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SPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAIN- TODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- 2009 DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- Spain today 2009 is an up-to-date look at the primary PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- aspects of our nation: its public institutions and political scenario, its foreign relations, the economy and a pano- 2009 DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- ramic view of Spain’s social and cultural life, accompanied by the necessary historical background information for PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- each topic addressed DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- http://www.la-moncloa.es PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- SPAIN TODAY TODAY SPAIN DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAIN- TODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAIN- TODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTO- DAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS- PAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAIN- TODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYSPAINTODAYS Acknowledgements The Secretary of State for Communication wishes to thank all of the Ministerial Departments and public and private institutions for their collaboration in providing texts, graphs, pictures and selected photographs, which have made the publication of this book possible. 2009 General catalogue of official publications http://www.060.es This publication was prepared by the General-Directorate of International Information under the Secretariat of State for Communication Publisher: Ministry of the Presidency Publishing coordination: Carmen de Francisco NIPO (official publications identification number): 000-09-011-9 National book catalogue number: M-25098-2009 Graphic design, printing and binding: Imprenta Nacional del Boletín Oficial del Estado (National Printing Press of the Official State Bulletin) 2009 Madrid MINISTRY OF THE PRESIDENCY FOREWORD I am delighted to present the third edition, in this new era, of the book Spain Today 2009, which once again has been published to offer an up-to-date overview of our country. Its essential aim is to project a modern vision of Spain, providing information on the numerous political, cultural and economic changes we have ex- perienced while simultaneously attempting to outline the major traits that character- ise our society and nation for those less familiar with Spain. In this new edition, as in the past, we have tried to reflect the main social, cultural and political advances of recent years, highlighting certain issues such as im- migration, social rights and equality and offering details on the policies pursued by ministries which have either been re-organised or recently created, such as the Min- istries of Housing, Equality and Science and Innovation. In the chapter on foreign policy, we have focused especially on the European Union due to its importance as an international player and to the proximity of our presidency in 2010. We have also included ample coverage of economic issues, particularly with regard to how Spain is addressing the economic and financial crisis after almost a decade of steady growth. Just as the printing of this book was almost finished, there was a government reshuffle resulting in a new structure headed by three vice-presidencies and an ad- aptation of the functions of the 17 ministries. As a consequence of the reshuffle, five new members have joined the Cabinet. The purpose of this ministerial reshuffle centres around three principles: economic recovery and employment; reinforcement of Spain’s social and territorial co- hesion; and, lastly, dealing with the reforms and changes required by the forthcom- ing years. All of these changes are reflected in this book, which is designed to be an ac- curate guide for readers – particularly those from other nations – who are curious about and interested in what is happening in Spain today. NIEVES GOICOECHEA Secretary of State for Communications INDEX Chapter I. The Country and its Population ........................................................... 13 Geography ............................................................................................................. 14 Population ............................................................................................................. 21 Chapter II. History and Culture ............................................................................... 29 History ................................................................................................................... 30 From Prehistoric Times to the Discovery of America ........................................... 30 From the Discovery of America to the 20th Century ............................................. 35 Democracy ............................................................................................................ 46 Chronology ............................................................................................................ 52 Culture ................................................................................................................... 54 Chapter III. The Organisation of the State ............................................................ 65 The Spanish Constitution of 1978 ......................................................................... 66 The Institutions ..................................................................................................... 66 The Symbols of the State ...................................................................................... 68 The Territorial Organisation of the State .............................................................. 69 The Languages of Spain ........................................................................................ 81 The Political Arena: Historical and Constitutional Foundations .......................... 83 The Defence of Liberties ....................................................................................... 88 Chapter IV. Foreign Policy ........................................................................................ 89 Spain and the European Union ............................................................................. 90 Spain and International Organisations ................................................................. 93 Spain and the Defence of Human Rights ............................................................. 96 Spain and the Mediterranean .............................................................................. 98 Spain and Sub-Saharan Africa .............................................................................. 102 Spain and the Asian-Pacific Region ....................................................................... 103 Spain and its Bilateral Relations ............................................................................ 104 Spanish Cooperation: A New Policy for Development and the Eradication of Poverty ......................................................................................................... 111 Spain and Latin America ......................................................................................... 116 The Alliance of Civilisations .................................................................................. 118 Chapter V. Defence Policy ........................................................................................ 121 The Armed Forces: An Instrument for Action Abroad ......................................... 122 10 Chapter VI. Economic Policy and the Social Protection Model .......................... 129 Introduction to the Economic Policy .................................................................... 130 The Spanish Economy Today: Economic Structure by Sectors ............................ 132 The Political-Economic Model Based on Macroeconomic Stability and Productivity Growth ........................................................................................ 133 Agriculture and Fishing in Spain ................................................................................... 136 Spanish Tourism Policy ......................................................................................... 137 The Tax System ...................................................................................................... 139 The Transport System in Spain .............................................................................. 143 The Working World ............................................................................................... 148 The Role of Immigrants in the Economy .............................................................. 151 Social Security and the Social Welfare System ......................................................... 152 Chapter VII. Health and

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