Evicted from Coastal Homes

Spain’s 1988 "Ley de la costa," forbids homes within 550 yards of the coast, and the government is taking action to enforce the law. Owners may get leases, up to 60 years, to use the property, but can’t resell. Some analysts suggest the government is less forceful with developers and owners of commercial properties. Up to 500,000 homes are threatened, and complicating matters is many Britons reside in areas the government specified for clearance and join Spaniards in protesting minimal compensation for the loss of seaside homes. The conflict exposes limitations of the EU system and incongruent domestic policies of member nations, even as they strive for a supranational identity and common bonds. British and EU officials are "powerless to intervene," notes Dave Bull for the Leader. A commitment to the respect of private property is a central EU tenet, and this discord over property rights along the coast could be another EU growing pain. – YaleGlobal