In the first quarter of the year, the province saw a blend of European funding activity and local project momentum. The provincial assembly helped eight municipalities submit projects eligible for European financing, and the total European contribution to bring these plans to life appeared in the figures — the funding commitments and the actual funds released. Additionally, in Brussels, a separate batch of programs and subsidies added to the overall support framework. Altogether, the European funds flowing into the province reached nearly two million euros, underscoring a strong trend toward leveraging Union support to boost local development.
The philosophy guiding the provincial European Funds Office is clear: assist municipalities with populations under 20,000 to realize projects that require European financing. Without this targeted help, smaller towns struggle because they lack the liquidity to cover upfront costs and to manage the complex grant processes. Submitting a project and covering the initial studies does not guarantee EU approval, so the money spent on preparatory work can be lost if the application is unsuccessful. This reality has discouraged many municipalities from seeking Brussels funding over the years.
European funds in the province: Alicante and Elche dominate half of the aid
The provincial agency prioritizes attracting European Union subsidies and expanding the province’s appeal to visitors. A bank of well-structured projects eligible for European funds is being built to streamline access for municipalities. The initiative aims to allocate up to two million euros to support medium and small municipalities in paying for works or laying the groundwork for strategic plans that will later be funded by EU schemes. The province plans to distribute about 15,000 euros on average to each of the 141 municipalities, drawing from remaining funds. The board of directors is set to approve this grants call shortly, designed to encourage Alicante municipalities to submit costed projects suitable for European funding, whether directly or through Next Generation or Regional Development programs.
“With this subsidy, small towns will be able to present two or three projects, and it is essential that larger towns have the resources to carry them out as well,” explains Maria Gomez, the Deputy for European Projects. Municipalities with populations above 20,000 are also actively engaging in programs like Next Generation in their own right.
A primary obstacle for local governments seeking European funds is the complexity of procedures and the cost of the requisite studies to justify projects. This challenge is corroborated by a study commissioned by the Provincial Commission from Ineca, which examined the economic impact of Feder funds, the European Social Fund, and direct administration aids across the province during 2014–2021. The results show that larger municipalities with specialized departments tend to attract the most funds, while smaller towns often fail to reach many calls.
Beneficiaries
Yet the office, focused on attracting community funding from Diputación, is changing this trend. Eight of the 22 towns that applied for European aid received support this quarter for diverse programs, all funded directly from Brussels, as larger calls have yet to open.
One standout example is a project led by a collaboration of European art schools and universities aiming to promote innovation in traditional pottery centers through new techniques and styles. That initiative secured 60,000 euros; another program to advance environmental protection and climate action also received 60,000 euros. Alteareceived 148,000 euros as a partner in a project sharing best practices on volunteer work in municipalities. Dolores also received 148,000 euros to support the European Green Deal and a transition toward a more sustainable economy. Caught was allocated 10,570 euros to promote rural heritage during the pandemic years. Els Poblets received funds for a program promoting multiculturalism, while another initiative supported young entrepreneurs in digital spaces in rural areas with 16,545 euros. A broader cooperation program in cultural heritage between European cities was allocated 148,000 euros. Overall, 601,115 euros were directed from Brussels in this tranche.
Diputación also received European funds for the projects titled Youngdeal (148,000 euros); Museum (55,999 euros); no hate (48,294 euros); promotion of innovative public procurement (59,004 euros); and Lost Music (54,399 euros). When added together, these contributions total 365,696 euros from the European Union.
PP rebukes Sánchez government after Diputación is excluded from European funding
Not all news is positive. Two projects proposed by Diputación to raise funds totaling 879,000 euros were rejected. One involved Erasmus Plus Deportation aiming for 250,000 euros from Brussels, while the other, a New Generation call for a commercial space in La Marina, requested 629,000 euros and was not approved. The PP party criticized the government of Pedro Sánchez, arguing that the provincial assembly was excluded from this call. In response, the deputy María Gómez highlighted ongoing efforts to improve executive transparency and to illuminate the criteria used for distribution, aiming to reassure municipalities about the process and outcomes.