SPAIN: Fears of violent protests prompt Spain to beef up security ahead of European Central Bank meeting in Barcelona

Record ID: 860445

  • Title: SPAIN: Fears of violent protests prompt Spain to beef up security ahead of European Central Bank meeting in Barcelona
  • Date: 4th May 2012
  • Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (MAY 3, 2012) (REUTERS) HOTEL ARTS EXTERIOR, VENUE WHERE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK GOVERNING COUNCIL WILL GATHER / POLICE OUTSIDE HOTEL VARIOUS POLICE AT HOTEL ENTRANCE POLICE OUTSIDE HOTEL VARIOUS OF HOTEL TOWER VARIOUS OF POLICE CHECKING CARS POLICE VAN OUTSIDE CONFERENCE CENTRE WHERE NEWS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AFTER ECB COUNCIL MEETING FLAG REFLECTION ON VAN WINDOW VARIOUS OF POLICE OUTSIDE CONFERENCE CENTRE WHERE ECB NEWS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD
  • Embargoed: 19th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • City:
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Police,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4ATUVN4SEYY2SVVF6CDEOHK56
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Spain temporarily banned passport-free travel from most of Europe and drafted in 2,000 extra police to Barcelona to prevent violent protests when the European Central Bank governing council meets in the city on Thursday (May 3).
    The conservative government fears activists from other countries will join Spanish demonstrators protesting against austerity measures during the May 3 meeting, following violent incidents during a one-day general strike in March.
    The Interior Ministry announced the temporary suspension of the Schengen treaty, which allows European travellers to pass between member nations without a passport, and said it would increase security at airports. The suspension came into force on Saturday (April 28) andon May 4.
    The measures, during the high-profile one-day meeting of euro zone central bank governors, are part of a wider tightening of security as a deepening recession sparks ever larger protests.
    Spain's conservatives, like the Socialists before them, have passed a series of spending cuts, tax hikes and reforms in an attempt to reduce the public deficit and improve competitiveness.
    Spain's economy has only grown half a percent in over four years, suffers 24 percent unemployment with 50 percent of young people out of work. Severe economic measures have so far prompted street protests but no major violent clashes, as seen in Greece and Italy.
    Security has been beefed up for the ECB meeting to prevent clashes like those seen during the March 29 general strike rallies where police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters after hooded youths threw rocks and burnt rubbish bins in downtown Barcelona.
    The ECB meeting, usually held in Frankfurt, brings together the six members of the Executive Board, plus the governors of the national central banks of the 17 euro area countries, and is expected to be the focus of protesters' anger.
    The governing council had planned to use its escape from the cold rain of northern Europe to indulge in a spot of tourism in the Mediterranean city, but fear of a backlash has caused them to cancel the tour bus, according to one report.
    The Schengen treaty covers the European Union except Ireland and Britain, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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