Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Feb 7
TOP STORIES: "Spain's curious new residency avenue for foreigners" & "Escape to the country—peaceful Spanish town with homes available for just €11,000"
As the poor old island of Santorini in Greece suffers a series of extremely destructive earthquakes, just across the Mediterranean it has surprisingly been a relatively quiet week. No seismic shocks, either literally or figuratively, but of course there’s still plenty for us to talk about this week, from more government changes to ordinary people’s lives – this time a reduction in the working week – to a new trend in securing Spanish residency and a selection of great remote spots in rural Spain that are offering an alternative, slower pace of life…
In the heart of the country
(A classic Paul McCartney song for you, just because)
Ever dreamt of swapping city chaos for rolling hills and fresh country air? While Spain’s big cities are thriving, many charming rural towns are facing a different reality – depopulation. As young people move away in search of opportunities, these once-bustling villages are left with quiet streets and shuttered businesses.
But here’s the exciting part: if you’re craving a slower pace, a close-knit community and an affordable lifestyle, this could be your golden ticket. Towns like Enguera, a hidden gem in Valencia, are rolling out the welcome mat for adventurous new residents.
Even with its rural charm, Enguera is just 72 kilometres from Valencia and about an hour and 20 minutes from Alicante. You get the best of both worlds – a peaceful countryside retreat with city conveniences close by.
Tucked away in the stunning Canal de Navarrés region, Enguera is a perfect blend of history, nature and opportunity. The Sierra de Enguera provides a dream backdrop for hiking and outdoor lovers, while the town itself boasts rich cultural heritage, with landmarks like Enguera Castle and the Parish Church of San Miguel.
Traditionally an agricultural hub known for its olive oil and wine, Enguera is now embracing rural tourism and entrepreneurship. The local council is actively encouraging new businesses through the Enguera Avanza 2023 programme, offering support for young people looking to settle and start fresh.
Even better, the cost of living is refreshingly low. You can buy a small wooden house on a campsite for just 11,000 euros, or rent a cosy home for as little as 500 euros a month, a fraction of what you’d pay in nearby Alicante.
If you’re looking for work, skilled professionals like builders, carpenters, masons and plumbers are in high demand. There’s also a growing need for elderly care and home services, making Enguera a great place to start or expand a career.
In Murcia, there’s also the chance for a rural escape in Jumilla. Nestled in the northern hills of the Region, this charming little town is the region’s best-kept secret – not only does it offer stunning landscapes, award-winning Monastrell wines and a strong sense of community, but it also happens to have the cheapest property prices in the entire autonomous community.
While house prices across Spain continue their relentless climb, Jumilla remains refreshingly affordable. At just €738 per square metre, buying here is a bargain compared to places like San Javier, where prices soar to €2,271. Even rental prices are some of the lowest in Murcia, making it an attractive option for retirees, families and anyone craving a slower pace of life without sacrificing access to major cities like Alicante, Murcia and Valencia.
And it’s not all about the price tag; like Enguera, Jumilla is a cultural gem. From the wine-soaked Fiesta de la Vendimia to its ancient fortress and lively Easter parades, there’s no shortage of history, entertainment and local charm. Add in stunning hiking trails and nature reserves, and you’ve got the perfect mix of affordability, culture and countryside bliss.
If you’ve ever dreamt of a fresh start and escaping to the country, Enguera and Jumill are ready to welcome you with open arms. Affordable homes, career opportunities and a chance to be part of a thriving community – what’s not to love?!
Residencia, resistencia
(A classic Spanish song for you here, too)
For years (around nine for people from Britain), getting Spanish residency has been a game of jumping through bureaucratic hoops for anyone not coming from elsewhere in the European Union. If you not lucky enough to land a job contract, or came out to Spain to do something other than work, what you need is a big enough pile of cash to show you can support yourself and get a Non-Lucrative Visa.
If you were really minted, of course, you could just throw half a million euros at a luxury property and bag yourself a Golden Visa. But now that Spain is scrapping the Golden Visa scheme, people are looking at other options.
Enter vocational training, the little-known but increasingly popular way to go from ‘undocumented’ to ‘official resident’.
