The European Commission gave priority and approved within 24 hours a Danish public aid plan for the tourism sector, and declares itself waiting for Spain to propose one, as it has not yet received any notification. Sources from the European Commission assure that they would give priority and the same treatment to state aid in countries with sectors as damaged by the pandemic as tourism.

Two weeks after the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, announced in Moncloa the so-called "promotion plan for the tourism sector" valued at 4.250 million, the European Commission that must give its approval says it is unaware of its existence or that of any other specific request. for tourism and catering from Madrid.

This emerges in the surprising parliamentary response signed by the Vice President and Head of Competition of the European Commission, Margrethe Vestager. In a letter dated this Wednesday to which THE WORLD has had access, it maintains: «So far, the Spanish authorities have not contacted the Commission to notify it of any [aid] regime directed mainly or exclusively to the tourism sectors and restoration , similar to the regime approved for Denmark. "

This is the answer to a question presented by the MEP for Citizens and former President of the Balearic Islands, José Ramón Bauzá, who, given the flexibility shown by the European Commission to authorize State aid, was interested in those requested by the Government of Pedro Sánchez to help the sector.

The surprise is that there is no request, despite the speed with which they are approved by the vice-president of the European Commission. On March 11, the Danish government asked for permission to provide 12 million a state aid scheme to event organizers for the damage suffered by the cancellation of events with more than a thousand participants due to Covid-19. Just a day later, Vestager announced the authorization and encourages Spain and states concerned about tourism damage to present plans to Brussels.

The Industry Minister, Reyes Maroto, assured yesterday that he will present the plan to support the tourism sector and that he will also do so with specific chapters for the Balearic and Canary Islands . During her speech at the Save the Tourism Seminar of the Hotusa Group, she stated that she will defend specific plans in the European Union for the most affected countries, including Spain, as well as for the most affected regions, such as "undoubtedly they are.

The President of Hotusa, Amancio López, asked the minister for the super-reduced rate of value added tax (VAT) in the tourism sector on a temporary basis, as well as expanding the Temporary Employment Regulation Files (ERTE), at least until March 2021.

Maroto ruled out lowering the VAT, due to the problems the government is having in collecting in recession: "It is difficult now to tackle any tax cut . "

However, it opens up the possibility of expanding ERTE for the sector "within the framework of social dialogue"; as well as to increase the guarantees.

For Bauzá, everything is, for now, nonsense. He told this newspaper that, for the moment, the response he has received from Vestager «shows the null interest that the Spanish Government has in the tourism sector. It is outrageous. Denmark has moved much faster and that tourism is not so relevant to its economy. ”Bazaza, who submitted his question to the European Commission as early as last April, asks for explanations from the Minister of Industry.

In his answer, however, Vestager clarifies that he has authorized state aid regimes in Spain that apply to most sectors and, therefore, also tourism and catering. And it mentions the guarantee systems and the tax moratoriums. But Bauzá, like the tourist associations, demand specific public aid plans.

Vestager vehemently criticizes in its response the lack of public aid so that travelers do not waste money on canceled trips. "In order to limit the negative impact on travelers of the possible insolvency of travel organizers and carriers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission issued a recommendation on May 13, 2020. The recommendation refers to bonds that travel organizers (...) Encourages Member States to actively consider the creation of guarantee schemes in relation to these bonds in order to ensure that, in the event of insolvency of the bond issuer, passengers or travelers have the right to refund".

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • European Comission
  • Spain
  • Reyes Maroto
  • Denmark
  • Balearics
  • European Union
  • Pedro Sánchez
  • Madrid
  • Citizens
  • Canary Islands
  • economy

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