PSOE and Sumar agreed to “introduce” a reduction of short flights on routes with an alternative of less than 2.5 hours by train

1. Short flights

“HE train It is called the transportation of the 21st century. Therefore short flights will end alternative by train“said the second vice president and acting Secretary of Labor, Yolanda Diaz. The ban is characterized by the verb “impulse” in the agreement signed by PSOE and Sumar. The text states “mitigation” just like other surrounding countries do.Domestic flights on routes with railway alternatives Its duration is less than 2 and a half hours, except in cases of connections to hub airports connecting to international routes.” The situation to which the agreement refers is that of France, which was the first European country to ban such flights. Travel by plane, although its implementation is more symbolic than effective, is also the case in Spain Its practical application will also be limited because there are only five routes – routes connecting Madrid with Barcelona, ​​​​Valencia, Alicante, Malaga and Seville – which can be reached by train in 2.5 hours or less, but in most cases provide connecting flights airlines have always opposed this measure.

2. Public air service

Among the new features of the pact is the implementation of the “pilot experience” regarding the Air Public Service Obligation. Minorca and BarcelonaThey claim that if the results are successful, Ibiza and Menorca’s connections to Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia will also be replicated.

3. New regulator

One of the new features new regulator what to say National Energy Commission, defines it as follows: specialist agency there is this adequate resources Stating that they will discuss the necessary modernization of the regulations to prepare the energy system for the climate neutrality target, the Minister added, “The capabilities of auditing and monitoring compliance with energy regulations by all actors will also be strengthened.”

In the current application, all these functions are National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC), created in 2013 of the union national competition authority And regulatory bodies (energy, telecommunications, postal, audiovisual, railway and airport) to provide an “integrative” vision and to guarantee its independence and legal security. The agreement says nothing about the CNMC, which was then intended to be redistributed, but adds: amplifier from “tools” limiting excessive work concentration and to promote competition in markets through adequate regulation and supervision.” Examination of the Law on the Protection of Competition and the Law establishing the CNMC.

4. Benefits ‘falling from the sky’

This also includes “continuing the deepening of the wholesale electricity market reform” (this is a European issue) to “eliminate harmful elements” of the current marginal system and “so-called benefits falling from the sky”. The latter was also part of the coalition government agreement between PSOE and Podemos, although there were some suggestions of shaping it at the dawn of the energy crisis. The closest thing that has been done in this direction is a cut in nuclear and hydro revenues, which means that sales contracts for this energy will be temporarily limited (for now until December 31) to 67 euros per megawatt-hour. According to the text, the aim will be to “pass on the benefit of renewable energies to consumers by lowering the electricity bill for homes and companies, with greater equity and security of supply, while providing sufficient signals to attract investments.”

5. Help with electricity bill

Another goal is to increase this rate. Number of people benefiting from the discount electricity bill (social bonus) current location 1.5 million beneficiariesThis is a very low figure considering the number of beneficiaries of this aid in 2018 (2.44 million) and the number of households suffering from energy poverty in Spain. “We will examine and distribute” Strategy against Energy Poverty Strengthening protection tools for vulnerable consumers. Within the framework of this strategy, actors competent in social service and consumption issues, in cooperation with social institutions, will at least; “Double the number of households covered by the social electricity bonus”, says the text. Currently, this assistance is limited based on income criteria, but social institutions have repeatedly stated that households should and should request it. the application is not automatic This limits the households covered by the measure.

6. Promote the Mediterranean Corridor

The agreement also includes “expanding the financing” and “accelerating” the work of the Mediterranean Corridor, which aims to connect the entire southeastern axis to France. The agreement will provide “specific support to the Bobadilla-Algeciras link, due to its strategic component also for the Atlantic Corridor, and the Sagunto-Zaragoza-Bilbao Corridor as priority railway axes for the Valencia rail link”. It is also promised that the Zaragoza-Canfranc-Pau line will be reopened and the Cantabria-Mediterranean corridor will be “promoted”.

7. “Rational” Use of Renewable Hydrogen

On energy issues, there is also a commitment to the “rational” deployment of renewable hydrogen. technical-economic feasibility And Spain’s international potential Renewable hydrogen has been called for to replace fossil fuels in “challenging electrification processes” such as certain industrial uses, heavy ground transportation, aviation, maritime shipping, etc. This energy vector has become the subject of a real crisis. Although there is an ‘explosion’ in the number of projects by companies, its development is still in its infancy. It is not included in the text, but it is among the Spanish projects. Corridor aiming to connect the Iberian Peninsula to Germany From the underwater tube between Barcelona and Marseille. At a meeting organized by El Periódico de la Energía this summer, Sumar representative Fernando Ferrando showed his opposition to this project, which he described as a “failed investment.”