ARRECIFE (LANZAROTE), 18 (EUROPA PRESS)
The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has proposed a ‘Canarian decree law’ to the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, that includes “all outstanding matters” of the Canarian Agenda. The state leader did not wish to commit to this initiative but stated that he found it “interesting” and would “study it”.
This was expressed by Clavijo on Monday during a press conference after meeting with Sánchez in Lanzarote, which was attended by the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres.
Clavijo explained that there are matters from the Canarian Agenda that have been delayed over time due to various reasons, such as difficulties in achieving a majority in the Congress of Deputies.
Therefore, he emphasised that the Autonomous Community is committed to drafting a proposal that includes issues that are crucial for the islands, as the year progresses, now halfway through August, “and we see that they are not materialising”.
“When we look to the horizon and see that political activity resumes in September in the Congress,” observed the regional president, “the truth is that the behaviour of the peninsula parties at this moment really raises doubts about whether some vital issues for the Canary Islands can prosper.”
In this regard, Clavijo stated that among the topics that should be included in this Decree are the guarantee of a 60% income tax deduction for the citizens of La Palma and their reconstruction. However, while the agreed funds are pending, we should be able to use the surpluses from local corporations for the island’s reconstruction, as well as to cover the costs of care for unaccompanied minors.
He also highlighted the importance of including the advance on the debt contracted with the Canary Islands under the additional POSEI framework, a line of aid funded by the Spanish Government as a complement to the EU’s compensation measures to promote the primary sector in the Outermost Regions (RUP). At present, 24.93 million euros are owed for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025.
“It is very important,” he said, “to care for the primary sector, our agricultural environment, as depopulation in rural areas causes the fires we suffer from, which are particularly virulent at the moment on the Peninsula.” He sent a message of solidarity and affection to those affected.
At the same time, the Canarian president insisted that this Decree must also include the reinforcement of the electrical system in the Canary Islands, “whose infrastructures are outdated and there is always the risk of experiencing power cuts like those suffered in Tenerife and La Gomera, and more recently in La Palma. Furthermore, we need to evaluate the installation of portable infrastructures also in Lanzarote or Fuerteventura,” islands where urgent hydraulic works are needed to address the water emergency.
Clavijo insisted that these are vital issues for the islands and for the people of the Canary Islands, as are the update of transport standard costs, the extension of the road agreement, and the sufficient and necessary funding to complement non-contributory benefits in the Canary Islands, most of whose beneficiaries are women.
HE ASKS THE STATE TO GET INVOLVED IN THE DEFENCE OF THE RUP
Another demand that Clavijo raised with Pedro Sánchez is the need for the State to get involved in the strategy, promoted by the regional government, with Portugal and France to defend, within the European framework, the status of Outermost Region and ensure that their specific funds are not reduced in the next Union Budget.
“On this issue, the president agreed with the Canary Islands’ position that funds should not be transferred to member states. If the way to fit the Canary Islands into the European Union disappears, our advantages for progressing on equal terms with other territories would also disappear,” he noted.
Finally, during the meeting, there was also an opportunity to assess the pending payments related to Employment and Poverty Plans, which are currently being processed. “In the end, we need to give a push in the last quarter, which complicates management, so we have agreed to resume meetings to make them effective because they are included in the extended budgets.”
