New Safeguards for Property owners on Spanish coastal areas

[Voldermort]

This article appeared in this mornings on-line edition of the Gibraltar Chronicle....Might breathe new life into places like Origa Mare, for those old enough to remember it 


Spain proposes safeguards for property owners along its costas

by Eyleen Sheil

On July 13, Spain announced that it intends to improve legal certainty for property owners along the Spanish Coast which have been affected by The Coastal Law of 1988 (Ley de Costas).

The Spanish Coastal Law defines a public domain area along the coast and a further zone where special restrictions apply to private ownership. Defending the coast against erosion and excessive urbanisation, the aim of the law is to make the whole length of the coastline accessible to the public.

Currently there is a 30 year concession to enjoy possession of properties that have been built in the protected zones, as the law was enacted in 1988, this would mean this period is due to expire in six years time in 2018. The draft law would extend the period of the existing concession from 30 years to 75 years.

In addition the draft law would introduce the possibility to sell interest in the property and to renovate the properties situated in this zone, with some restrictions.

The public administration will also be obliged to register the definitive and provisional demarcation line in the property register, this will advise prospective buyers if the property is in the protected area or not.

Since 2010, the issue of the Coastal Law was raised by The European Commission with the Spanish authorities on several occasions after the commission received numerous complaints from Spanish and EU citizens. In a bid to encourage the Spanish authorities to revise the Coastal Law, The European Parliament's Petitions Committee organised a specific hearing on the matter.

European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU's Justice Commissioner who has been dealing with this matter for the past two years said: "The Spanish Government is right to protect Spain's beautiful coastline and I applaud the care it is now taking to do so in a way that improves legal certainty and due process for citizens who own property on the Spanish coast or who are thinking of doing so."

Adding: "The new Spanish law aims to improve legal certainty for European citizens and businesses and therefore also their confidence when investing in a foreign legal environment. This is good news for citizens, but also for the Spanish economy."

Earlier this year the environmental group Greenpeace threatened to stage major protests and take legal action if the Spanish government pushes through plans to relax The Coastal Law. Reacting to comments in January by Spain's Environment Minister Miguel Arias Canete, the group believe that the proposals would make it easier for waterfront developments to be approved, leaving the coastline exposed to potential environmental damage.

[fifi]

Good morning Valdemort. Well that gave me a giggle.

Do you know that most of the large hotels in Lanzarote received grants of several million euros from the EU despite being built on land which was according to the Coastal Law illegal?

(In addition the draft law would introduce the possibility to sell interest in the property and to renovate the properties situated in this zone, with some restrictions. )Quote.   How convenient ......no need to knock them down at all now or tie the courts up year after year with cases which get adjourned time and time again.

Spanish law amuses me greatly.

[Voldermort]

Which just goes to prove they make it up as they go along at times 

[fifi]

Its a great Legal system, if the Spanish law doesnt suit , create a Canarian one and amend it dozens of times.