Veïns de Parcent - Newsletter Nº 41 - 4th February 2007

Dear friends,

Demonstration last Tuesday
Very many thanks to all of you who turned out on a rather dismal evening to "celebrate" one year on in our struggle against massive urbanisation. There were nearly 200 of us and, after reading our manifesto out, we walked around the streets of Parcent, with Joan Carles and Jacqui reading out information on the decisions taken in our favour by the High Court in Valencia and by the Valencian Ombudsman. In the square once more, we found a tombstone for the "deceased" Parcent, surrounded by vultures. Our "Salvem Parcent" banner was laid on the ground and offerings of rosemary (for remembrance) were laid around it. Then Joan Carles and Jacqui gave a short speech, saying that we have scored many goals and are leading against the PP 6-0 in favourable decisions taken. They warned that the game is not over, with the second half still to play. The date of decease - 30th January 2006 - was torn off the tombstone, leaving ?? ?? ???? instead, and the vultures were put to flight (one nearly knocking Jacqui out!). Following this most people stayed on to hear the complete recording (in Spanish - translated and dubbed where necessary) of the EU Petitions Committee hearing in Brussels last November. We were able to hear exactly what Mari Carmen had said and how she was received there, as well as all the other speakers at the meeting.

This event was well covered by the Spanish and English media, including UK Ricochet TV producers, who had interviewed me that afternoon and taken some photos of L'Almazara and of Parcent (unfortunately not looking its best, with low cloud hiding the Carrascal mountain). At least it didn't pour with rain that day, just some light drizzle.

[The Ricochet interview was for a programme due to go out on Channel 4 in UK shortly - I think called "Problems in the Sun." I was asked fairly generalised questions on how ex-pats feel about what happens to them, if joining groups to fight helped, if town halls and councillors were helpful, attitudes of Spanish people as a result of our actions, and so on. As you can imagine I didn't pull my punches, but no doubt most of it will be edited out. I will let you know when I have a definite date and time for the programme.]

More good news - The Spanish Ombudsman's report
As you may remember, we all signed petitions to both the Valencian and the Spanish Ombudsmen. The report from the Madrid-based Ombudsman, for all of Spain, came in last week. He agreed entirely with the report given by the Valencian one and, interestingly, gave the full text of the town hall's response to the questions that he put to them. He did not consider some of the answers satisfactory and even went as far as saying that he will be asking the Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar our water region) for a full report on the availability or not of sufficient water to cover the plans being considered. Another GOAL!!!! This requirement for sufficient water covers all 3 PAIs, and by default, the General Plan too. So let's hope that, despite the recent rain (my guess at least 150 litres per sq m in the last few days), the CHJ still thinks that water to cover the increase in population envisaged is not available.

It is interesting to see that the TSJ (court) is decreeing similar suspensions of work (as in the Parcent Doctrine) for PAIs in other Valencian towns, all due to the lack of a favourable water report.

Joan Carles, Jacqui, and I gave a press conference in the town hall on the Ombudsman's report on Friday, and it has been in the papers since then.

MEP'S Fact-finding mission to Spain
This is planned for the end of February, early March. The MEPs have a tight schedule of visits planned BUT, when they went to a co-ordinators meeting in Brussels to finalise details, two European People's Party (conservatives) members present wanted to put a block on the mission going ahead until after the Spanish elections. I will put Michael Cashman's press release at the end of this, so that you can read for yourselves what went on.

This, in fact, may be another own goal by the Partido Popular, as we can make great mileage about their attitude in the run up to the elections!

As soon as this matter is clarified and we have definite dates, we will let you know what their programme is and we hope that you will come along and meet the MEPs who are working so hard to get justice for us and protect the environment here in Spain.

Two other little snippets of local information that you may find interesting:

Jalón Valley HELP
An Almond Blossom Walk takes place on Monday 19th February, meeting at 9.30 a.m. at the Jalón Info Office and returning there about 1 p.m. Full details from Jean Farrimond - 659 624 643

Jazz at the Casino Bar, Parcent
This starts again on Saturday 10th February, from 9-12 p.m. Everyone welcome, meals available.

That's all this week - Michael Cashman's report follows

Best wishes, Jenny

Subject: Press release from Michael Cashman MEP (2nd Feb 2007)

Spanish PP play politics with people's lives
and try to delay EP fact-finding mission to Spain, says Cashman

Michael Cashman, First Vice President of the European Parliament's Petitions committee, has labelled the partisan behaviour of the EPP(European People's Party) in a meeting in Brussels this morning as "scandalous."

During the meeting, which sought to finalise the details of the fact finding mission to Valencia and elsewhere in Spain following persistent and on-going concerns that regional laws in Spain violate EU law, EPP Members present, lead by a British Conservative MEP and a Spanish PP Member, proposed delaying the mission until after the elections at the end of May. They even went as far as saying if the mission does go ahead any time before the May elections, the EPP will boycott the mission. This is despite the fact that the official election period in Spain does not officially kick off until the start of May (21 days), well after the proposed visit.

Speaking out in defence of those affected during the meeting, Michael Cashman re-iterated his personal view and the clear position of his political group:

"On behalf of the PES group, I wish to record our support for this mission to go ahead as provisionally planned at the end of February. It is the democratic responsibility of this Parliament and this committee to follow up on the work we have done in this field, especially given that the problems remain unsolved and that there are thousands of horrific cases of abuse which we have heard of and continue to hear of on a daily basis."

Other Members of the Petitions Committee who were present expressed similar reactions to the EPP's ploy which clearly seems to be being pushed by the Spanish Partido Popular Members. One Member said he was "scandalised" by the tactics whilst another Member said "using elections as an excuse to delay or block missions would set a dangerous precedent - something I am against."

After the meeting, Michael said: "The EPP's request to delay because of the elections is playing politics with people's lives and totally unacceptable. It seems clear to me that the PP are putting real pressure on the EPP because they realise they have something to hide. The British Conservative delegation and the Spanish PP delegation must explain to their citizens and voters exactly why they are playing politics with people's lives. The PES group is committed to doing all we can to resolve the problems in Spain and ensure the abuses stop and EU law is respected. That is what we're elected to do and that is what I am doing in my capacity as First Vice President of the Petitions committee. For the Socialist group, party politics doesn't come into it - All we want is a resolution of these problems in Spain."

Note to Editors:

The Co-ordinators meeting brings together representatives from each political group which act like an executive body and attempts to agree a consensual position on issues pertaining to the committees functioning.

In this case no agreement was reached - all groups present (except the EPP) were in favour of the mission taking place at the end of February.

The Committee approved at its meeting on 28th November 2006 the request for authorisation for a fact finding mission.

The Committee Chair wrote to the then President of the EP (Josep Borrell, PES) asking for authorisation for the mission on 22nd December 2006. Despite contact with the cabinet of the new President (Hans-Gert Poettering, EPP) earlier in January requesting confirmation of authorisation for the mission, following approval by the Committee, there has been no reply from the President.