiri Manteo BHI, Donostia

Today our day began very early in the morning; at five o’clock. We took the bus in San Sebastian at after three buses and two flights we arrived around eight o’clock p.m. to Daruvar.

We took off Loiu at seven fifty in the morning, and Munich welcome us with cold and people dressed as tyrolese. We took our second flight to Zagreb at eleven forty. Even if this second flight was shorter in the time it was more frightening because of the turbulences.
We arrived to Zagreb at the lunch time and left it at five thirty to get Daruvar at eight o’clock. Three teachers and one student has given us a humble and nice welcome. And just one hour ago we arrived to the hotel to tell you our first experiences in the Balkans!

We, near the city centre of Daruvar, Croatia.

MORE OF AN OUTSTING TO THE DAY IN GUIPUZCOA

In first half of year, 218 Guipuzcoan families lost their house by not being able to do against the payment of their mortgage.

The hypothecating executions, a drama for affected and an uncomfortable problem for the financial organizations.

121 Oustings were realised in Guip'uzcoa between April and June of this year. A trimester with so many had never been registered.

32010 oustings have had in all Spain in the first six months of the year. More of those than it had throughout 2008 and almost the same amount that in all 2009.

Mercè Sanchez

Finland enlarges the rescue funds

Yesterday, the parliament of Finland (Eduskunta) approved the extension of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). 103 parliamentarians, the whole coalition government ruled by prime minister Jyrki Katainen, have voted for this extension against 66 votes of the “True Finns” and “Center Party”, the biggest parties in the opposition.

Including this voting, the number of countries taking part in the enlargement of the EFSF is 11. This expansion, that could manage 2 billion €, has been approved by Spain, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia and Germany.

Its creation is related to the fragile economic situation of Greece. The decision taken the past June 24th was increasing it with 780.000 million € with guarantees. Anyway, if a loan would be necessary, its credit rating is around 440.000 million €.

It means that the contribution of the Nordic country will rise from 7.900 million to 14.000 million €. So, the EFSF is more flexible to face the Greek situation, that is extending day by day.
Behind this decision, we can find a combination of the confidence of financial markets, the wish of reassuring the European stock markets and the attacks against Spanish and Italian risk premium.

Xabi

THE BASQUE COUNTRY IS TOO EXPENSIVE

Basque Country´s departments stores are the most expensive of all Spain. Getxo is situated at the first position of this curious ranking, and then are Bilbao and Barakaldo. Vitoria-Gasteiz and Donostia are immediately behind the three cities of Bizkaia.

It is was said a report from OCU, the spanish Consumers and Users Organization. As says this report, behind The Basque Country are Canarias, Navarra, Cantabria and Catalunya.

On the other hand, as the cheaper regions are Murcia, La Rioja and Galicia, in this order, close to Extremadura and Andalucía.

To compare prices can be a good way to get a cheaper basket, decreasing the final quantity up to 37%. As says The Istitutionals´s relationship Director from OCU, Antonino Joya, a family could save more than a thousand € each year with this class of measures.

He says that one of the principal reason for explain this situation in the Basque Country can be the absence of competition at the sector, principally in the case of departments stores as Alcampo or Mercadona, companies both with a politic of low prices.

In the case of taxis, Donostia and Vitoria-Gasteiz are situated just behind of Tarragona as the more expensive cities offering this service.

Aitor

SHOPPING BASKET

Because of the economic crisis Spanish people are going to spend 400€ less than last year in food. However the principal supermarkets are increasing the prices. The most expensive supermarkets are in the Basque Country, Canarias, Navarra, Cantabria y Cataluña, and the cheapest ones are located in Murcia, Galicia, La Rioja, Andalucía and Extremadura.

This means that people are not buying clothes, going to restaurants so much and things of that nature. I hope that the crisis will finish soon.

Beatriz.

AUF WIEDERSEHEN

Auf wiedersehen, see you next Monday



BEST REGARDS!!!!

TARGET SALES REACHED

Our salesmen could feel the crisis effects. Anyway we've reached our sales goals.

Zubirilet SLS has finished the fair with positive results, and have settled its relations with new customers for its future.

CHEERS!

Today the fair is packed, they are trading. Let's see how much they're selling!

Cheers for a lucky day!!!

VIRTUAL FIRM FAIR IN DRESDEN

Zubirilet is our virtual firm which sells gift baskets. The workers of the company are the students of 2º course; and right now they're in Dresden selling and buying products in a fair of virtual companies from all Europe

Dresden (Germany)

WELCOME BACK!

Ladies and gentlemen, here we are back again!!!

We are the new student group in Zubiri. We're glad to start this new adventure.

We're eight young students from different villages of Gipuzkoa, and we meet all together in San Sebastian. We're studying a Finance & Business course. Some of us study in Basque/English and others in Spanish/English.

We're going to do our best!

TAKING SUMMER BREAK...

If the sun finally arrives to Donostia this year.

Enjoy the summer and we'll be back in September !!!!!!!

All of us are very happy as Donostia will be European Capital of Culture 2016, CONGRATULATIONS

WHAT IS COMENIUS FOR YOU?

Here you have the video of Comenius week. It is fantastic!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZxi_N6fOAs&feature=digest

We did different activities during the week. This is just a sumary of the event.

Half of young basque people have lost their jobs during the crisis

The OECD confirmed the double speed occurring at the start of the crisis. As the economy begins to return to positive numbers or not so worrisome, although the signals are weak, refuses employment and unemployment estimates will continue at high levels until 2011. In fact, the report comfirms that half of young people under 25 years have lost their jobs during the past year in the Basque Country.

