Spanish Legislation Research Articles

Data protection in the field of labor relations in Spain

This study aims to analyze the impact on industrial relations of the recognition of the right to personal data protection, in the light of European and Spanish legislation. It makes especially an attempt to mark the differences between the right to privacy and the most restricted of the intimate sphere. Likewise, it tries to highlight the main challenges and singularities of the protection of the sphere of the private with respect to the worker: it possible extension to self-employed worker, the indirect limitations derived from the recognition of the right to the protection of personal data of the employer, the limited space of labour consent and the requirement in this matter of employer control powers.

Do fee-shifting rules affect plaintiffs’ win rates? A theoretical and empirical analysis

This article studies whether fee-shifting rules can affect plaintiffs’ win rates. Beyond theoretical modeling, this study goes a step further and provides empirical evidence on this issue, thanks to the study of a real change in Spanish legislation. Spain applied the so-called English rule in 2011 in the administrative jurisdiction. This study explores whether plaintiffs were more or less successful when litigating against public administrations since then. After controlling for several other factors, it is shown that the new rule considerably increased plaintiffs’ win rate (while also reducing litigation). The paper also presents a theoretical model explaining that the English rule can increase the prevalence of judgments in favor of plaintiffs through two channels: the selection of cases brought before the courts by interested parties and the level of deference paid by courts to the decisions under review.

La gestión pública de una obra hidráulica compleja, entre el marco internacional y los intereses regionales privados: el caso del trasvase Tajo-Segura (España)

Los procesos económicos globales han agravado los problemas, conflictos y tensiones derivados del uso del agua dulce a escala global, estatal, regional y local. En la época contemporánea, la aceleración derivada de la industrialización y la urbanización ha aumentado el consumo del agua y las infraestructuras artificiales para su utilización. Hoy, el capitalismo de mercado global se ha ido apropiando de los recursos naturales y en el uso del agua predominan los intereses privados. Al mismo tiempo, la degradación medioambiental obliga a intentar compatibilizar el consumo humano y económico con el respeto hacia la naturaleza. En la legislación vigente, en áreas como la Unión Europea, ya se da prioridad a la conservación del medio ambiente sobre la utilización incontrolada del agua como recurso productivo, sobre todo a partir de la aprobación de la Directiva Marco del Agua en 2000. Sin embargo, la política hidráulica española se ha centrado en el agua como bien económico. Con esta premisa se construyeron infraestructuras como el trasvase Tajo-Segura. Actualmente, España, como miembro de la UE, debe adaptarse a la DMA y esto genera un tensa relación internacional-nacional-regional por la gestión pública del trasvase. El artículo se centra en esta cuestión. Se aplicará una metodología deductiva y basada en un análisis teórico crítico a partir del estudio bibliográfico y de la normativa vigente, del apoyo en datos cuantitativos y de las reflexiones de los autores. Se concluye que el trasvase no se ajusta a la sostenibilidad ambiental y ecológica que proclama la DMA, sino que sigue respondiendo a la necesidad de satisfacer la demanda de la cuenca receptora. Además, en periodos de sequía se permite el mercado de cesión de agua de la cuenca cedente a la receptora entre particulares, ignorando el impacto ecológico derivado y superponiendo los intereses económicos. La prioridad debería ser satisfacer la demanda de agua dulce como necesidad de abastecimiento para toda la población y evitar los impactos al medio ambiente. Sin embargo, es evidente que las autoridades públicas están principalmente preocupadas por satisfacer las demandas de agua que tienen que ver con la producción económica aun a sabiendas de no cumplir plenamente con la legislación europea. La contribución resultará de interés a nivel científico y social y se une al debate actual en torno a las políticas de agua dulce en las dinámicas globales.

Zooplankton-based reactors for tertiary wastewater treatment: A pilot-scale case study

Nature-based wastewater treatments are an economic and sustainable alternative to intensive technologies in rural areas, although their efficiency needs to be improved. This study explores technological co-operation between zooplankton (e.g., Daphnia magna) and bacterial and algal biofilms in a 1.5 m3 zooplankton-based reactor for the on-site treatment of secondary urban wastewater. The efficiency of the reactor was evaluated over a 14-month period without any maintenance. The results suggest a low seasonality effect on nutrient polishing (organic matter and nitrogen) and the removal of solids (TSS and turbidity). The best performance, involving a decrease in organic carbon, nitrogen, E. coli loads, and solid content was achieved in winter when operating the reactor at 750 L d−1. Under these conditions, the quality of the effluent water was suitable for its reuse for six different purposes in conformance with Spanish legislation. These results demonstrate that the zooplankton-based reactor presented here can be used as an eco-sustainable tertiary treatment to provide water suitable for reuse. On-site research revealed that the robustness of the reactor against temperature and oxygen fluctuations needs to be improved to ensure good performance throughout the year.

