Not only was Junts’ proposal to sanction Catalan companies that have their headquarters outside Catalonia not liked, but the proposed formula was also not understood. In the large business associations such as Foment del Treball or the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, they pointed out that what Catalonia must do is to achieve institutional normality and create a favorable economic climate for companies that wish to set up in the territory, according to the Catalan employers’ statement. From Madrid, the CEOE described the plan as “communism” and defended that the “magic recipe is to give stability” and “predictability”.
One of the ways would be with a reduction in tax pressure along the lines of what other communities have done, the businessmen explain privately. They also point out that during the years that the social headquarters have been out, in Catalonia the taxation of the collective has been tougher compared to that which exists in other territories. The main differences are in the inheritance tax, which has almost been eliminated in the PP communities, and the property tax, which is lower than what is paid in Catalonia.
In a press conference on the problems of access to housing in Catalonia, the president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Josep Santacreu, acknowledged that “I find it difficult to understand that there is a position of being able to penalize”. The former director of the insurance company DKV admitted that he did not know what the proposal consisted of. “We must do everything we can, and the more positive, the better”, he added when asked about Junts’ position in the negotiation with the Spanish Government on the omnibus decree.
In 2017, coinciding with the crisis resulting from the independence referendum, thousands of Catalan companies chose to move their headquarters outside of Catalonia, even though they kept the bulk of their activity in the community. The two banks, CaixaBank and Sabadell, were the spearhead of this process, being the first to move their headquarters in October 2017. Yesterday the two entities refused to comment.
Five years later, none of the big companies have chosen to return, and some have even taken advantage of the situation to strengthen their presence in Madrid to the detriment of Barcelona with more staff and services.
Foment is also opposed to Junts per Catalunya’s proposals to give “fiscal incentives” to companies that return. The employer has always defended that the tax reduction should be for everyone and not as a prize.
Garamendi, at an informative lunch organized by the Club Segle XXI in Madrid, insisted that “a company settles where it wants”. In addition, he stated that “no one left Catalonia because it seemed like a great idea”, but they did it because “they were forced” in view of the situation.
On the other hand, the Pimec employers’ association has been proposing for weeks to encourage companies to locate their headquarters where they carry out their business activities, with the aim of putting an end to tax dumping and favoring the return to Catalonia.