And believe it or not, Murcia, of all places, has become a hotspot for this. Nearly 20% of all residence permits granted in the Region last year were thanks to ‘arraigo por formación’, which is really just a fancy way of saying “stay in Spain legally if you promise to study something useful”. Nationally, this figure is only 11%, making Murcia’s rate twice the national average and second only to the Basque Country in using this route.
What this really means is that people willing to enter professional training for bricklaying, plumbing and other mainly manual tasks are allowed to ‘regularise their situation’, in the officially used jargon. Given that Spain has a bit of a problem with an ageing workforce and skills shortages, the government is quite keen on turning eager foreign students into future workers.
Over the next 20 years, an estimated 14.1 million people in the workforce are expected to retire in Spain, and the country is staring down a significant labour shortfall. Spain’s central bank estimates that the country will need around 25 million migrants coming in to work over the next 30 years just to keep the economy on track.
But, to be clear, this ‘residency by vocational training’ isn’t necessarily aimed at the usual expat crowd looking to settle down to a cosy autumn of their years while maybe doing the odd job or two here or there. In fact, statistics show that the vast majority of those taking this path to residency are young men, particularly from Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa, who may have originally come to Spain without a visa or permits but are using vocational training as a means to build a stable future.
However, before you start thinking this is an easy loophole, you should know that the rules are about to get stricter. From May 2025, applicants will need to commit to longer, more demanding courses to qualify, in line with Spain’s long-running emphasis on workers of all stripes to be qualified (sometimes over-qualified!).
So, while vocational training will remain a valuable way to gain residency, it’s about to become a bit more effort.
37.5 is the magic number
(Since we’re doing songs this week...)
After months of back-and-forth discussions, the Spanish government has finally given the green light to reduce the working week from 40 hours to 37.5. This long-awaited change, championed by Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, will officially be approved this week and is set to shake up the work-life balance for millions.
In practical terms, this means the average workday will drop to just 7.5 hours, and the best part? Salaries will stay the same. The government has made it clear that workers’ rights must be fully protected, so no sneaky pay cuts or workarounds from employers.
They estimate that around 12 million people will benefit from this change. Once the law gets the final stamp of approval from the Council of Ministers, it will head to Congress, where political groups can propose amendments. The goal is to have everything signed, sealed and published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) before summer, giving businesses a few months to adjust. Companies currently operating with longer hours will have until December 31 to implement the new schedule.
For part-time workers, the law states that contracts of 37.5 hours or more will automatically be considered full-time, while those working fewer hours will maintain their schedules but receive a proportional pay boost.
To keep businesses in check, the government is introducing hefty fines – companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to €10,000 per employee.
Murcia
As Spanish cities go, Murcia’s capital is a small one, and it’s quite out of the way of other large, urban nuclei. Bilbao has the reputation for culture, Seville has charm, Salamanca is buzzing with life, Madrid is wealthy, Barcelona is cool. Now Murcia, not one to be outshone by the likes of them, has decided to give its nightlife a glow-up. Murcia is elevating its drinking culture (literally) – rooftop terrace bars are the new frontier, and the city is going all in.The city’s ordinance on the use of public spaces has just been dusted off and given a rewrite that will allow bars to open on azoteas around the city, so that by 2027, a slew of chic rooftop venues will be gracing the skyline. The attraction, of course, is breathtaking views and fancy cocktails.
The jewel in the crown, according to the city council, will be the Rincón de Pepe rooftop, set to open in 2027 after a casual €7 million investment. Of course, not just any old building can throw a few tables and chairs on the roof and start charging Barcelona prices for G&Ts. No, there’s a rigorous application process to ensure only the classiest of establishments make the cut.
And just to keep things civilised, nightclubs, betting shops and party halls are banned. So, if you were hoping for an all-night rave with a scenic backdrop (and I know you were!), you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Moving down from the rooftop, now, and it seems there is a new trend in property sales across the Region of Murcia for buying and selling squatter-occupied homes. Incredibly, property listings are now proudly advertising homes that come with uninvited tenants, with discounts of up to 60% off market value.
These homes tended to be uninhabited in the first place, which was why people managed to get in and live there for free, and the ones selling them are mainly banks and investment funds, who are looking to offload their stock of unusable property.
