WHAT IS EPORE?
Do you live in Spain? Do you want less bureaucracy, better living conditions, the return of the Residence card, or more help for your business? Do you feel frustrated that it's just you against the Spanish system? Well, you are not the only one! That is why was Europeos Por Espana (EporE) was created.
EporE is an association of ordinary people who wish to improve the rights and living conditions of ALL nationalities living in Spain. It aims to act as a lobby to give ALL residents a voice for change.
It was founded in June, 2009 by a group of individuals in Mallorca with the aims of lobbying and uniting for real action and real change. The association is a voice for residents to be heard and many voices are louder than one.
Lots of people say "Oh, I don't get involved in politics", but then wonder why they have to put up with things that they don't like or agree with. If you really want to change certain things then join with others who feel the same way. Join EporE and have your say!
TOURISM DEBATE
The latest forum meeting of EporE was well-attended with approximately 100 people turning up to discuss the state of tourism in the Balearics. After one of the quietest winters on the island for the industry in memory the subject was one close to the hearts of EporeE members and supporters.
The speakers were Sr. Pedro Iriondo, President of the Mallorca Tourist Board, Peter de Reus, General Manager of Hotel Bendinat and Paul Randall of Altura Destination Services. Some of the many topics covered included the need for reasonably priced and frequent flights to the island, all-inclusive hotels, internet bookings and the budget for marketing and promoting of Mallorca in the tourist industry.
Reaction from EporE members has been collated into a report which will be formally presented to the Balearic Ministry of Tourism, with the request for a meeting with the Minister, Sra Barcelo, to discuss its content in detail, and what she proposes to do about a number of matters it contains. The meeting and its conclusions will be reported back to members.
EporE plans more open debates in the coming months and invites members and non-members to attend. The next one will be this April on the subject of flights to and from Mallorca and the operations of the airport. Major industry figures will be invited to be the guest speakers and everyone is invited to attend. More details to follow.
RESIDENCIA CARDS PETITION
The thousands of signatures gathered since EporE started the fight to have our Residents Cards returned were presented to the Delegacion de Gobierno today, Friday 5th August 2010 by President, Carlos Bestard Gorman and Honorary President, Kate Mentink, thereby completing, at a local level, the first part of our ongoing campaign. With your support and the help of your family, friends and acquaintances we can achieve our goal so we urge those of you who have yet to join us to complete the simple form on our online Residencia Petition. Our research shows that there are tens of thousands more non-Spanish Europeans who are ready to ensure that together we will achieve our mutual goal. You have a voice so help us to make it heard and sign up to bring back the Residents Carnet. It’s a click away.
You can now do this online by clicking HERE.
Read the instancia HERE (en Español).
Soller Road Show
First things first. Sincere thanks to Anna Nicholas and Michel Taymans for their invaluable help and a heartfelt ‘muchos thankyous’ to Andres Gilabert for arranging for us to have use of his superb Gran Hotel for our meeting, not to mention laying on a continuous and uninterrupted supply of cocktails and finger food in the gardens where the ‘Road Show’ continued under a typical Summer Soller star lit night sky.
NAUTICAL TOURISM
The Nautical Tourism debate was held on June 25th in the Salon de Actos of the Chamber of Commerce in Palma. The packed audience heard speakers from the nautical sector as well as the Euro MP, Antonio Lopez. The press and television were well represented so this won't be the last you hear on this subject!
KATE'S CORNER
Click here to read Kate's Corner
Following on from the ‘good news, bad news’ regarding electricity and the disgusting 35% increase in charges foisted on us during Spain’s seemingly endless financial and social crisis it is interesting to note that, despite the temporary respite achieved by no increase in July, whispers in the corridors of power have it that October looks likely to see a further 4% hike in charges!.
Whilst on the vexed subject of utilities and the ongoing upward spiral of costs to us, the beleaguered consumer, hidden away in the back pages of one of the Spanish dailies was a little note that the price of natural gas had been increased by a paltry 8%. Hardly worth commenting on when compared to electricity! Worthy of comment though is the fact that our very own Balearic President, Francesc Antic, was recently pictured, arm in arm with someone or other from Gesa / Endesa who is promoting the increase in usage of said natural gas. The move has Sr Antic’s unstinted and total support’ yet there is nary a mention of the cost despite the fact that the new generators now on line in Mallorca are powered up by the self same natural gas. Methinks this doesn’t bode well for the consumer.