Issues with information given to parents and guardians on medical care in the emergency department relating to minors aged from 14 to 17 years due topsychoactive substance use’

BackgroundIn accordance with parental legal duties, parents and guardians should be informed about health issues relevant to child health. Current Spanish legislation acknowledges autonomy from 16 years or emancipated minors. This study analyses the information given to the parents or legal guardians of minors over 14 years of age attending a tertiary-level general hospital emergency department on psychoactive substance intoxication (alcohol, cannabis, benzodiazepines). Material and methodsThe medical records of minors treated in the emergency department of a tertiary-level hospital, between 2016 and 2017, were reviewed. A survey of medical and nursing professionals from the emergency services was also conducted. ResultsOf the medical records that mentioned that the minor attended the emergency department with friends (11.5%), 5 (9.6%) did not specify if the parents or guardians were called. Of the 26 medical records (50%) in which there was no mention of whether if the minor attended alone or accompanied, 22 (42.3%) made no mention of informing parents. The study data show that 28 of the 35 respondents (80%) always notified if the minor had not been accompanied to the emergency department by a parent or guardian. ConclusionsThere is lack of information relating to informing parents/guardians, as well as a discrepancy between the data provided by health professionals and the medical reports analysed.

El recurso al derecho penal en el ordenamiento jurídico español para la consecución del principio de igualdad entre hombres y mujeres

Los últimos años estamos asistiendo al uso y abuso del derecho penal en la protección de derechos fundamentales. En estas líneas reflexionamos sobre el uso del derecho penal en el ordenamiento jurídico español en la búsqueda del principio de igualdad entre hombres y mujeres. Estudiamos la LO 1/2004 y los motivos del mayor desvalor del golpe del hombre sobre la mujer, que es su pareja, así como la legitimidad de discriminación en las normas penales para igualar desigualando.

Representation of the image of the minor in the publicity circulated via the Internet

The representation of the minor in advertisements is a topic that is scarcely studied and reflected in the bibliography, in social paediatrics as well as audio-visual communication. The aim of the present study is to describe how the minor is represented in the publicity that is conveyed through the internet, and whether or not that representation is adequate. An analysis was made of all the advertisements in which minors appeared during a period of two months, on three days a week, on the most visited web pages in Spain. The evaluation on how the minor was represented was carried out with an evaluation tool, constructed by the authors, based on European and Spanish legislation, which showed a high concordance between evaluators. A descriptive analysis was performed on the categorical variables, and the inter-dependent relationship was established between them using the chi-squared test. A total of 173 advertisements were identified in which at least one minor appeared, which was generally represented solo (63.5%), in a natural environment (36.9%) and of school age (44.5%). The web pages of the "general press" are those that most frequently show advertisement in which minors are represented, through the use of banners (82%). In the majority of cases the inadequate use of the figure of the minor takes place using tactical representation, and not just strategic. The image of the minor in the publicity that is conveyed via the most visited web pages in Spain is inadequate in 3 of every 3 advertisements. This misuse of the minor is usually seen in as unjustifiably strategic, and favouring non-positive values or that they favour situations of inequality.

Representation of the image of the minor in the publicity circulated via the Internet

IntroductionThe representation of the minor in advertisements is a topic that is scarcely studied and reflected in the bibliography, in social paediatrics as well as audio-visual communication. The aim of the present study is to describe how the minor is represented in the publicity that is conveyed through the internet, and whether or not that representation is adequate. Material and methodsAn analysis was made of all the advertisements in which minors appeared during a period of two months, on three days a week, on the most visited web pages in Spain. The evaluation on how the minor was represented was carried out with an evaluation tool, constructed by the authors, based on European and Spanish legislation, which showed a high concordance between evaluators. A descriptive analysis was performed on the categorical variables, and the inter-dependent relationship was established between them using the chi-squared test. ResultsA total of 173 advertisements were identified in which at least one minor appeared, which was generally represented solo (63.5%), in a natural environment (36.9%) and of school age (44.5%). The web pages of the “general press” are those that most frequently show advertisement in which minors are represented, through the use of banners (82%). In the majority of cases the inadequate use of the figure of the minor takes place using tactical representation, and not just strategic. ConclusionsThe image of the minor in the publicity that is conveyed via the most visited web pages in Spain is inadequate in 2 of every 3 advertisements. This misuse of the minor is usually seen in as unjustifiably strategic, and favouring non-positive values or that they favour situations of inequality.