But who are the ones buying these homes? Of course, you can’t actually go and see it before you buy it; there are people living there who don’t want to be kicked it. And if you still go ahead and purchase, you can’t move in yourself. Still, despite the obvious downsides (like possibly never getting to live in your own house), investors are snapping these properties up.
It seems the idea is that, with enough patience and a good lawyer, they’re hoping to flip them for a tidy profit. The process, of course, comes with additional costs: legal fees, repairs and possibly the expense of changing the locks at record speed when your new ‘tenants’ pop out for milk!
Sadly, it was an eventful week on the roads in southwest Murcia as multiple car crashes made headlines. The most tragic involved a 44-year-old man who lost his life on the RM-711 between Lorca and Caravaca de la Cruz, while three others were hospitalised with varying degrees of injuries. If that wasn’t enough, a wrong-way driver on the A-7 managed to cause a multi-car pile-up before doing a disappearing act, leaving three people injured and six cars worse for wear. Meanwhile, over in Puerto de Mazarrón, a French-registered car was involved in another crash that left a further three people injured.There’s good news as well, though, as one notorious 7-kilometre stretch of road between Cuevas de Reyllo and La Pinilla, both in the municipality of Fuente Álamo, is about to get a makeover. This particular road, probably better known as being home to the Ken Sherwood English Mechanic that lies between the Camposol and Hacienda del Álamo resort, will be getting a much-needed resurfacing and clearer signage.
The local ayuntamiento has announced it will be undertaking the work in various phases in order to avoid disruption to road users, but they have not stated how long they expect it to take, so it’s anyone’s guess, really.
Remember, you can see events and activities coming up in Murcia in our EVENTS DIARY below, such as the guided tour in English of Alhama de Murcia castle and the free guided tour in English of San Javier, both of which are happening this Saturday, plus loads more:
Spain
Online shopping has revolutionised the way we buy everything from clothes to electronics, with major platforms like Temu, Shein and Amazon Marketplace becoming household names. Whether it’s Temu’s rock-bottom prices, Amazon’s lightning-fast deliveries or Shein’s ever-changing fashion line-up, these giants have made shopping more convenient than ever.
But while consumers love the ease of online shopping, there’s a growing concern about security risks and the influx of counterfeit or unsafe products flooding into Europe. Now, the European Union is stepping in with a bold plan to hold e-commerce platforms accountable for the goods they sell.
Under new customs regulations, companies like Temu and Shein would be required to verify that all products comply with EU safety and quality standards before they reach customers.
The EU’s push for stricter rules comes as counterfeit and non-compliant products continue to pour in from Asia, creating safety risks, damaging the environment and undercutting local businesses. By making online retailers responsible for the products they list, regulators hope to close loopholes that have allowed substandard items to slip through the cracks.
Regulators have already launched investigations into Shein and Amazon, and both Temu and AliExpress are now under scrutiny.
If the proposal goes through, online shopping in Europe could look very different, and while tighter control means products will be safer and of higher quality, it’s undoubtedly going to push up the price for customers.
Passengers on two separate flights landing at Tenerife South-Reina Sofía Airport on Saturday February 1 faced tense moments as both aircraft declared mid-air medical emergencies. The incidents, occurring just hours apart, prompted quick responses from airport authorities to ensure medical teams were ready upon landing.
The first emergency involved an easyJet flight from Paris, where crew members alerted air traffic controllers to a passenger requiring urgent medical attention. The aircraft was given priority landing and medical personnel were on standby as soon as it touched down.
Shortly after, a Norwegian Airlines flight from Stockholm found itself in a similar situation, with the pilot also requesting immediate medical assistance for a passenger on board. Emergency response teams at Tenerife South were once again deployed.
Airport officials confirmed that both flights landed safely and that medical aid was provided to those in need. However, no further details about the passengers' conditions have been released.
Although in-flight medical emergencies are relatively uncommon, airline crews are well-trained to handle them, and Tenerife South Airport has established protocols to ensure passengers receive swift and effective care when needed.
