Spain: Land Grab Resolution Passed

The so-called Spanish Land Grab law has been discussed in a meeting of the European Parliament saying that the Valencia Region was of particular concern. The Land Grab laws are causing much distress as some property owners in Spain are having their legally acquired lands taken by local authorities and then are being forced to pay large sums of money – often tens of thousands of euros – to pay for new infrastructure and new developments that they do not want and which are on their land.

The European Parliament on Wednesday has now adopted a resolution severely condemning massive urbanisation projects in Spain, which they say bear no relation to the real needs of the towns and villages affected. They are ‘environmentally unsustainable’ and have a ‘disastrous impact’ on the area’s cultural and historical identity, says the resolution.

The MEPs also called on Spain and its regional governments, particularly the government of the Valencia region, to recognise the individual’s legitimate right to legally acquired property.

Michael Cashman, the Labour MEP who has been defending the fundamental rights of victims of land abuses in several regions of Spain said, “I’m delighted this important resolution has been adopted – with the support of MEPs from all major political parties. Justice will in the end prevail. We will continue to fight until the issue is resolved – through the courts if necessary. It saddens me that we have to take it that far and that the Spanish regional authorities seem unwilling to stop the abuses sooner.”