Wednesday, February 28, 2007
MEPs Arrive in Spain.
It has now been made official that a delegation from the Petitions Committee will visit Spain and the Valencian Community as a result of the numerous complaints the Committee has been receiving over land abuses. As the plans stand presently, the ten-strong group is set to visit Albox and the Almanzora Valley in Almeria Province as well as Orihuela tomorrow; Torrevieja, Rojales, San Miguel de Salinas, Catral, Tibi, Parcent and Benissa on Thursday and Javea, Benicassim, Oropesa del Mar and Mestrets on Friday as well as having meetings with EU Ambassadors in Madrid, those who have been affected by the land laws and the Valencian authorities. In a brief statement yesterday, the Valencian Government stated that it was making representations to the Committee members that they visit the site of the future desalination plant in Torrevieja - the largest in Europe - wherework started yesterday, and witness for themselves the impact the plant would have on the local environment. For his part Esteban Gonzalez Pons, the Conseller for the Territory, in an interview published on Sunday, stated that he considered the visit by the Committee members 'smacked of electioneering, as ' the European Socialists want to interfere with the electoral process of the Partido Popular and meddle in local politics'. When asked about the fifteen thousand signatures on a petition that resulted in the Committee returning to the Community for the third time, Mr. GonzalezPons stated that he had never seen the petition.
( Note: This article neglects to show the dates. Feb 27- today- to March 3.
The "elusive" petition is still posted on our webste and has been for about four years! CVS)
It has now been made official that a delegation from the Petitions Committee will visit Spain and the Valencian Community as a result of the numerous complaints the Committee has been receiving over land abuses. As the plans stand presently, the ten-strong group is set to visit Albox and the Almanzora Valley in Almeria Province as well as Orihuela tomorrow; Torrevieja, Rojales, San Miguel de Salinas, Catral, Tibi, Parcent and Benissa on Thursday and Javea, Benicassim, Oropesa del Mar and Mestrets on Friday as well as having meetings with EU Ambassadors in Madrid, those who have been affected by the land laws and the Valencian authorities. In a brief statement yesterday, the Valencian Government stated that it was making representations to the Committee members that they visit the site of the future desalination plant in Torrevieja - the largest in Europe - wherework started yesterday, and witness for themselves the impact the plant would have on the local environment. For his part Esteban Gonzalez Pons, the Conseller for the Territory, in an interview published on Sunday, stated that he considered the visit by the Committee members 'smacked of electioneering, as ' the European Socialists want to interfere with the electoral process of the Partido Popular and meddle in local politics'. When asked about the fifteen thousand signatures on a petition that resulted in the Committee returning to the Community for the third time, Mr. GonzalezPons stated that he had never seen the petition.
( Note: This article neglects to show the dates. Feb 27- today- to March 3.
The "elusive" petition is still posted on our webste and has been for about four years! CVS)
Saturday, February 24, 2007
E.Mails and Information
Each time I send a mailing I have many messages returned undelivered. Many people now have spam detectors, or another reason for non delivery could be due to change of server address.
If you are a member of AUN but not receiving information via e.mail, please contact me. If you are a supporter of AUN and no longer receive information via e.mail please contact me. If you would like your name added to the AUN mailing list, please contact me.
Jan mailmaster@abusos-no.org
Each time I send a mailing I have many messages returned undelivered. Many people now have spam detectors, or another reason for non delivery could be due to change of server address.
If you are a member of AUN but not receiving information via e.mail, please contact me. If you are a supporter of AUN and no longer receive information via e.mail please contact me. If you would like your name added to the AUN mailing list, please contact me.
Jan mailmaster@abusos-no.org
MEETING REQUESTED
Valencia Life. 24.2.7
The Federation of Real Estate Promoters and Urbanizers has sent a letter to Marcin Libicki, the President of the European Union Petitions Committee in which a meeting with the EU team is formally requested. The ten-member team from Brussels is to visit the Valencian Community, Almeria and Madrid next week to look into 'large urban infrastructure projects that may undermine the rights of European citizens' according to a press release from Brussels.
