The plan for the fight against depopulation of the Spanish Government allocates 194 million euros to the Region of Murcia

• The government delegate and the General Director of Anti-Depopulation Policies of MITECO have presented the eight axes that make up this plan
• José Vélez highlights the capacity of the Executive to detect the magnitude of the problem, lead it with real and effective initiatives and place it at the center of its political agenda

March 31, 2023. The government delegate, José Vélez, and the General Director of Anti-Depopulation Policies of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Juana López Pagán, presented this morning the plan of 130 measures and 194 million euros designed to combat depopulation in the Region of Murcia in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The plan includes eight axes focused on the promotion of ecological transition, digital transition and full territorial connectivity, development and innovation in the territory, promotion of sustainable tourism, equality of rights and opportunities for women, promotion of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activity, reinforcement of public services and promotion of decentralization, social welfare and economy of care or promotion of culture.

“I am proud to belong to and represent a Spanish Government that has not only been able to detect the magnitude of the problem of depopulation, but, with real and effective leadership and initiatives, has placed the demographic challenge at the center of its political agenda,” explained Vélez, who added that there is no greater or more evident statement of intent than the creation of a Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge with the rank of vice-presidency.

The government delegate regretted that, as usual, the Autonomous Community received funds in 2021 and 2022 approved at the Sectoral Conference of Demographic Challenge and still today they have not defined or reported on the normative instruments and locations of these investments.

“In their usual line, they have not reported anything, as is their obligation, they hide the information and reserve the funds for when it suits the regional government, such as those 578,947.37 euros that the Government of Spain sent them in 2021 for the installation of ATMs in rural areas that did not have them and we see that they announce it this year, on March 7, as a strategic plan of their own, for an amount of 600,000 euros and in the same six localities,” he denounced.

Juan López Pagán has indicated the need for municipalities to benefit from these subsidies and has encouraged them to submit projects focused on territorial cohesion and the fight against depopulation.