Spain asked the European Commission Expedite procedures for approval of State aid from ‘Next Generation EU’ fundswith a special focus on strategic projects for economic recovery and transformation (Perte) and investments.
This was expressed by Nadia Calviño, First Vice-President and Minister for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, at a press conference after meeting with European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton.
“Spain will be Engine of growth in Europe in 2023 and in this context, it is essential to further accelerate the deployment of European funds”, stressed the first vice-president, after emphasizing that the Recovery Plan, financed by ‘Next Generation EU’ funds, is the main tool for development. Continue to support the modernization of the Spanish economy with a green and digital switch.
In response to a consultation by the European Commission to review the legal framework for state aid, Spain proposed speeding up the procedures for approval of aid financed by ‘Next Generation EU’ funds. attention to strategic projects –Perte– and other projects and investments of the Rescue Plan for Spain.
“What is important in the current context, let’s speed up all the procedures and ensure the smooth functioning of the internal market‘, insisted the first vice president.
Supplement to Recovery Plan
Calviño reminded that Spain is working on the final document of the Recovery Plan annex, which will be sent to the European Commission this month. mobilize a total of 160,000 million euros allocated to Spain between transfers and loans.
“We want to focus this appendix to the plan on promoting industrialization and strategic autonomy in exactly five dimensions: energy, agri-food, industrial, technological and digital,” explained the government’s economic officer.
In this regard, Calviño suggested that the Executive will hold a sectoral conference with the autonomous communities and social dialogue desk in order to collect the contributions of economic, political and social units and to complete and send this appendix to the Recovery Plan. to Brussels.
Calviño hopes that around 11 February the European Commission will approve and Give your positive assessment for the third payment of 6,000 million requested by Spain Within the framework of the ‘Next Generation EU’ funds and currently minister José Luis Escrivá recalled that the second part of the pension reform, which social agents and political groups are working on, corresponds to the fourth payment of the money.
Message of “trust” in the economy
At Monday’s meeting, Calviño and European Commissioner Thierry Breton talked about the need to promote European industry in an international context. high uncertainty and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy. Also at the meeting, the next Spanish presidency of the European Union Council, which will be held in the second half of this year, was discussed.
The President of Economic Affairs gave a message of confidence, since the Spanish economy closed 2022 with a growth of more than 5 percent, the measures taken by the Government together with the decrease in energy provide a decrease of 5 points in inflation. The recovery plan in 5 months continues to increase investment and employment with record levels of participation in the country.
“All this demonstrates the strength and resilience of the Spanish economy and gives us a good foundation to face this 2023 and continue to successfully face the challenges that are coming.”underlined.