But you shouldn’t let any of these incidents put you off flying, as air travel safety has come on in leaps and bounds and it is now the safest way to get from A to B. The authorities keep a close eye on carriers and each year, Airline Ratings releases its ranking of the safest airlines in the world and this time around, a Spanish carrier has made the cut.
Iberia, Spain’s flagship airline, has secured a spot in the top 20, cementing its reputation as one of the most reliable airlines globally. The ranking considers factors such as incident history, safety protocols, pilot training and the age and condition of the fleet.
In addition to its strong safety record, Iberia has also been recognised for its punctuality. It was recently ranked the second most on-time airline in Europe, with 81.58% of its flights arriving as scheduled. Only its sister company, Iberia Express, performed better, with an impressive 84.69% of its flights running on time.
In the Airline Ratings list, Air New Zealand took the top spot, followed by Qantas. There’s a separate ranking for the safest low-cost carriers and Jet2, Ryanair and easyJet all got a mention.
Alicante
Tragedy in Alicante this week as the search for Jakov Jelkic, a 24-year-old Swiss footballer, ended in the worst imaginable way. His body was recovered from the waters of Alicante’s port on Monday February 3, bringing a heartbreaking conclusion to the desperate efforts to find him.Jakov, who held both Swiss and Croatian nationality, had been on holiday in Alicante with his football teammates when he disappeared in the early hours of Saturday February 1. He was last seen around 2.30am near the Upikum club, where he had returned to collect his jacket after a night out.
When his friends realised he had not returned to their hotel the following morning, they reported him missing.
Spanish authorities launched an intensive search, with police reviewing CCTV footage from key locations. The footage showed Jakov walking alone towards the Distrito Digital area of the port before his phone signal vanished just before 3am.
On Monday afternoon, an investigator from the Judicial Police spotted a body submerged at a depth of around two metres near the pier in Distrito Digital. Shortly before 6.30pm, officials confirmed it was Jakov Jelkic. His body has been transported to Alicante’s Institute of Legal Medicine, where a post-mortem will determine the exact cause of death.
At this time, investigators believe Jakov’s death was accidental, with no signs of foul play.
A little further south in the Costa Blanca city of Torrevieja, the local council has found itself in a bit of a flap (quite literally!). For years now, the city’s roundabouts and parks have been home to an unexpected population of free-range chickens, happily strutting their stuff without a care in the world. Completely oblivious to the traffic whizzing past, these feathery locals have become part of the scenery, much to the amusement (and occasional frustration) of residents.
The story of Torrevieja’s rogue chickens began back in 2014, when a few adventurous hens and roosters likely wandered away from nearby farms or wildlife parks. Instead of heading home, they made themselves comfortable, and they’ve been multiplying ever since. Now, with numbers spiralling out of control, city officials have decided it’s time to ruffle some feathers and finally relocate the birds.
According to the Torrevieja police, the chicken takeover has led to some close calls on the roads, as drivers swerve to avoid unexpected winged pedestrians. In response, the council is shelling out (pun intended) €26,296 to hire a specialist company to round up around 700 hens, roosters and chicks over the next year.
The Animal Welfare Department insists that this relocation is in the best interest of both the birds and the city’s residents. They’ve pointed out that while the chickens might seem carefree, they’re actually living in a rather hostile environment, dodging cars, wandering through busy streets and occasionally causing chaos at major roundabouts and intersections.
So while the Torrevieja chickens have certainly made their mark, it looks like their free-roaming city days are coming to an end.
Finally, it was a race against time in the Alicante town of Xixona this week when a pregnant mare found herself in a desperate situation, having tumbled into a deep ditch in Piedra Negra. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the Alicante Provincial Fire Brigade, this heart-stopping story had a happy ending.
The emergency call came in just before 6.30pm, sending rescuers scrambling into action as the sun started to set, making the rescue all the more difficult. A dedicated team of seven firefighters from the San Vicente station, along with local police, quickly got to work on the complex operation.
What they found was a truly daunting challenge. The ground had given way beneath the mare, sending her tumbling into a steep and narrow ditch. And with her being heavily pregnant, every movement had to be calculated and careful to avoid any harm to her or her unborn foal.