Converting a Water Pressurized Network in a Small Town into a Solar Power Water System

The efficient management of water and energy is one challenge for managers of water pressurized systems. In a scheme with high pressure on the environment, solar power appears as an opportunity for nonrenewable energy expenditure reduction and emissions elimination. In Spain, new legislation that eliminates old taxes associated with solar energy production, a drop in the cost of solar photovoltaic modules, and higher values of irradiance has converted solar powered water systems into one of the trendiest topics in the water industry. One alternative to store energy (compulsory in standalone photovoltaic systems) when managing pressurized urban water networks is the use of head tanks (tanks accumulate water during the day and release it at night). This work intends to compare the pressurized network running as a standalone system and a hybrid solution that incorporates solar energy supply and electricity grids. The indicator used for finding the best choice is the net present value for the solar power water system lifespan. This study analyzed the possibility of transferring the energy surplus obtained at midday to the electricity grid, a circumstance introduced in the Spanish legislation since April 2019. We developed a real case study in a small town in the Alicante Province, whose findings provide planning policymakers with very useful information in this case and similar case studies

Legal regulation of relations between Spain and Russia in the area of adoption of Russian children by Spanish citizens

This article conducts the analysis of legal regulation of relations between the Kingdom of Spain and the Russian Federation with regards to adoption of Russian children by Spanish citizens. The authors examine the history of development of bilateral Russian-Spanish cooperation; legal normative base, and procedure for the adoption of Russian orphans in the Russian and Spanish legislation. Statistical data is provided on the trends in adoption of Russian orphans by citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. The article employs the following methods of scientific research: historical, comparative-legal, statistical, and systemic analysis. The relevance of the selected topic is substantiated by the fact the for many years Spain demonstrates consistent interest in this question, ranking second among other countries that adopt children from the Russian Federation. At the same time, the legal and bureaucratic framework for realization of Russian-Spanish cooperation in this field requires improvements. The authors conclude that although the number of adopted Russian orphans by Spanish citizens has dropped in recent years, it is necessary to continue cooperation in this field by improving the existing legislation.

A machine learning model to assess the ecosystem response to water policy measures in the Tagus River Basin (Spain)

Anthropogenic activities are seriously endangering the conservation of biodiversity worldwide, calling for urgent actions to mitigate their impact on ecosystems. We applied machine learning techniques to predict the response of freshwater ecosystems to multiple anthropogenic pressures, with the goal of informing the definition of water policy targets and management measures to recover and protect aquatic biodiversity. Random Forest and Gradient Boosted Regression Trees algorithms were used for the modelling of the biological indices of macroinvertebrates and diatoms in the Tagus river basin (Spain). Among the anthropogenic stressors considered as explanatory variables, the categories of land cover in the upstream catchment area and the nutrient concentrations showed the highest impact on biological communities. The model was then used to predict the biological response to different nutrient concentrations in river water, with the goal of exploring the effect of different regulatory thresholds on the ecosystem status. Specifically, we considered the maximum nutrient concentrations set by the Spanish legislation, as well as by the legislation of other European Union Member States. According to our model, the current nutrient thresholds in Spain ensure values of biological indices consistent with the good ecological status in only about 60% of the total number of water bodies. By applying more restrictive nutrient concentrations, the number of water bodies with biological indices in good status could increase by almost 40%. Moreover, coupling more restrictive nutrient thresholds with measures that improve the riparian habitat yields up to 85% of water bodies with biological indices in good status, thus proving to be a key approach to restore the status of the ecosystem.

Impact of comprehensive molecular testing to reduce antibiotic use in community-acquired pneumonia (RADICAP): a randomised, controlled, phase IV clinical trial protocol

IntroductionCommunity-acquired pneumonia (CAP) continues to be a major health problem worldwide and is one of the main reasons for prescribing antibiotics. However, the causative agent is often not identified, resulting...

