AENIB’s most important mission is to look after the yachting sector’s interests in our islands. This is why from the beginning we were against the APB’s tax, and this is why we have decided to take it to the courts. There is no sense that, in the middle of a crisis, a tax like this is passed. And it is not only the tax, we are also talking about the time-consuming bureaucracy. It is unclear and unacceptable for many of us.

Our position is clear: we do not want to negotiate the conditions’ sheet. We want this tax to be postponed, as it has been done in other communities, until definitely knocking it down in Madrid, with the help of ANEN and our human and material resources together. Negotiating this atrocity is to condemn a certain number of companies, workers, and self-employers to its closure and unemployment. We are not going to collaborate with it, and we trust that Justice will determine that we are right. We struggled greatly to stand up after the crisis that happened some years ago, and we do not want to be sunk due to a political decision.

Our agenda has always been transparent: we only care for our companies’ and workers’ welfare, without personalisms or any other economic interest. We do not have any problem to undig the battleaxe when there are issues with the administration. We only care about our associates. Thanks to them, we are the biggest Yachting Management in Balearic, and we have proved that, all together, we can turn Balearic into a better place.

Among other things, we would like to value the work done. Different activities will start that will help to boost our activity. This is the case of the Balearic Yacht Show, the first virtual boat show in our community. We hope to be a positive experience, as well as it revitalizes the yacht sector in such agitated moments. Anyway, we value the commercial of the Palma Boat Show 2021, and, as every year, we remind the Administrations that the Advisory Council of the Boat Show should lead the voice, even more in these moments. We do not think it is necessary to remember what was the result, when the administrations turned their back on companies and exhibitors. We also have to point out the positive result when a protagonist role has been given to us, because thanks to us, the Palma Boat Show has reawakened.

Finally, we would like to congratulate Francesc Antich, because he has been appointed as the new APB’s president. We wish him every success. We would also like to remind Mr. Antich the impact of our companies and yachting aficionados in the APB’s coffers. We ask him that his new Administration Council be a reflection of our Island’s States sports reality. We would also like to congratulate Santiago Mayor, for being appointed as the new president of APEAM. We also wish him every success in this new stage.

The AENIB appeals for the APB’s tax to yachting companies

The AENIB (Association of Nautical Companies of Balearic) has  filed an appeal for a judicial review against the decision of the Administration Council of the APB (Port Authority of Balearic). The APB is implementing a tax of 1,5% on the total of the bill, to companies that carry out repair and maintenance works, in ports of general interest, no matter if they are dry docks, clubs or marinas.

According to what Gaceta Náutica has been able to know, the complaint lodged by the  AENIB, has the support of the Confederation of Business Associations of Balearic (CAEB). They claim that this ‘tax’ has formal flaws, such as not having an economic study that justifies it, and it impedes the development of the yacht sector in a very delicate moment, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the drop of activity in ports and dry docks.

The ‘tax’ responds to a command from the Law of State Ports, and, according to the APB, its non-implementation would be illegal. Juan Gual suggested that the associations were urging him to fail to act. Nonetheless, other port authorities have not implemented it to protect the companies that operate in their facilities.