MAKING IT EASIER TO BUY A PLACE IN THE SUN

2.55.24pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 27th Jul 2006

West Midland's Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne, a campaigner against the abuses of compulsory acquisition and penalties suffered by British homeowners in Spain, has joined other Euro-MPs in asking the European Commissioner for Consumer Protection Markos Kyprianou to examine ways to help people building or buying property in other EU member states.

She is backing the call by Spanish organisation Ciudadanos Europeos for the establishment of a 'Euro Info Point' to provide people with factual information in their own language on European, national and regional legislation and conditions affecting trans-national home buying.

Liz Lynne MEP commented:

"The numbers of British people buying second homes abroad continues to grow. With so many people today investing their futures in foreign property, it is essential that they understand the rules and regulations before parting with their cash."

"I hope that the Commission will give serious attention to this idea. Any initiative that helps guide people through regulatory red tape is to be applauded."

"This must go in parallel with the efforts of the European Parliament, which are bearing fruit, to stamp out the horrendous and even corrupt abuses on the Spanish costas."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. In 2003-2004 178,000 people owned a property overseas; 2004-2005 statistics show that this has grown to 244,000. Data on second home ownership from Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's annual 'Survey of English Housing' available at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1154759

2. Ciudadanos Europeos provide information in English on buying and residing in Spain. See http://www.c-euro.org/

3. The European Parliament's petition committee, in the work of which Sarah Ludford has actively participated, adopted a highly critical report in December 2005 demanding an end to the "land-grab" law (or LRAU) of the Valencia region in Spain. As a result of MEPs' involvement, the Valencia Regional Government decided to pass a new law to replace the LRAU and invited the European Parliament to submit recommendations.