Professores e Igualdade na Espanha. Notas legislativas Profesorado e Igualdad en España. Aspectos legislativos

En este artículo se describe la trayectoria legal que en España ha acompañado las acciones a favor de la igualdad de oportunidades entre mujeres y hombres en los centros educativos. En concreto sobre la formación inicial y continuada del profesorado para poder intervenir en las transformaciones que exige esa igualdad. Un recorrido de tres décadas de propuestas para sensibilizar y para revertir certezas heredadas. Se describe cómo la legislación española ha ido señalando los pasos necesarios para incluir este tipo de formación en los programas de formación inicial y continuada del profesorado y se ofrece también un acercamiento a publicaciones que reflejan la respuesta a esas normativas.
 Entre la amplia gama de indicadores considerados pertinentes a la hora de implementar programas de formación inicial y continuada del profesorado, ha adquirido una especial relevancia en las últimas décadas el que conocemos como perspectiva de género. Un indicador que requiere la incorporación al análisis de la realidad y a las propuestas de mejora, de una mirada crítica a lo que es fácil ya reconocer -en cuanto afecta al mundo de las mujeres y de los hombres-, como una construcción sociológica de la diferencia sexual (Cobo, 2005). Un bagaje de hábitos y de creencias acumuladas generación tras generación que impregna la cultura elaborada y la mentalidad operante en cada época y en cada sociedad.
 Los objetivos de este artículo son, en primer lugar, mostrar cómo la legislación española ha ido señalando los pasos necesarios para incluir este tipo de formación en los planes de formación inicial y continuada del profesorado; y también ofrecer un primer acercamiento a publicaciones que reflejan la acogida de esas normativas con algunas de las acciones que se han ido llevando a la práctica. Se ha utilizado una metodología de localización de las fuentes legales con contenidos relativos a la igualdad, y de revisión de fuentes bibliográficas que dan cuenta de estudios y de trabajos sobre la aplicación de las propuestas legislativas.

Ascaridoid nematodes in horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus, sold in Spanish supermarkets—Factors able to diminish consumer risk

Horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus, specimens sold in supermarket chains in the metropolitan area of València (Spain) were analyzed to assess which intrinsic and extrinsic factors are able to diminish the risk of human anisakiosis. 202 T. trachurus, caught in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, were examined for ascaridoid nematodes. The overall prevalence and abundance of Anisakis type I larvae were 65.3 % and 23.2 helminths/host, respectively, being higher in the Atlantic area (98.2 %; 41.4 helminths/host). 34.2 % of the total fish sample was parasitized in the flesh. Moreover, global prevalence and abundance of Hysterothylacium spp. larvae were 67.3 % and 9.41, respectively, with only 5.9 % of fish parasitized in the flesh, and all larvae were found dead after artificial digestion, suggesting a very low risk of infection. In the case of Anisakis type I, a positive correlation between host body size and parasitic burden was found. T. trachurus should be considered a potential source of anisakiosis infection in Spain. However, given the high prevalence of Hysterothylacium, although not being considered a real human hazard, consumers should be warned about its presence, as they are not able to differentiate between this genus and Anisakis or other ascaridoid nematodes, and can thus be induced to discard the fish infested with Hysterothylacium. The risk of infection by Anisakis can be minimized following the measures established by Spanish and European Union legislation, with the consumption of fresh eviscerated fish, preferably small-sized specimens caught in the Mediterranean, or avoiding small-sized specimens from the Atlantic.

Presunciones absolutas de culpabilidad concursal: estado de la cuestión en el Derecho uruguayo, comparado con las legislaciones española y portuguesa

En este artículo se realiza un análisis de las presunciones absolutas de culpabilidad concursal previstas en la legislación uruguaya, desde la perspectiva de su comparación con la regulación que a los mismos brindan las legislaciones española y portuguesa, así como atendiendo a las apreciaciones de la doctrina y jurisprudencia de estos países. En particular, nos detendremos en el análisis de aquellos supuestos que mayores controversias han generado en los incidentes de calificación en nuestro país. En algunos casos hemos realizado un relevamiento de los criterios jurisprudenciales con que se han interpretado las presunciones absolutas. En términos generales, entendemos que éstas constituyen supuestos típicos de culpabilidad que concretizan ciertos deberes fiduciarios de los comerciantes y administradores de sociedades comerciales. Esto contribuye, en nuestra opinión, a una distribución eficiente y, a la vez, justa del riesgo derivado de la insolvencia.

Complete Real-Scale Application of Recycled Aggregates in a Port Loading Platform in Huelva, Spain.

