The President of the Generalitat, Ximo Puig, has announced an additional 10 million euros to the Municipal Cooperation Fund, increasing next year’s total disbursement to 50 million euros across Valencia’s municipalities.
This plan was outlined during his remarks at the Municipal Forum hosted by Levante-EMV and the Generalitat. Although the fund was approved in 2000, the relief fund for municipalities began in 2017, marking a historic step that no prior government had taken.
Puig described the fund as a financial tool that strengthens the solvency and capacity of city councils, with participation from the Provincial Assemblies of Castellón and Valencia. He also noted the missed opportunity for Alicante County Council to join in financing the municipalities within its province through this mechanism.
Unanimous support for the plan, a stance aligned with the Provincial Assembly, yet framed with election-year intensity
The Consell’s president highlighted collaborative action among institutions to meet challenges and seize opportunities. In this vein, the Generalitat has launched three additional municipal financing funds, distributing 330 million euros in recent years despite limited funding. These funds include the Population Reduction Fund, the Tourist Municipalities Fund, and the Forest Management Fund, which are currently open and will soon be published.
Work
On the policy front, the President provided updates on employment trends, describing the February data as very positive for the Valencian Community. He noted that the region topped the country in unemployment reduction last month and now records 2,050,000 workers. The figures show a drop of 1,632 unemployed individuals, with Social Security gains of 7,836 jobs and more than half of new contracts being permanent. Puig praised collaborative efforts with city councils to launch job creation initiatives that residents identify as the top public priority and a key objective for the Consell.
European funds
In his remarks, the President urged residents to seize the opportunities presented by the European Next Generation funds. He highlighted that more than 360 city councils are currently funded through these resources. He noted that the Generalitat has mobilized a team of over 100 professionals and 300 experts in European fund management, working with municipalities and associations to provide tailored guidance and in-person assistance to fund-seekers.
Finally, the Consell aims to advance a metropolitan-area law in the next legislature, a move that requires broad consensus among city councils and promises benefits in economic and social cohesion for citizens. He also underscored the significance of focusing on densely populated zones and mid-sized cities, which are the focal point of several investment and improvement programs.