8th June 2018.- The new, increasingly intelligent cities require more sensitive and flexible regulations to adapt urban planning standards to the new practicalities.

This was indicated by José Vicente Morote, managing partner of the Public and Regulatory Law area of Andersen Tax & Legal, during his participation in the Smart Cities for Smart Citizens Congress held on 7th and 8th June in Valencia.

José Vicente Morote participated in the round table on Regulations in the development of smart cities, in which also participated the mayor of Benidorm, Antonio Pérez, the Smart City councillor of Alcoi City Council, Manuel Gomicia, the coordinator of Smart Cities of Rafelbunyol City Council, Marta Fenollosa, and the councilman of Public Services councillior of Villareal city council, Paco Valverde.

During his speech, Andersen Tax & Legal's partner argued that urban planning regulations in Spain are "very strict, complex and demanding", an adequate philosophy to avoid corruption but that "it is so inflexible that it limits new projects and hinders progress in relation to innovative planning instruments". Thus, the participants called on the regional administrations, responsible for the development of town planning laws, to be "more sensitive in regulation".

José Vicente Morote indicated that "there is no specific regulation that grants the category of smart city, but there are technical regulations that are taken almost as binding legal norms, and local authorities that have developed their own regulations in this field". "Good management of resources does not imply having the status of smart city, since in this field, the intensive use of technology is a fundamental requirement", he added.