The application of recycled aggregates (RA) from construction and demolition waste and crushed concrete blocks is a very important challenge for the coming years from the environmental point of view, in order to reduce the exploitation of natural resources. In Spain, the use of these recycled materials in the construction of road bases and sub-bases is growing significantly. However, presently, there are few studies focused on the properties and behavior of RA in civil works such as road sections or seaport platforms. In this work, two types of RA were studied and used in a complete real-scale application. Firstly, recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) were applied in the granular base layer under bituminous superficial layers, and secondly mixed recycled aggregates (MRA) which contain a mix of ceramic, asphalt, and concrete particles were applied in the granular subbase layer, under the base layer made with RCA. Both RA were applied in a port loading platform in Huelva, applying a 100% recycling rate. This civil engineering work complied with the technical requirements of the current Spanish legislation required for the use of conventional aggregates. The environmental benefits of this work have been very relevant, and it should encourage the application of MRA and RCA in civil engineering works such as port platforms in a much more extended way. This is the first and documented real-scale application of RA to completely build the base and sub-base of a platform in the Huelva Port, Spain, replacing 100% of natural aggregates with recycled ones.

REFLEXÕES SOBRE VÍCIOS DA PUBLICIDADE INSTITUCIONAL DA ADMINISTRAÇÃO PÚBLICA: DA PERSONALIZAÇÃO OBLÍQUA À ESCOLHA TENDENCIOSA DOS VEÍCULOS DE IRRADIAÇÃO

O artigo aborda a publicidade do Estado, os seus limites constitucionais e as características que o material publicitário deve reunir para não se transformar em personalização oblíqua do administrador público e consequente ato de improbidade administrativa. Esta pesquisa busca parâmetros da legislação espanhola sobre a publicidade estatal, cujas premissas se revelam compatíveis com o regime jurídico brasileiro. Aponta-se, neste estudo, a obrigatória obediência a critérios técnicos para eleição dos veículos de comunicação contratados para irradiar as campanhas públicas, que deve ignorar qualquer valoração política ou ideológica, com apoio em precedentes da Suprema Corte Espanhola, evitando-se desvio de poder e correspondente responsabilização.

The Urban Planning and its Evolution in Spain

This research paper aims to list the Spanish legislation in relation to urban planning in order to indicate the different legislation in force at this time in order to, from here, and in other articles, analyze the administrative procedure of territorial planning and the consequences that could be derived from the annulment of municipal planning, that is, its administrative, social and economic impact.

Methodology for ‘reasonable adjustment’ characterisation in small establishments to meet accessibility requirements: A challenge for active ageing and inclusive cities. Case study of Madrid

Access to and use of the built environment is a basic human right, recognised globally in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and a fundamental objective in an increasingly ageing society. Spanish legislation, acknowledging that challenge, has mandated built environment accessibility ‘subject to reasonable adjustment’.This paper formulates a methodology to assist policy makers and urban planning authorities to clarify what, in the context of small establishments, is meant by reasonable adjustment which, further to international policy recommendations, is a strategy implemented by public authorities to enforce accessibility requirements as opposed to privately instituted litigation. Unlike other contributions, the new methodology proposes characterising statutory reasonable adjustment on the grounds of an analysis of municipal records (120 dossiers for Madrid and metropolitan area) and the variables associated with the term. The results included flexibility requirements, accessibility adjustments, economic viability by activity involved and factors affecting overall accessibility.Research has confirmed that regulatory development, urban planning and enforcement by public authorities favour improvements in accessibility. The difficulties involved in complying with requirements revolve around wheelchair users, even today. In the present case study, investments in accessibility comprised about 0.5% of property values.

EL INTERÉS PÚBLICO EN EL ÁMBITO DE LA SALUD PÚBLICA, COMO ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS COMO EL CORONAVIRUS QUE AFECTA TAMBIÉN A LOS TRABAJADORES: UN ESTUDIO DE LA LEY DE PROTECCIÓN DE DATOS ESPAÑOLA Y EL REGLAMENTO EUROPEO

Desde mediados del Siglo XX tanto el legislador español como, el legislador europeo través del Consejo de Europa de 1967, promulgando diversas normas para proteger a los trabajadores tanto nacionales como comunitarios, respecto a los españoles mediante la Constitución Española de 1978, adheríendose a las normas comunitarias como Ley Orgánica 5/1992, de 29 de octubre, de Regulación del Tratamiento Automatizado de los Datos de Carácter Personal2. En el Siglo XXI, ambas legislaciones tanto la española la Ley Orgánica 3/2018, de 5 de diciembre de Protección de Datos Personales y garantía de derechos digitales3 y, el Reglamento (UE) 2016/679 del Parlamento Europeo4, para que las enfermedades infecciosas como el coronavirus o, covit-19 estuvierán presentes en el ámbito laboral, tanto respecto a los trabajadores nacionales o, comunitarios.