Just a heads up that Madrid will host a special NATO summit from June 28 and 30. More than 40 heads of state are scheduled to attend. Security will be extra tight with an extra 10,000 Police officers being deployed and the potential for a no fly zone being declared over the city.
The government of Spain is also studying the possibility of reintroducing controls at its land borders in the days leading up to the summit, a measure provided for under certain circumstances in the Schengen Agreements, to “detect and prevent the entry into Spain of any person who may be a danger to the summit,” said Interior Ministry sources.
In terms of tourism disruption, there will be VIP events at the Royal Palace, the Prado Museum, the Royal Theater, the Reina Sofía Museum and the Royal Glass Factory of La Granja (Segovia). These last three locations will host different cultural events for the companions of the attending leaders. Around 20 hotels scattered around the city will provide accommodation for the more than 2,000 international visitors expected at the gathering.
The NATO summit will significantly affect mobility in Madrid, admitted sources at the Interior Ministry, who recommended using public transit whenever possible. In addition to the traffic snarls that will be caused by the motorcades moving across the city, and the closure of lanes on some main roads, authorities are considering whether to suspend Metro service on the 8 line, which has a stop near Ifema.
The ministry has recommended that businesses headquartered in the area allow employees to work from home for the duration of the summit. The Prado Museum, where a dinner event is scheduled for June 29, will remain closed that day and the day before to finalize preparations.