Asturias Announces €500 Benefit for Every
New Child in Hopes of Increasing Birthrate

-- This Is in Addition to the €2500 Given by the Federal Government

Source: El Comercio, Marco Menendez, July 6, 2007

The principality Asturias will soon cease to be one of only two states in Spain (the other is La Rioja) that does not give direct financial aid to parents. The president of the principality, Vicente Álvarez Areces, announced that starting in July, the regional government will add €500 to the just announced €2,500 direct financial subsidy from the federal government for each child born, adopted, or otherwise taken into the family. Areces said the government was forced to this action because of the demographics of the principality. He noted that the principality has the lowest fertility rate in the country and that the situation regarding births has become critical. He continued, that this is only one of the many methods planned by the executive in order to help families and increase the birthrate.