Translation i am working very hard to try and make a living for what i love doing. I see my friends with full time jobs only making e700 a month. They take advantage of the fact that were young because they know that were going to shut up and take whatever money they give us. In the city of algeciras, these kids face a tough future. It feels like a bustling place, but 40 of young people cant find a job, the highest rate in the whole country. The sky high level of unemployment here in algeciras means theres huge scepticism that anything will change for the better after the European Parliaments elections in six weeks� time. There are deep rooted economic problems and despite the vibrancy of this place, Success Stories are pretty hard to find. But this is one business is good at this repair company. A 230 metre long container ship, the latest vessel theyre fixing. Its meant 21 year old mario has been able to get a decentjob, something thats eluded many of his friends outside something thats eluded many of his friends. Outside of the naval sector, it is kind of difficult to have a permanentjob. The contracts that they are providing are low wage and short term and they basically, yeah, you know, they take a little bit of advantage of the people needs to save their money. One of the bosses says hed love to take on more workers, but the problem is that while so many young people need a job, theyjust dont have the expertise. We have the highest percentage of Unemployed People here, and that people we cannot, we cannot get with us because they dont have the skills. Algeciras boast the biggest port in spain but doesnt feel the benefits. The eu is sending emo million to the region to try to boostjobs, which may or may not win votes at the european elections. But it feels much bigger investment is needed here, particularly in roads, railways and other infrastructure to turn the tide for this young generation. Nick beake, bbc news in southern spain. Our correspondent Nick Beakejoins us now. Really bea ke joins us now. Really beakejoins us now. Interesting report. What i wa nt really interesting report. What i want to focus on tonight is the macro versus micro. Help me out here. When you look at the spanish economy, the forecast for this year is 2. 1 which is far beyond what we can expect here in the uk, yet, it does not touch this problem of unemployment that youve reported on. If you look at the figures, ii. 9 on. If you look at the figures, 11. 9 with the unemployment in december. That is twice the Unemployment Rate of the European Union. You look at youth unemployment, it is worse. So how can you be growing the economy and yet still fail to reach some of these poor areas of the country . Good evening. This is the port as you say. It is a gateway to so many different markets around the world, notably north africa, just 30 km from here. But this it is not a gateway to the future hopes and dreams of so many young people as you say. The Unemployment Figure really sky high for young people in particular. When you quote those statistics there and we look at those cold figures, behind them are real people. We met loads of people over the past 2a hours or so, some did not get into the short film we made, but interestingly, there was one woman we were talking to. She was a0 years old living at home with her dad and she told us she worked in a Department Store for nearly 20 years, she is a boss in charge of 50 people and every year she is taking home about 1300 euros, about 1a00 us dollars. She says the responsibility she has it simply is not fair, does not right. There is another guy we met saying he is a new dad living at home with his wife and her family and he got a newjob and they have change the laws here recently so posting will be giving more rights to workers. He said after six weeks they got rid of him and the reason being his attendance was bad. He said, we do minute, ive been into work every day here, but he said his boss and the bosses are looking for any sort of excuse when in fact making stuff up so they can get rid of porkers if they cant afford to keep them on. But of porkers if they cant afford to keep them om of porkers if they cant afford to keep them on. Of porkers if they cant afford to kee them on. � ,. ,. ,. , keep them on. But they are short of hel. Keep them on. But they are short of help when keep them on. But they are short of help when you keep them on. But they are short of help. When you look keep them on. But they are short of help. When you look at keep them on. But they are short of help. When you look at the keep them on. But they are short of help. When you look at the funds i help. When you look at the funds they receive, the Cohesion Fund figures, they are the third biggest recipient after poland and italy. I think you said hundred and odd million going to that specific region. They are getting around 37 Billion Euros over a six year period to 2027 and i went away and i looked at turn out and actually turn out in spain is higher than the average about 60 . That may be explains why people are more interested in these parliamentary elections in spain than they are in other european