Mallorca • Issue No. 2025 • 25 April - 1 May 2024
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Credit: CC-by-NC-ND-2.0
King opens conference European Summit
THE Summit of Women Parliamentary Presidents took place on Sunday April 21 at the Royal Palace of La Almudaina in Palma. The presidents of the European parliaments published a joint declaration in defence of gender equality. The crucial role of women’s leadership in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts was stressed. Women are still under-represented in all EU countries in decision-making processes and within political parties, so gender parliaments need Equality Plans. A European priority is to combat ‘extreme political polarisation in democratic societies’. Attacks against women and girls in armed conflicts were condemned, as were terrorist attacks and those on the civilian populations of Ukraine and Gaza. Future initiatives were endorsed: the ‘Joint Declaration for Gender-Responsive Parliaments’ at the 71st Plenary Session of COSAC in Brussels, and the Summit in Paris on March 6 and 7 and Presidents of Lower Houses on March 8.
King Felipe VI in Palma.
Amy Watts KING FELIPE VI of Spain presided over the opening of the Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of the Council of the European Union in Palma on Monday April 22. President of the Congress, Francina Armengol, had hosted a summit with a round table on women’s leadership the day before. Attending the conference were presidents of the legislative chambers of the different countries of the European Union, the president of the European Parliament, and many leaders from European countries.
This was the last act of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union, which began on July 1 last year. Felipe VI received the presidents at the Royal Palace of the Almudaina on Monday April 22, and also greeted delegates from the Balearic Government, including leader Marga Prohens, members of the Bureaus of the Chambers and deputies, senators and MEPs for the Balearic Islands. In the afternoon a session was held on the new challenges for liberal democracies. Subjects for discussion were social
media, AI and their impact on foreign policy and defence, the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the conflict in the Middle East. On Tuesday April 23 discussion focused on the new fiscal rules of the European Union and the strengthening of the Economic and Monetary Union in the context of future expansion, social rights, environmental and climate change challenges. Security was very high with 800 National Police officers deployed, many from mainland Spain. The sewers below Palma were inspected and sniffer dogs swept the area for explosives.
German cyclist saved by bystanders A GERMAN couple in their mid-50s were cycling on Tuesday April 16 when they crossed paths with a police patrol car from Inca near the roundabout where the Ma-3433 intersects with Ca’n Picafort. They greeted the officers, who waved back. Moments later, the woman shouted for help. The patrol returned to find her husband having a heart attack. They began CPR.
A German doctor holidaying in the area took over resuscitation until the man’s pulse was restored. A Samu 061 life support ambulance which happe-
ned to be passing attended until another advanced life support ambulance arrived. The patient was intubated and transferred to Son Espases hospital.
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