The Government delegate in Navarre, Alicia Echeverría, has today presented a new edition of “Complying”, the accountability report of the central executive in the Foral Community corresponding to the first half of 2024. A report that aims to provide citizens with necessary and transparent information on the management of the Government of Spain.
In this context, Echeverría has updated the information corresponding to the European funds, with 543.6 million euros allocated to the Provincial Executive, another 147.9 million from the OBJECTIVE-EU mechanism and 718 million directly executed by the Government of Spain in Navarre. The number of beneficiaries is 11,100 because, as the government delegate pointed out, “the really important thing is that behind the big figures there are companies, public institutions, research centers or private individuals who are able to take advantage of the enormous opportunity for modernization represented by these European funds.”
Alicia Echeverría has defended that “despite the background noise, Spain advances, Navarra advances”, and the Government of Spain continues to work “to improve people’s lives” with priorities such as access to housing for young people or more sustainable, fair and inclusive economic growth.
He highlighted the good harmony between the governments of Spain and Navarre, which “is materializing in projects, in investments that benefit the citizens as a whole and in a determined commitment to our self-government.” And he lamented having an opposition “that cares very little about the real problems of the people and very much about their own electoral interests.”
Socioeconomic modernization in green and digital key
The report notes that the Navarre industrial sector has received more than 110 million euros from the PERTE. There are 85.2 million for the development of the electric and connected vehicle, or 16.8 million for the modernization of the agri-food industry.
4,752 small and medium-sized enterprises have so far benefited from the support of the Digital Kit for its digitization. Meanwhile, the agricultural sector has received EUR 84.4 million from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and EUR 8.6 million in extraordinary aid to offset the effects of the war in Ukraine and the drought.
In terms of employment, indefinite hiring has increased by 7.3 percent in Navarre since the approval of the Labor Reform; 17,400 people have benefited this year from the increase in the Interprofessional Minimum Wage; and Social Security records record numbers of affiliation, with more than 311,000 people at the end of June in the Foral Community.
Strengthening the Welfare State, equality and housing
Another of the axes of the action of the Government of Spain is to strengthen the Welfare State. Thus, 20,250 people received the Minimum Vital Income in June, and 132,000 pensioners have benefited this year from the revaluation of pensions under the CPI.
In the field of education, the creation of 849 free public places in the first cycle of Early Childhood Education and 5,611 Vocational Training places stands out.
Progress is being made towards a new care policy with 16.6 million euros aimed at financing different projects in Navarra. While in Health the technological renewal of equipment has been addressed with investments worth 15.3 million euros.
In terms of housing, Navarre has received 5.9 million in the framework of the Rehabilitation Program for economic and social recovery in residential environments, and another 13.8 million for the construction of 320 social rental homes in energy-efficient buildings.
The Government delegate has also highlighted policies on equality. She has pointed out that 10,493 navarras have received the maternity supplement in their pension and 9,761 have benefited from the supplement to reduce the gender gap in pensions. In addition, he recalled that the Center for Comprehensive Attention to Sexual Violence, financed with 1.3 million euros from European funds, is already in operation.
Ecological transition and territorial cohesion
To promote a fair ecological transition, Navarre has received an additional 11.5 million euros for the implementation of various incentive programs linked to self-consumption and storage. In addition, the 16.3 million euros stand out for adaptation to the risk of flooding and digitization of the water cycle.
As a key element for territorial cohesion, Echeverría has referred to the UNICO programs to extend broadband and 5G throughout the territory, with an investment that exceeds 18 million euros.
In the same way, it has stressed the importance of having quality infrastructures. Thus, the delegate of the Government recalled that the central executive has awarded 238 million euros for the construction of the Tafexpo-Campanas section within the Castejón-Comarca High-Speed Line of Pamplona. And that the conversion works of the N121A road continue to be financed on a 2+1 lane road with a total of 55 million euros transferred to Navarre to date.
More self-government
Echeverría highlighted the commitment of the Government of Spain to the “particularities” of Navarre and recalled that the Council of Ministers has given the green light to the preliminary draft Organic Law for the reform of the Organic Law of Reintegration and Improvement of the Regional Regime that will allow to assume the competence of Traffic and Road Safety, and that will be processed in the Courts after the summer.