EporE Matriculation Tax Campaign Gets A Result

The association Europeos por España has achieved a major victory in its campaign to change the Matriculation Tax in Spain and help the nautical industry in the Balearics and across the country.

Two years ago at a lunch meeting of EporE in the Lindner Hotel in Bendinat the subject of the so-called “Mat Tax” was raised. Present at the meeting was Euro MP Rosa Estaràs who took the issue back to Brussels. Honorary President of EporE, Kate Mentink, managed to bring representatives from all the sectors of the nautical industry together at a conference in the chamber of commerce on 25th June 2010 and negotiations began regionally here in the Balearics, nationally in Madrid and also in Brussels, headed by Rosa Estaràs.

The result of two years hard work was a statement from the European Commission on 15th November 2011 that ruled in favor of the MEP Rosa Estaràs and has formally requested Spain to change tax enrollment to charter sailing boats from other European Union countries stating that, as the tax currently stands, it infringes the principle of freedom to provide services.

If the Spanish Government fails to give effect to EU law within two months, the Commission may decide to take Spain to the European Court.

Rosa Estaràs hopes that the Spanish Government will rectify the current tax as soon as possible so that it is no longer required to pay taxes on charter boats from other European Union countries operating in Spanish waters. The tax as it stands makes Spanish companies less competitive than other destinations where the tax is lower, or does not exist at all.

"This rate prevents the development of charter sailing activity in Spain on an equal footing than in other European Union countries and generates serious harm to the marine industry.” said Rosa Estaràs “It not only discourages tourism which generates a high level of income and can provide seasonal adjustment, but also causes damage to all companies engaged in the construction and maintenance of vessels, especially in the Balearic Islands”.

At the present time in Spain, the government has been implementing the Special Tax on Certain Means of Transport (IEDMT), whose tax rate amounts to 12% of the price or value of the boat, depending on whether a new boat or used, and is payable from the first moment it is sailed by charter in Spanish waters.

The MEP Rosa Estaràs expects Spain's response to the requirements of the European Commission to be swift and decisive, as it has clearly breached its obligations as a member country within the union.

Honorary President of Europeos por España, Kate Mentink, is pleased with the progress of the campaign by the association. “It may have taken two years” she said “but this ruling has proved that the association EporE can get results at the highest level.”