The Lower House issued a majority opinion, without dissent, on the bill that contemplates sanctions for companies that operate in Argentina and that wish to participate in the Malvinas Islands area under the British administration.In this way, the initiative is now ready to be treated on the floor, as it already counts with the support of all the blocs in the Lower House.
The decision was brought about by the Energy, Foreign Affairs, and Maritime, River, Fishing, and Port committees, on the bill boosted by Proyecto Sur party head Fernando "Pino" Solanas.
The Lower House took a new step towards passing the bill, during moments in which many tensions exist between the Argentine government and Great Britain, since the latter authorized oil exploration in the archipelago area.
The bill, which also carries the signatures of socialism, GEN, and Federal Peronism deputies, seeks to take away the licences of companies that operate in the country and that are linked with others that exploit oil in the Islands.
At the same time, the document estimates that every company that operates in Argentina "needs previous authorization expended by the competent national authority in order to carry out transactions and/or business, financial, and extractive operations with those companies or physical persons that, in direct or indirect ways" act in Malvinas.
It also "prohibits all national or international trading companies that operate in Argentina, along with their shareholders, to have direct or indirect participation" in exploration and exploitation activities that are carried out in Malvinas.
If a company does not oblige by these dispositions, "the Application Authority will proceed to suspend the authorization to work in the country, until the sanction application."
Former president Néstor Kirchner imposed, in 2007, restrictions to oil companies that operated with the British government in Malvinas, but now, the would sanctions reach any type of company and would be carried out through a law if the bill is approved.
Source: http://www.buenosairesherald.com/BreakingNews/View/37102