countries, correct . It than they are in other european countries, correct . Than they are in other european countries, correct . It could well do and there was countries, correct . It could well do and there was some countries, correct . It could well do and there was some polling countries, correct . It could well do and there was some polling done l countries, correct . It could well doj and there was some polling done it just in the past couple of weeks or so suggesting that, yes, a lot of spanish people will be going to cast their vote. Interestingly, spanish people will be going to cast theirvote. Interestingly, ithink in terms of the top three issues that these polls were suggesting were most important for spaniards, you have the idea of social security, will also unemployment, a key one, but health care was number one, a reflection of how spaniards look at their health care system, look at their health care system, look at their health care system, look at what happened during covid, the suffering that took place here like in so many countries across the eu. These are important things that will take people to cast their vote. What came forth which is completely off and lots of Different Countries was the idea of agriculture and within that, support for farmers. Of course, we know it is a crucial sector. In this part of spain in particular, but spain as a whole. And it looks like that will be in peoples minds when they cast their votes in about six weeks time. Eta . Votes in about six weeks time. Stay with us. I want to bring in our panel who are with us tonight. Lets bring in our panel tonight im joined by Cinzia AlcidiSenior Research fellow at the Centre For European Policy Studies in brussels, where she heads the Economic Policy unit. And in strasbourg, im joined by eddy wax Political Correspondent for politico, focused on the European Parliament. Both of you are welcome to the programme. I have spelt out some of the economic markers that pertain to spain. Broadly speaking it appears to be doing well, but there is a disconnect, isnt there . People are not feeling it. We heard this last week in the netherlands. Why . Goad week in the netherlands. Why . Good evenina. Week in the netherlands. Why . Good evening many week in the netherlands. Why . Good evening. Many thanks week in the netherlands. Why . Good evening. Many thanks for having me with you evening. Many thanks for having me with you. Two things. I completely agree with you. Two things. I completely agree stop with you. Two things. I completely agree stop Economic Indicators actually agree stop Economic Indicators actually point to spain performing pretty actually point to spain performing pretty well in the macro both in terms pretty well in the macro both in terms of pretty well in the macro both in terms of growth but also in terms of unemployment which is higher than the european average are still lower than it the european average are still lower than it was the european average are still lower than it was a few years ago. Still, the mood than it was a few years ago. Still, the mood in than it was a few years ago. Still, the mood in spain i think is rather sohen the mood in spain i think is rather sohen i the mood in spain i think is rather sober. I think there are two reasons sober. I think there are two reasons. One, ithink sober. I think there are two reasons. One, i think refers to what you just reasons. One, i think refers to what you just said reasons. One, i think refers to what you just said in the experience of and algeciras. You have an average income and algeciras. You have an average income across the country close to that of income across the country close to that of germany and across the country that of germany and across the country there are differences in disparities at the regional level c make disparities at the regional level c make its disparities at the regional level c make its different views depending on whom make its different views depending on whom you talk to. The second point on whom you talk to. The second point is on whom you talk to. The second point is i on whom you talk to. The second point is i think spain has two major crisis point is i think spain has two major crisis in point is i think spain has two major crisis in the point is i think spain has two major crisis in the last decade. The Financial Crisis in the last decade. The Financial Crisis was a huge issue in spain Financial Crisis was a huge issue in spain it Financial Crisis was a huge issue in spain it is Financial Crisis was a huge issue in spain. It is extremely severe with a burst spain. It is extremely severe with a burst of spain. It is extremely severe with a burst of the spain. It is extremely severe with a burst of the Housing Bubble which had a burst of the Housing Bubble which had a huge impact on banks and households. And then covid. Laurie magnus households. And then covid. Laurie magnus was germanic because. Particularly bad for an area relying on tourism. Particularly bad for an area relying on tourism on tourism. Exactly. And i think this crisis on tourism. Exactly. 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