Spanish Property

It is interesting that the Spanish, almost uniquely among the now 27 members of the EU, consider themselves better off by being members . Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that Spain has benefited by way of structural funds and otherwise from the EU taxpayer to a level of almost 150 billion euros; a not insignificant amount!

Interesting also to note that, of the few countries in Europe that have remained outside the EU such as Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, all are wealthier per capita than any EU member. Not least of the problems of the EU, apart from an increasingly suffocating bureaucracy, is that the € (euro) its holy grail, based on a one size fits all philosophy, was an economic concept politically driven.

Property in Spain

The European Council - effectively the proposed government of the EU - has been gestating for more than 40 years with the seeds being sown by the French Jean Monnet who conceived summits of heads of governments leading to ever further political integration. Until recently this European Council has never formed part of the EU government structure. Now this is suddenly changing. Under the new treaty/constitution this council will be formally recognised as an Institution of the union along with the European Commission and the European Parliament.
It is clear to see that the Council's role will be to act as the new government of Europe. Heretofore when heads of state participated in such summits their prior allegiance was assumed to be to their home state. Now, members of this supreme council will stake first loyalty to the council.
In article 262 of this constitution it says that, by decision of the European Council, the EU 'may establish new categories of own resources', which effectively means it will have authority to raise its own taxes. This is a monster on which we are being deprived the right to vote. It this what we want? This Supreme, all Powerful Faceless, Unaccountable, EU Government! Where will it all end!!!
If we do not want this suffocating supreme authority then lets say so loudly...before it is too late. Time is of the essence
www.pci-international.com

Property in Spain

This proposed EU constitution, for it is nothing else, will, if accepted or, more likely, be railroaded through, have far reaching impact on all EU citizens present and future. It appears that the movers and shakers in Brussels do not wish to grant the hoi polloi of EU membership the right to vote on this constitution.

Not least of the implications, for the UK for instance, is that it may have to cede its permanent seat on the UN Security council – of more than 60 years standing - to an EU delegate.

If there is a major weakness in the democratic system it is this. That those entitled to vote are unwilling to insist on such entitlement or even make the effort where the right to exercise their franchise is freely available. Hence we berate our public representatives when sitting, pontificating, on high stools while by default we allow people to walk into representative office who, in normal circumstances, we would not permit walk our dog! Perhaps, even in a so called democratic society it should be an obligation, for qualified citizens, to exercise their franchise for which their forefathers shed so much blood! Do we not at least owe them that small effort and gesture?

www.pci-international.com

Property In Spain

Just to break with routine we today announce an interesting release of reformed apartments (85 in all) in a very central, long established, apartment complex in Playa de las Americas.

Playazul,

Just Released:

Option on being fully reformed

These may be purchased individually or in groups and either way this launch certainly represents an opportunity for the discriminating investor.

Studios	M2 from	Prices from €
16	34 + 6M2	100.000
26 (1 bed)	44\50 + 10M2	147.000
43 (2 bed)	56\66 + 10M2	172.000
85

· Overlooking new Siam Park.

· Five minutes walk from central bus station.

· Five minutes walk from central police station.

· Five minutes walk from ocean and beaches.

• Five minutes walk from Las Americas Golf course and clubhouse.

· All shopping and sport and social facilities within a few minutes walk.

· 2 hospitals and a multi-denominational church nearby.

This is a unique investment opportunity in the best location in Las Américas. Not to be missed!!

www.pci-international.com

Propert in Spain

Phase one, which has lasted for about forty years, is over. Enormous progress has been made even if, at times, quality has been sacrificed for quantity. We now have the opportunity to take stock, to decide where we have been, where we are now, where we want to go, where we should go and, last but not least, where we can go with the blend of resources available to us while being ever sensitive to the dynamics of the market place. This review should above all be a learning experience. If we don’t learn from the past we are doomed to repeat any errors that we may have made. Quality rather than quantity in every aspect of the term should be our motto and in this context perhaps we should accept that five million tourists is at or indeed above the level sustainable by Tenerife. It appears clear that at or near this figure the island of Tenerife, for example, is close to overload. There is overall saturation and diminishing returns set in.

Low cost airlines and an ever-expanding EU have transformed the tourism world. Furthermore, tourists are becoming more adventurous in their choice of destinations.

Why would tourists come here rather than go to an increasing number of alternative destinations where they may enjoy equal or better facilities at possibly lower prices? Rather than trying to sell what we believe we have got to offer, perhaps we should ask tourists, both actual and potential, what they want and expect from us. This is probably the essential difference between selling and marketing. There are two simple and practically cost-free methods of acquiring this feedback, this very valuable marketing information.

• The first one is to have a continuous process of exit interviews, conducted by trained multilingual interviewers, in the departure lounges of both Reina Sofia and Los Rodeos. Here you have a willing and representative market sample in a situation of enforced boredom for anything up to two hours. These home bound tourists will be delighted to cooperate with the survey and get any grievances off their chests.
• The second source of information is to ask the thousands of foreign residents, particularly those from the EU who live and work here, for their views. These people can be both one of our best sources of information and also our best ambassadors. Imagine the huge multiplicity of skills including languages and diverse experiences which such people as a body have to offer, at no cost...pro bono patria adoptada! Many of these ‘foreigners’ are very special tourists (resident tourists) in that they spend money here every day for several months each year and not just for a week or ten days! Should we not award these people VIP treatment? At worst, is it not better to have us inside your tent, pissing out rather than outside pissing in? However, foreign residents must become involved and must register themselves both as residents and as eligible to vote both in the local and EU elections . We cannot dine a la carte. We have rights but also obligations including an obligation to participate in the local political process in order to improve the quality of life for everybody.
  

Tenerife is used here as an example but the assessment is equally valid for any of the Spanish tourist destinations whether coastal areas or islands.

www.pci-international.com