Valencia Life. 24.2.7
The Federation of Real Estate Promoters and Urbanizers has sent a letter to Marcin Libicki, the President of the European Union Petitions Committee in which a meeting with the EU team is formally requested. The ten-member team from Brussels is to visit the Valencian Community, Almeria and Madrid next week to look into 'large urban infrastructure projects that may undermine the rights of European citizens' according to a press release from Brussels.
EU FIGHTS FOR COSTA HOMES
Costa Blanca News 22.02.07
Homeowners called to meetings with MEPs next week By Roy Wickman Euro MPs are coming to the Costa Blanca next week to investigate Valencia's land-grab laws for the third time. The MPs have a packed agenda visiting many areas with planning law problems and they will attend public meetings in Benissa and Valencia city. This is the third fact-finding mission dealing with Spanish land law and urban development projects conducted by the EU's Petitions Committee. It follows a flood of complaints from householders who face losing some or all of their land and homes, especially in the provinces of Castellón, Valencia and Alicante. British conservative MEP Sir Robert Atkins believes 7,000 property owners could have their land expropriated without compensation under the Valencia Region laws. He stressed: "Without quick action damage will be done both to those owning property in Spain and to the environment there. "The only way that change will occur is for the EU to prevent the flagrant breaches of human rights that are being perpetrated in Spain by enforcing European law with maximum determination and speed. "The latest visit was finally agreed by the Bureau of the European Parliamenton February 12, despite efforts by Spanish conservatives to hold it up until after local elections in May. The mission will meet with petitioners and national, regional and local authorities. It plans to visit Madrid, Galapagar, Almería, Albox, Orihuela,Alicante, Torrevieja, Rojales, San Miguel de Salinas, Catral, Tibi, Parcent, Benissa, Mestrets, Oropesa and Valencia. On Thursday March 1 the group - including Petitions Committee chairman Marcin Libicki and vice chairman Michael Cashman - will meet with residents fighting huge development plans in the Marina Alta village of Parcent. That evening they will attend a public meeting in the Benissa annexe of Alicante University. The meeting will be held on the top floor of the annexe in Calle Purísima (near the town hall). Seating is limited and interested homeowners and residents are advised to arrive by 18.45. On Friday March 2 the mission will hold another public meeting in the mainhall of Valencia polytechnic university from 19.00 to 21.00.
Costa Blanca News 22.02.07
Homeowners called to meetings with MEPs next week By Roy Wickman Euro MPs are coming to the Costa Blanca next week to investigate Valencia's land-grab laws for the third time. The MPs have a packed agenda visiting many areas with planning law problems and they will attend public meetings in Benissa and Valencia city. This is the third fact-finding mission dealing with Spanish land law and urban development projects conducted by the EU's Petitions Committee. It follows a flood of complaints from householders who face losing some or all of their land and homes, especially in the provinces of Castellón, Valencia and Alicante. British conservative MEP Sir Robert Atkins believes 7,000 property owners could have their land expropriated without compensation under the Valencia Region laws. He stressed: "Without quick action damage will be done both to those owning property in Spain and to the environment there. "The only way that change will occur is for the EU to prevent the flagrant breaches of human rights that are being perpetrated in Spain by enforcing European law with maximum determination and speed. "The latest visit was finally agreed by the Bureau of the European Parliamenton February 12, despite efforts by Spanish conservatives to hold it up until after local elections in May. The mission will meet with petitioners and national, regional and local authorities. It plans to visit Madrid, Galapagar, Almería, Albox, Orihuela,Alicante, Torrevieja, Rojales, San Miguel de Salinas, Catral, Tibi, Parcent, Benissa, Mestrets, Oropesa and Valencia. On Thursday March 1 the group - including Petitions Committee chairman Marcin Libicki and vice chairman Michael Cashman - will meet with residents fighting huge development plans in the Marina Alta village of Parcent. That evening they will attend a public meeting in the Benissa annexe of Alicante University. The meeting will be held on the top floor of the annexe in Calle Purísima (near the town hall). Seating is limited and interested homeowners and residents are advised to arrive by 18.45. On Friday March 2 the mission will hold another public meeting in the mainhall of Valencia polytechnic university from 19.00 to 21.00.
