Calpe campaign for residents to register, millions at stake

CALPE wants foreign residents to register on the municipal register or padron. With the Peñon de Ifach in the background, Calpe’s version of the Uncle Sam recruiting poster declares “I want you!”

The English-language media – and The Euro Weekly News in particular – continually remind readers of the need to register. Those who do not, soon discover that they cannot complete any official business without “empadronamiento.”   

Town halls also benefit when residents register. Calpe receives an annual €5.6 million from the central government, calculated on the town’s official 29,550 population, of whom 18,498 (62.6 per cent) are foreign.

But there are at least 20,000 more unregistered residents, explained Calpe’s mayor Cesar Sanchez.  If only 10,000 more register on the padron, Calpe will receive an additional €1.6 million a year and services would improve, Sanchez explained at a recent meeting with British vice-consul Lloyd Milen. 

Eric Durieux and Dominique Schoofs, respective consuls of the Netherlands and Belgium were also present.  All three backed the campaign but impressed on the mayor that it was vital to explain to foreign residents that they will not incur more taxes by registering on the padron.

Unfounded fear of fiscal pressure puts off many, they explained.