CBNews 25 11 2005 Brussels rounds on Valencia.doc

Brussels rounds on Valencia

 

Land law

COSTA BLANCA NEWS Staff Reporter
The European Union Petitions Committee has unanimously voted to accept an amended report into LRAU land law abuses compiled by its fact finding mission to Valencia earlier this year.

The result of the vote fully endorses all of the amendments to the report put forward by MEPs Michael Cashman and David Hammerstein, particularly the proposition for the Valencia government to call a moratorium on all development projects and to apply strict EU regulations in respect of the environment and water resources. It also obliges Valencia to comply with EU legislation on the awarding of public contracts.

Mr Hammerstein said: “The vote is a great victory for the thousands of EU citizens who, over the last few years, have suffered considerably under the savage and out-of-control urban development policies of the Valencia government. This vote condemns without reservation the Valencia development model and its destruction of the environment. The Valencia government should take note that its urban development model has been applied against EU laws and the principles that require all development to be rational and sustainable.”

At the time of going to press the regional housing and territories chief Rafael Blasco, the man backing the LRAU land law, had not made any comment on the petitions committee's vote. The Bloc-Centristes party, however, has demanded the LRAU replacement law LUV project be withdrawn in view of the EU report.

Costa Blanca News will keep its readers updated on all developments relating to the LRAU and its proposed replacement LUV.