Brussels – According to the latest allocations data released by the European Commission, Spain is set to receive 20% less funding from the European Union for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and regional Cohesion funds for the period spanning 2028-2034.
Starting in 2027, Spain’s total allocation will amount to €88.1 billion, with €79.9 billion designated for agricultural, fisheries, and regional programs, marking a 20% reduction from the €100 billion allocated in the previous cycle.
In addition, €3 billion will be set aside for migration, security, and internal affairs initiatives, while the remaining €5.3 billion will support the social fund for climate-related efforts.
Fernando Sampedro, the Secretary of State for the European Union, expressed concerns during a meeting of EU General Affairs ministers in Brussels, stating that the support for rural development and less developed regions is compromised, with potential significant territorial and political repercussions.
Sampedro also raised issues regarding the European Commission’s proposed centralized execution model for national and regional plans, which incorporates recovery and resilience plans characterized by co-financing, certification, and compliance with specific milestones and goals. He criticized this approach as overly complex, contrasting sharply with the anticipated simplification of the budgetary framework. He also voiced doubts about the new own resources suggested by Brussels to augment the community budget, noting that many consist of pre-existing national taxes.
This proposal by the European Commission marks the beginning of a lengthy negotiation process expected to last at least two years between governments and the European Parliament. (July 18)
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