Subject: Recovery and Resilience Facility and the DANA in Spain
Under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Spain has EUR 163.8 billion in loans and grants that it can invest up until 2026.
The DANA weather system that struck the Autonomous Community of Valencia has caused more than 200 deaths, not to mention extensive material and economic damage. It therefore requires a coordinated, rapid and effective response that makes use of all existing resources and involves all administrations.
1. The Spanish Government has announced that it will amend the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and the operational agreement in order to earmark funds for the economic reconstruction of the territories affected by the DANA. In order to present this amendment or addendum, does the government have to hold dialogue and consultations with the regional and local authorities, in accordance with Articles 18 and 28 of the Regulation?
2. According to data from the General Comptroller of the State Administration (Ministry of Finance), Spain has yet to utilise over EUR 125 billion (77 %) of its Recovery and Resilience Facility funds. How much of that money can be reallocated for measures to mitigate the effects of the DANA in Valencia and other affected provinces?
Submitted: 18.11.2024
Answer given by Mr Dombrovskis on behalf of the European Commission (6 February 2025)
With regards to the preparation and implementation of the recovery and resilience plans, the Commission encourages Member States to engage in a timely and meaningful way with local and regional authorities — which is of course of particular importance in Spain given the high level of administrative and political decentralisation, as well as in this particular instance given the regional dimension of the intended future addendum — , social partners, civil society organisations, youth organisations and other relevant stakeholders with regard to the amendment of recovery and resilience plans.
The outcome of this consultation and how the input received from the stakeholders is reflected has to be explained in the amended plan.
The Spanish authorities have communicated their intention to amend their plan in order to include measures to support the recovery of the regions affected by the DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos — isolated depression at high levels).
Article 21 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (1) provides that Member States may require an amendment of their recovery and resilience plans in light of objective circumstances making a measure no longer achievable.
It has to be noted that only milestones and targets that have not been assessed by the Commission can be amended. The Commission is already actively engaging with the Spanish authorities to support the preparation and eventual official submission of such request in order to ensure that such request and the amended recovery and resilience plan remain in line with the requirements of the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation.
The Commission takes this occasion to reiterate its solidarity with the people and businesses affected by these catastrophic floods, and to reiterate its sincere condolences for the loss of lives.
1 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241 | | ( | | )