Committee on Petitions

 Secretariat

Brussels, 22 February, 2007

Draft Number 5.

Draft Programme

Delegation to Spain (Madrid, Valencia, Andalucía)

27 February - 3 March

(Authorisation of the Bureau: 12 February, 2007)

Members: Marcin LIBICKI                               (UEN, Poland)

                        Michael CASHMAN                         (PES, UK)

Secretariat:    Mr David Lowe,                                 Head of Secretariat

                        Mr Angel Ardaiz Egües,                    Secretary

Group Staff:   Kjell SEVON                          (Greens)

Witold  ZIOBRO                                (UEN)

Interpreters:  ZUBRZYCKA-PEREZ           PL/ES/EN (Team leader)

A. ZAPOLNIK                       PL/ES/EN

M. ROSS                                 EN/ES

K. Mc LAUGHLIN                EN/ES

tel: 00 32 498 983 534. secretariat mission.

This visit is the third fact-finding mission dealing with Spanish land law and urban development projects conducted by the Petitions Committee. It was finally authorised by the Bureau of the European Parliament on February 12th 2007 having been agreed by the Petitions Committee on November 27th 2006. To emphasise the importance of the visit the two most senior members of the Committee are participating in it. Based on the large and growing number of petitions that the Committee on Petitions receives from Spain, members will be meeting with national, regional and local authorities which, each, have a responsibility for the problems faced by petitioners as well as for the solutions which must be found. Failure to find solutions cannot fail to have a negative impact on public confidence in the building of large 'urban' infrastructure projects which, in many cases, undermine the rights of European citizens - including of course Spanish citizens, to their legitimately acquired private property.

The role of the European Parliament is naturally related to defending and promoting the rights of European citizens as defined under the EU Treaty and to ensuring the proper application of EU law by member states and autonomous regions. As a result it will not be investigating allegations of corruption which, though widely reported in relation to many urbanisation projects, falls under the full competence of the Spanish authorities themselves, who are indeed acting in many areas to combat such threats. The existing infringement procedure, brought by the European Commission against Spain concerning the public procurement procedures linked to urbanisation programmes in the Valencian region, as reported on by Parliament, is an important development which is to be welcomed, but which remains the responsibility of the European Commission alone.

A report on the Valencian Land Law, and allegations of abuse, which followed the second fact-finding visit, was adopted by the European Parliament in December 2005 by 550 for, 45 against and 25 abstentions.

There is no doubt that this is a most important issue for many European citizens who are attracted by all that Spain has to offer who need to be assured that their rights to own their own property and to move freely with their families within Europe's frontiers are fully and completely respected. The protection of the fragile environment particularly though not exclusively in coastal areas, access to water and more transparent development criteria, mentioned in the above report, are also of concern to us.

This mission will meet with petitioners, national, regional and local authorities, and other interested parties in Spain. It plans to visit Madrid, Galapagar, Almeria, Albox, Orihuela, Alicante, Torrevieja, Rojales, San Miguel de Salinas, Catral, Tibi, Parcent, Bennissa, Benicasim, Oropesa and Valencia. Public meetings will take place in Benissa and Valencia.

 The draft programme follows; it is subject to slight modification resulting from logistic constraints.

We shall prepare a report to the Petitions Committee and to the Bureau of the European Parliament summarising the findings of the visit and making recommendations.

Marcin Libicki.                                                             Michael Cashman.

Draft Programme

Tuesday 27 February 2007

14:35               Departure for Madrid. (Flight nr: IB 7791)

 18h00              Meeting with national authorities regarding the new national framework legislation covering land use planning.

 20h00              Meeting with EU Ambassadors for an exchange of views regarding current developments in relation to Land Law situation.  (Hotel)

Overnight Madrid - Hotel Gaudi

Wednesday 28 February 2007

08.30               Breakfast meeting;

10:25               Departure for Almeria; (Flight nr.: IB 8592)

- on arrival, at 11:30 bus to be available for delegation

 12h15              Meeting with local authorities in Almeria.

 14h-16h           Visit to sites in the Almeria area where EU citizens have been victims of illegal housing practices.  (Albox, Almanzora Valley) - by bus

 18h00              Meetings in Orihuela. with local petitioners (CLARO and others)

 19h15 Departure by bus to Alicante: 

- arrival +/- 20.30hrs

Overnight Alicante: Hotel Melia.

Thursday 1 March 2007

08.00               Breakfast Meeting (Hotel)

 9h-11h00         Visit to areas south of Alicante province including:  Torrevieja - Rojales, San Miguel de Salinas and Catral.

Return to Alicante - by bus

 13h-14h           Meeting with the Sindic de Greuges - Alicante

c/Pascual Blasco No 1.

 14h-17h30       Visit to areas north of Alicante including Tibi, Parcent and Benissa.

-by bus

 19-21h00         Meeting with petitioners and people affected by the Land laws.

Overnight  Benissa: Casas de San Jaime.

Friday 2 March, 2007

9h00                Departure towards Castellon Province visiting sites concerned by urbanisation projects which are the subject of complaints by EU citizens, including Javea. -by bus

12.30               Arrival in Benicassim and Oropesa and Mestrets

13h00              Lunch with petitioners (?)

 15h30              Departure to Valencia

 16h30              Official meetings with the Valencian authorities

 19-21h             Meeting with petitioners from the Valencian province.

Overnight Valencia

Saturday 3 March, 2007

08:00               flight to Madrid (flight nr: IB 8999)

 09.45               Meeting with petitioners in Madrid EP Office (Paseo de la Castellana, 46, E-28046 Madrid). 10:00 bus to be available for delegation

(Mr Libicki:  flight back to Brussels at 12:20- flgiht nr:IB 3202 )

 10h30 -18h00  Visit to sites in the Madrid region which are the subject of petitions to the Committee, notably Galapagar area (eventual discussion with regional authorities on application of the land law)

Overnight : Madrid

      David LOWE

      Head of  Secretariat

      Committee on Petitions

HOTELS:

· Madrid: Hotel Gaudi

C/ Gran Vía, 9, (Madrid

Tel. (00-34) 915312222,  Fax: (00-34) 915315469

· Alicante:  Hotel Meliá Alicante

Plaza Puerta del Mar, 3 Alicante, SPAIN 03002

Tel:(34)965205000- Fax:(34)965204756-

E-mail:melia.alicante@solmelia.com

· Benissa: Cases de San Jaume

Partida Paratella 44, 03720, Benissa/Alicante(Valencia)
Tel: (0034)966499075

Fax: (0034)966498208

· Valencia: Beatriz Rey Don Jaime

Avenida de Baleares 2, 46023 Valencia

Tel: (0034) 96 3375030 Fax: (0034) 96 3371572