The employers’ association Foment continues to scrutinize the businessmen’s proposals to the political parties in the run-up to the next Catalan regional elections on May 12. Yesterday he handed over to the forces that are presenting themselves in the elections a document with the 465 measures in economic matters that they recommend applying, among which a reduction in taxes or a more decisive commitment to renewable energies stand out.
According to the opinion of the employers’ association chaired by Josep Sánchez Llibre, the proposals are to “achieve more competitive taxation and establish the foundations for a positive and dynamic economic ecosystem”. Foment believes that “in a global context of rapid tightening of monetary policy, and together with uncertainty and European energy dependence, it is essential to work to continue improving the competitiveness of the economy”.
The proposals on taxation come largely from the green book on the matter presented on Tuesday by the employers’ association. Foment advocates for abolishing the estate tax, reducing the marginal rates of personal income tax for both high and low incomes, establishing the tax rate for inheritance and gift tax at 5% for relatives nearby, and in 10% for the rest, in addition to reviewing the Generalitat’s own taxes and suppressing some of them.
With regard to the decarbonisation and energy transition plan, the proposal to “increase the implementation of renewable energies” stands out.
In the fight against the drought, Foment recommends to the parties “the implementation of the infrastructures and investments established” in the law of September. Along these same lines, the employers’ association believes that it is “essential to proceed with the interconnection of networks in the different hydrographic basins of Catalonia”.
To improve access to housing, Foment proposes a “great public-private pact between the Government of the Generalitat, the town councils, and the developers”. According to the employers’ organization, the project to fight against “criminal employment” should also be recovered.
The employer also dedicates a chapter of the 76-page document to training, asking for a reinforcement of the “priority orientation model in the transition periods of the compulsory and post-compulsory training stages”.
For the industry, the measures should be aimed at “developing the National Pact for Industry 2022-2025 and promoting a polygon plan”.
In tourism, the main measure is to “launch a deseasonalization plan” and another to “alleviate the obsolescence of certain mature destinations”.
In terms of infrastructure, the main proposals are “to carry out the expansion of Barcelona airport, to deploy the Rodalies network and to solve the deficit and lack of public investment”.
It also includes measures in other areas such as health, commerce, culture, sporting activities, public administration reform, innovation, occupational risk prevention, internationalization, employment or SMEs.