The new economic forecast from the OECD, who met yesteday in Paris, confirmed the two speeds that are occurring across the board at the start of the crisis. As the economy starts a "shy progress" to get closer to positive data.

Cynthia

TELEFONICA WINS BY 1,9% LOWER, WEIGTHED DOWN BY THE SPANISH MARKET

The deterioration of the domestic market is taking its toll on Telefonica, which saw its net profit decreased by 1,9% in the first quarter of 2011, to 1,624 million euros. The Spanish subsidiary of Telefonica dogged another quarter results saw their incomes fall by 5,6% and decreased its EBITDA (gross operating result) of 10,6%.

However, group turnover increased by 10,7% to 15.435 million, up 1,4% in comparable terms, discounting the effect of the purchase of all of Brazil's Vivo and the evolution of currencies.

In this sense, good performance in Latin America, whose recenues grew 26% (5,7% in comparable terms) and to a lesser extent, in Europe, which grew revenue by 8,4% (2,4% comparable) compensated for the decline in Spain. As a result, the Group EBITDA increased by 9% to 5.574 million euros, but fell 1% to comparable effect.

Mary

COMENIUS WEEK 2011

Our school takes part in different European projects. This week it is Comenius week and we have prepared an agenda to show our colleagues what we are talking about.

Discovered in the Basque Country: 7,500 previously 'missing' jobless

The Basque Government has detected 7,500 more people than previous thought who were registered unemployed in the autonomous community's previous job placement service, Langai.

The Basque Vice-councilor for Employment, Javier Ruiz, and the Director General of the current employment service Lanbide, Javier Ramos, revealed the finding during a press conference given on Wednesday.

Following the clearance of lists passed from the former to the current service, the Employment Department, directed by Gemma Zabaleta, discovered that not all the unemployed people signed up to Langai, which operated between 1996 and 2010, had been passed on to the (national unemployment service) INEM.

Specifically, a total of 7,500 people who were on the list of jobless at Langai did not feature on INEM's list, despite the former agency allegedly sending them frequent updates.

With this additional data, the number of people in the Basque Country registered as unemployed goes up from 145,456 to 152,956, the equivalent in percentage of a rise from 10.89% to 11.4%.

By Mónica

COMENIUS:GOEM: BELFAST: 3rd day of the meeting

The tourism students prepared a day trip to visit the cost of the Northern Ireland, we visited The Giant’s causeway. A specialised guide explained us everything about the incredible columns and THE LEGEND OF FIONN MAC COOL.




The second place we visited was the Carrick-a-Rede Bridge, it was a rope suspension bridge, and we passed it. Cinthya was very brave, she suffers from vertigo but she passed the bridge. Good girl!!!!!




At night we prepared a party in one of the rooms, all peers were invited, the Norwegians came and we were playing cards till…
These are our Norwegian friends


Next day everybody left the hotel very early but we exchanged our emails and shared in face book. We keep in touch!!! We came back to Dublin and the Basque Country.

COMENIUS:GOEM: BELFAST: 2nd day of the meeting

We woke up very early as always and went to School. The second day task was to work in the Phrasebook we have already started in Zubiri. The groups were mixed and we had to complete the booklet. The topics were different for each group: For instance: Directions, weather, greetings, working interview… We had to write common phases in different languages. Later on, each group made the cover of the booklet and decided which one was the best. Congratulation to Xabi, the cover Xabi's group made was the best. The next task was to perform the sentences but in our partner's language. Would you like to listen to our partners speaking in Basque?




In the afternoon we went to pirate mini golf it was designed with special effects at the course including firing cannons, spitting totem poles... . It was amazing.

COMENIUS:GOEM: BELFAST : 1st day of the meeting

All partners went to Belfast Boys Model School. The school is huge, new and the classrooms are enormous. Three times our classrooms, the facilities they have you can’t imaging.



We worked in groups. Different countries were mixed to take part in a competition. We had to build a sculpture or a famous building. For example: one group had to build a Eiffel tower, another group La Sagrada familia, another group a Viking ship, London Eye… It was fun, because we had the opportunity to talk to our partners



In the afternoon we went to play bowling. We laughed a lot. We played in team, the students’ team against teacher's team; of course, the students were better.

The euríbor overcomes 2 % in his daily price

After registering in March his major raise in two years, the euríbor has put on today in April exceeding in his daily rate 2 % (2,013 %), a level that was not touching from March, 2009

The indicator closed last month in 1,924 %, his highest level of last 25 months, from February, 2009, with what it will increase in price in an average of 600 Euros per year a mortgage.Nevertheless, the impact of a raise of the euríbor is proportionally bigger for the mortgages than longer term. And, obviously, it is also major major all is the quantity of the lending.

The euríbor has ranged, in his more than ten years of history, between the historical monthly maximum of 5,393 % that reached in July, 2008 and the minimum of 1,215-year ago-old %, in March, 2010, but till now it had never duplicated the average type of interest that the ECB reminds for the zone of the Euro.

Next Thursday the ECB will approve, almost with complete certainty, a raise of interest rates of a quarter of percentage point, which, according to the consulted experts, the euríbor will push up to 2,25 % or 2,60 % at the end of year, according to the opinion of the analysts. If there are fulfilled these forecasts, who have to check his mortgage in the next months they will see as the increase in the quotas it is going to be every time a major similar pass the time.

María José González