Thursday, December 18, 2008

MEPs get tough on Spain

MEPs are preparing to get tough with Spain over town planning and construction industry abuses.

A nine-page draft report was presented to the Petitions Committee in Brussels on Monday by rapporteur Margrete Auken.

The document was drawn up after MEPs visited the Costas for an unprecedented third time earlier this year to investigate complaints from hundreds of European citizens who have become victims of illegal building practices and land grab laws notably in the Valencian region. It is a damning indictment of overdevelopment on the Costas and the ‘corrupt' practices of local politicians.

The report sets out a number of resolutions which could see Spain face the ultimate penalty of having European Union funds withheld if action is not taken to halt the abuses.

Meantime, the investigation into allegations of corruption in Bigastro continues. The Guardia Civil are currently considering whether any of the payments made to the City Council ended up in the ex-mayors personal accounts. There is a long list of payments, which total over 400,000 euros and were  made between 2004 and 2007, to sift through. The investigation will therefore take some time to complete. 

No comments: