Pioneering system of paying taxes via internet

The Balearics will become a pioneer in the payment of certain taxes by internet from January 1, according to government spokesman Antoni Garcias. The taxes will include patrimony, donations and juridical acts. The Balearic government's tax collection service will handle the internet payments. The new system will enable the notary or taxpayer to resolve details of, for example, property transfers with the tax department. The service will be added to the Internet page: Portal del contribuent de la CAIB. At the same time, the government has approved the opening of an office in Brussels which will replace the existing centre. Its aim is to reinforce the presence of the community in the European Union. According to Garcias, the government has taken into account the challenges offered by the preparation of the inter-governmental conference of 2004, where the distribution of responsibilities between European institutions and the member states will be defined, as will the participation of regions in defining European policies. Another of the agreements taken yesterday covers the setting up of a register for centres which join the voluntary system of environmental managent, which comes under the ministry of the environment. The system was first introduced in the tourist sector in 1997 and 12 centres now have the corresponding environmental distinctive. The government will also finance a project to enable young people with social problems to find work. More than 35 million pesetas will go to the scheme in Majorca and 27 million in Minorca. An advisory body, attached to the ministry of tourism, will be set up to analyse tourist matters, propose projects, activities or plans to improve the sector. It will be made up of representatives of the tourist board, the environmental group GOB, the cultural association OCB, the college of architects and all the local ministries.