SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 19 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The commissioner for the Economic and Fiscal Regime (REF) of the Canary Islands, José Ramón Barrera, has advocated for the Canarian jurisdiction in front of experts from the Basque Country and Navarra, underscoring that “the time has come to appreciate it and to bring an end to centuries of ignorance.”
As indicated by the regional government, this statement was made during a reflective day on the Basque, Navarrese, and Canarian jurisdictions, which took place at the Círculo de la Amistad XXII de Enero in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Barrera highlighted that he is collaborating closely with the Education and University departments of the Canary Islands Government “to ensure that our jurisdiction is included in all levels of public education.”
“It is time to appreciate it and to break away from this inertia of ignorance and indifference that we have lived with for five centuries,” he expressed.
When seeking to explain the apparent lack of interest from the public concerning the jurisdiction, in contrast to the enthusiasm the Concert generates among the Basques, Barrera admitted that “there are aspects we have not handled well.”
“I studied Economics at the University of La Laguna,” he recounted, “and I was not taught anything about the Economic and Fiscal Regime of the Canary Islands. I was fortunate to continue studying abroad, where one subject covered all special tax regimes, including the REF. “It is astonishing that such a gap exists.”
In this context, Rosa Dávila, the president of the Cabildo of Tenerife and former Minister of the Treasury, shared a similar experience. “I did not study it at university either. I believe that all university students, particularly those in Economics, should be familiar with it, and it is vital that we can offer an expert degree, a master’s degree, or a doctorate on our regime in the future,” she emphasised.
Rosa Dávila and José Ramón Barrera participated in a roundtable discussion alongside Txema Portillo, professor of Contemporary History at the University of the Basque Country, and Mikel Lizarraga, professor of Legal History at the Public University of Navarra, with moderation by Juan Luis Alayón, president of the Association of Tax Advisors of the Canary Islands.
While discussing methods to engage ordinary citizens with significant topics such as the economic regime, Txema Portillo paraphrased former president Adolfo Suárez.
“He suggested that what exists in public discourse had to be elevated to the level of law. I believe that for Canarian society to take an interest in its jurisdiction, namely understanding that it possesses its own system, it must be conveyed clearly while emphasising its advantages for everyday life. This applies equally to updating the REF and integrating it within the broader order of Spain and Europe. It needs to be clearly articulated why it would be beneficial,” he emphasised.
Mikel Lizarraga highlighted the importance of keeping jurisdictional discussions clear of political debate to facilitate societal acceptance.
“It is essential,” he remarked, “that it does not become embroiled in party politics and that its benefits are evident, fostering a unanimous sense of support. In Navarra, all political factions support maintaining the regional regime, which ensures there is no public disagreement on the matter.”
Regarding the necessity to distil the complexity of the REF into “clear and straightforward messages,” as Portillo indicated, Barrera urged professionals in the field to reflect critically on their approach.
As a tax expert, the commissioner conceded that “we professionals have not succeeded in making the REF comprehensible.” Additionally, he concurred with Mikel Lizarraga’s views, considering that “the Canarian population will feel no attachment until they perceive its direct benefits, akin to the situation in Navarra.”