Valencia Life 23.02.07
'PURELY POLITICAL' Francisco Camps, The President of the Valencian Community, along withRamon Luis Valcárcel, the President of the Region of Murcia, held a meeting in Brussels yesterday with Hans-Gert Pöttering, the President of the European Parliament at which the trio discussed policy over the citrus industry. After the meeting ended, Mr. Camps commented on this to journalists. He was also asked about the EU delegation that is expected to visit the Communities of Valencia, Almeria and Madrid between February 27 and March 3, and replied that in his opinion 'it was simply another form of electioneering and interfering with our electoral process'. He also stated that the delegation does not have the accreditation of the European Parliament and as such since it is made up of European members of the Socialist Party 'they are clearly coming in the interests of the party and acting against the best interests of those autonomies where the Partido Popular has a majority in both town halls and local government.'
(( This is proof that facts are unimportant. CVS))
SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE Any hopes expressed by the Partido Popular of reaching an agreement with the Socialists prior to the elections over any possible amendments to the Statutes of Autonomy were utterly shattered yesterday, due in the main to internal disputes with the Party of Joan Ignasi Pla. His traveling to Milan to see a football match in effect impeded any meeting with PP spokesman Serafin Castellano, and the first signs of discord appeared in statements from Socialist spokesman Antoni Such who stated that no agreement would be possible 'if the PP did not bend a little'. Meanwhile, statements from the other parties within the Socialist coalition, led by Gloria Marcos of the Communist coalition EU who stated that if the Socialists made an agreement with the PP prior to the May elections 'they would suffer the consequences'.In a brief meeting with Mr. Castellano yesterday, Mr. Pla made it plain that there could be no agreement on the issue prior to the elections, and this may also serve as a negative factor for Mr. Pla and his party next May as a result of voter discontent. As a result of any lack of agreement on this between the Socialists and the PP, the political atmosphere is expected to rise considerably between now and when the Valencian parliament is dissolved in April to pave way for the electoral campaigns.
'PURELY POLITICAL' Francisco Camps, The President of the Valencian Community, along withRamon Luis Valcárcel, the President of the Region of Murcia, held a meeting in Brussels yesterday with Hans-Gert Pöttering, the President of the European Parliament at which the trio discussed policy over the citrus industry. After the meeting ended, Mr. Camps commented on this to journalists. He was also asked about the EU delegation that is expected to visit the Communities of Valencia, Almeria and Madrid between February 27 and March 3, and replied that in his opinion 'it was simply another form of electioneering and interfering with our electoral process'. He also stated that the delegation does not have the accreditation of the European Parliament and as such since it is made up of European members of the Socialist Party 'they are clearly coming in the interests of the party and acting against the best interests of those autonomies where the Partido Popular has a majority in both town halls and local government.'
(( This is proof that facts are unimportant. CVS))
SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE Any hopes expressed by the Partido Popular of reaching an agreement with the Socialists prior to the elections over any possible amendments to the Statutes of Autonomy were utterly shattered yesterday, due in the main to internal disputes with the Party of Joan Ignasi Pla. His traveling to Milan to see a football match in effect impeded any meeting with PP spokesman Serafin Castellano, and the first signs of discord appeared in statements from Socialist spokesman Antoni Such who stated that no agreement would be possible 'if the PP did not bend a little'. Meanwhile, statements from the other parties within the Socialist coalition, led by Gloria Marcos of the Communist coalition EU who stated that if the Socialists made an agreement with the PP prior to the May elections 'they would suffer the consequences'.In a brief meeting with Mr. Castellano yesterday, Mr. Pla made it plain that there could be no agreement on the issue prior to the elections, and this may also serve as a negative factor for Mr. Pla and his party next May as a result of voter discontent. As a result of any lack of agreement on this between the Socialists and the PP, the political atmosphere is expected to rise considerably between now and when the Valencian parliament is dissolved in April to pave way for the electoral campaigns.
