Call for Urgent Meeting on the ‘Canarian Agenda’
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 22 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) – Coalición Canaria (CC) has urged the PSOE to urgently convene the monitoring committee of the agreement to assess the compliance with the ‘Canarian Agenda’.
This request follows comments from the Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, who is said to have shown a lack of understanding of the content of the agreement signed with the State, casting doubt on commitments explicitly outlined in the Canarian Agenda, the 2023 General State Budget Law, and even in official communications from Moncloa, as stated by the nationalists in a press release.
David Toledo, the national secretary for Organisation at CC, emphasised that if the minister is unaware of the Canarian Agenda’s content, there are significant concerns that he may also fail to ensure its compliance.
As an example, he cited the case of La Palma, where Torres denied the extension of funds for reconstruction.
Toledo reiterated that the extension is not only referenced in the Canarian Agenda signed with the PSOE, but is also included in the 2023 General State Budget Law, which remains in effect through a prorogation, and is mentioned in various official communications from Moncloa that have reviewed the measures and investments following the volcanic eruption.
The nationalist leader pointed out that in light of the minister’s ignorance, it is now essential to rigorously examine the level of compliance with the other commitments the State has made to the Canaries.
Importance of Addressing Outstanding Commitments
Coalición Canaria also highlighted the importance of discussing the outstanding commitments from the Canarian Agenda in the monitoring committee, which are included in the investment agreement and which the Canarian nationalists plan to incorporate into a Canarian decree to ensure compliance.
David Toledo invited Minister Torres to be “more diligent in managing Canarian matters with the State” and to give them “the same priority he maintains for other regions, such as Catalonia.”
Toledo lamented that “a Canarian minister insists on placing the Canaries at the bottom of the list when his duty should be to ensure that every point of the Canarian Agenda is upheld,” adding that the archipelago “must not be sidelined in the actions of the central government.”
Key Issues in the Canarian Agenda
Among the key issues in the Canarian Agenda agreed upon by Coalición Canaria and the PSOE are the adherence to the Economic and Fiscal Regime (REF) and the Statute, the transfer of pending competencies (such as Coasts), air and maritime connectivity, and the reduction of the costs associated with double insularity.
Additionally, there are calls for the execution of state investments in infrastructure, housing, and transportation, the continuation of extraordinary funds for the reconstruction of La Palma, the promotion of renewable energy, and measures directed at migration, culture, universities, and combating climate change, ensuring that the Canaries receive differentiated treatment in the actions of the State Government to guarantee equality with other regions.
