Francisco Déniz (Sí Podemos) assures that the Canary Islands have some “particularities” that allow us to request exceptions from the EU
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, March 21 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Minister of Tourism of the Government of the Canary Islands, Yaiza Castilla, has recognized this Tuesday that it is “very complex” to be able to limit the purchase of housing to foreigners because it conflicts with the legal criteria of the EU and at the same time has urged “not to continue attacking ” to tourism because it accounts for 35% of GDP and 40% of employment in the archipelago.
In a parliamentary commission at the request of Sí Podemos, he has indicated that the problem of access to housing and high prices are not “a Canarian singularity”, it is all over the planet, hence he has defended that tourism “is not the origin of all ills” of the islands.
The counselor has admitted that she would like to hear “economic alternatives” that point towards the “diversification” of the archipelago but in the meantime she sees “very dangerous” that what “feeds” in the Canary Islands be attacked.
He has recognized, however, that the consequences generated by tourism must be “mitigated” even though the Canary Islands are not a “mass destination” –Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are the most stressed islands– and for this reason he has demanded more public housing for balance supply and demand and a better public transport service to connect the periphery with the large workplaces.
Castilla has admitted that “high prices drown families” and “part of the problem is tourism” because there are people who want to “get income with vacation rentals”, investment funds taking over properties and many European citizens who “go long seasons” on the islands and buy apartments with swimming pools or chalets that “do not fit in with the local buying pattern.
Thus, he has defended that limiting the purchase to foreigners does not solve the housing problem or the high prices and also presents “numerous legal pitfalls” because it conflicts with freedom of movement, the right to private property and discrimination based on nationality. .
Along these lines, he has also pointed out that “the Canary Islands cannot legislate” on limiting purchases to foreigners, which is why he believes that from Sí Podemos it is about “covering the sun with our hand.”
However, he has asked that the rest of the ministries also evaluate the proposal to “reach a joint and consensual solution.”
Francisco Déniz, from Sí Podemos, has commented that the purchase of housing by foreigners is a “silent problem” that stresses the real estate market and generates a “perverse relationship” with the local population.
MANY WORKERS HAVE NO WHERE TO LIVE
He has commented that the “gentrification” of the tourist centers is increasing and “expels” the local population towards the suburbs, apart from the fact that many workers “have nowhere to live”, using the island of Lanzarote as an example.
The left-wing deputy has supported his speech that until the first half of last year almost 50% of the purchase of housing ended up in foreign hands -6,456– and for this reason he has demanded that Parliament take measures, in line with what who are already studying other European countries and destinations.
He has demanded more regulation of vacation rentals and that the market be “intervened” and has put on the table the example of Canada, which has managed to lower the sale of houses to foreigners to barely 1% by prohibiting it for non-residents.
“Tourists come, yes, but let’s not sell our properties,” he stressed, while asking to “renegotiate” the Canary Islands’ relationship with the EU given that the islands have “particularities” and have “justified reasons” to request exceptions.
Ricardo Fernández (CS) has commented that limiting purchases to foreigners “bumps” against the EU legal system and does not understand that “money is requested” via subsidies and then Europeans are prevented from coming.
He has indicated that the regulation is “national” and from the Canary Islands “little can be said” because he has asked Déniz to submit his proposal to the ministries.
Jesús Ramos (ASG) has affirmed that in the Canary Islands there is no “touristification” nor is tourism the “problem” of access to housing, on the contrary, he attributes it to the “zero” demographic and urban planning.
He has indicated that the right to private property cannot be limited because it goes against the law and he understands that “the best thing” is to regulate vacation homes and have a “better” public housing policy.
NC: “THIS SITUATION HAS TO BE CUT”
Esther González (NC) has commented that the Balearic Islands have already begun to act on this phenomenon, she has recognized the tension that is generated in the real estate market and the “undeniable” growth of the population, with price rises and lack of public housing.
“This situation must be stopped,” he pointed out, stressing that there is a risk of socioeconomic “collapse” for which he understands that the limitation of purchases by non-residents must “be on the table.” “We cannot stay still,” she has indicated.
Luz Reverón, from Grupo Popular, has criticized the “demagogue initiative” of Sí Podemos because the housing problems are due to the lack of public housing and not tourism, remarking that the 20,000 Canarians who aspire to housing do not demand the same as the foreign. “It’s a new smokescreen,” she commented.
He has asked the purple formation to stop “demonizing” tourism and charged against the housing policy of the regional government that has caused an increase in the prices of the sale and rental.
José Alberto Díaz-Estébanez (CC-PNC) has influenced the lack of coherence between the counselor and Sí Podemos by having divergent positions “being part of the same Government”, stressing that they have “different models”, especially in tourism.
He has pointed out that the tourism model “has not changed” after the pandemic because despite its problems, it is “successful”, and he ironized that the former Canarian president, Paulino Rivero, was branded “xenophobic” when he opened the debate on capacity of cargo of the islands.
He has admitted the difficulties in controlling the purchase of housing by foreigners – he proposes to study fiscal measures – and reproached the Government of the Canary Islands for not having built new public housing during the Legislature.
Isaac Godoy, from the Socialist Group, has called for a “calm debate” on the purchase of housing by foreigners and not close to an election, acknowledging that “it may be” that vacation rentals have caused prices to rise along with the lack of planning.
He has said that the debate “is not unreasonable” but understands that the “greatest impediment” is European law.
