Brussels sprouts forth with support for tourist tax

Balearic Chief Minister Francesc Antich received a rare and welcomed boost yesterday over the tourist tax with the European Commission pledging its approval for the project. Antich was in Brussels for a meeting with the European Commissioner for the Environment, Margot Wallstrom, and the Chief Minister, emerging from talks, said that the Commissioner “looks favourably on the project.” Antich added that Brussels also supports the tourist tax because “it shows that we do not only approach the European Union when we need money and that we have the ability to generate funding for the protection of the environment with the tools we have.” Bolstered by Brussels' support, Antich said that the Balearic government is still open to suggestions and ways of improving the design of the project.