TRIUMPH FOR FOREIGNERS

Airport taxis dispute

THE Balearic Transport Federation (FEBT) has lodged a complaint with the regional government against the increase in ‘pirate transport’ at Palma airport.

Unlicensed taxis and mini­buses operating at Son Sant Joan have multiplied in recent weeks according to the FEBT, with numbers spiralling over the Easter holidays.

Federation president Rafael Roig has called on the Balearic Transport department to act urgently before the summer to prevent “chaos and tension” between li­ censed and unlicensed drivers, “as occurs in Ibiza.”

According to Sr Roig, these ‘pirates’ are becoming increasingly confident and have even started using private cars.

The federation also points out the existence of several online platforms that manage unlicensed transport with fixed­price services, and as such pose unfair competition to regular drivers. “Pirate transport with private cars is totally illegal and infringes all the existing regulations,” insists FEBT.

THE European Union has finally reacted to suggestions to restrict property sales to non­residents in the Balearic Islands.

European Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuiness (pictured), declared that current EU legislation “prohibits restrictions on movements of capital related to the acquisition of property, including housing, on behalf of non­resident EU nationals.”

Although she left the final say on the matter up to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), Ms McGuiness did suggest that there could be certain exceptions, such as the existence of “reasons of public order or safety.”

Regional Vice­President Juan Pedro Yllanes had recently insisted that “the circumstances in the Balearics are absolutely exceptional, so our request could be accepted by the CJEU.”

The left ­ wing Podemos party is calling on the restriction of house sales to foreign nationals in an effort to solve the problems of housing shortage and spiralling prices on the islands, which in many cases are forcing local residents to move out.

Podemos leader Ione Belarra insisted that they will continue to fight for “a national law that stops the islands from becoming a luxury resort for a few, while non­residents buy up all the available housing and force prices up.”