With patience and precision, they hoisted the mare to safety at 11.13pm, nearly five hours after the dramatic ordeal began.
A veterinarian was on hand to check her over and miraculously, despite the fall and the hours spent trapped, both mother and baby were unharmed!
Andalucía
Good news for Almería: the city is finally making progress in its quest to reassemble itself after years of being unceremoniously split in two by railway tracks. The ongoing project to bury the tracks underground is chugging along nicely, and by this summer, the last remaining bridge over them – the puente de la Avenida del Mediterráneo – will be knocked down.Anyone who’s ever had to trudge across that long, high, not-exactly-charming structure will probably be first in line to celebrate its demise, especially as it is a visible sign that the work is progressing at a good speed.
With over 30% of the urban integration project already completed, Almería is inching closer to a future where the AVE high-speed train stops in the city, making it feel more like an actual part of Spain rather than an unwanted and embarrassing little sibling.
Again, once the bridges come down and the new tracks are laid underground, there’s talk of turning the freed-up space into a lush new green area. Or possibly a multilane road. Or possibly something else entirely. No one seems entirely sure what the city council has planned. But whatever happens, it should be a massive improvement on the current arrangement.
Of course, removing the bridge will mean some traffic chaos in the short term, but authorities are trying to sort out alternative routes before the demolition. If all goes well, Almería will soon have smoother traffic flow and a sleek new AVE connection even before schedule!
Still, navigating southern Spain by train is a bit of a nightmare, and it’s set to become even more challenging with the news that Renfe, the country’s national rail company, is axing some of its least profitable lines.
Andalucía, not the easiest region to explore via rail on the best of days, is bearing the brunt. The AVE 2210 between Madrid and Sevilla will no longer run on Mondays and Tuesdays, except during the summer. Two trains, the 2172 and 2063, which run between Madrid and Málaga, will not operate on Tuesdays and the 2063 will not run on Wednesdays.
Renfe has also withdrawn the Intercity service from Vigo and which previously served Vigo and an Intercity train from Barcelona to Murcia.
This will come as a huge blow to southern Spain, whose connection with the capital and other central and northern cities is underwhelming at best.
The reduction in the Andalucía services is in direct response to the arrival of Ouigo, a French rail company, which launched an aggressive promotional campaign in mid-December to gain market share quickly.
This, combined with the low season, has forced Renfe to redefine its strategy and scrap its least popular trains.
More news in Málaga this week is that a 23-year-old man tragically lost his life after his car crashed into a toll booth at high speed. Two passengers were seriously injured in the accident, which happened in the early hours of the morning at the Las Pedrizas toll on the AP-46 motorway. The vehicle collided head-on with the concrete barrier, but the toll station was unmanned at the time, sparing any workers from being caught up in the disaster.This is already the second fatal road accident in Málaga province this year, adding to an increasingly grim statistic. In 2024, 37 people died on Málaga’s roads, with distractions cited as the biggest culprit in nearly half of the cases. Motorcyclists have had an especially bad time of it, with fatalities doubling compared to the year before.
We finish in Fuengirola, where the Miramar Shopping Centre received some unexpected visitors: a wild boar and her litter of piglets. While most shoppers pop in for a new pair of shoes or a cheeky coffee, these four-legged customers were more interested in casually trotting through the communal areas, causing a mix of amusement and mild panic.
Security quickly intervened, guiding the little family back outside without incident, but the shopping centre’s director, Ignacio Domínguez, isn’t exactly thrilled about the growing number of boar sightings in the area. The animals have been spotted in the car park before, but this was their first full-blown foray inside.
Wild boars have been increasingly venturing into urban areas in search of food, and while they might look like adorable, cloven-hoofed trespassers, they can be unpredictable if they feel threatened. Authorities are reminding residents not to feed them, approach them or attempt to adopt them as unconventional pets.
Centro comercial Miramar de #Fuengirola. 🐗
— Málaga ayer y hoy (@Malaga_AyerYHoy) February 3, 2025
Enviado por WhatsApp pic.twitter.com/4Tm4HI7b3e
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There we are, that’s all for this week’s edition. Thanks for reading and we’ll be back with another next week.
See ya then!
