Quadripartite Coalition Proposes 180 Changes to Boost Canary Islands Budget by €42.2 Million
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Nov. 27 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The four parties backing the Government of the Canary Islands – Canarian Nationalist, Popular, Gomera Socialist Group, and Mixed (AHI) – have submitted a total of 180 amendments to the draft General Budget Law of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands for 2025, with 148 related to economic items and 32 to the articles, amounting to 42,251,064 euros.
These amendments aim to enhance the budget and address the requirements and growth targets established by each island, as noted in a joint statement.
Among the amendments pertaining to the articles, particular emphasis is placed on proposals designed to subsidise fuel on the islands of La Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote, intended to mitigate costs arising from double insularity.
Regarding housing, one amendment seeks to augment credits for the Canary Housing Institute to tackle the housing crisis affecting the islands.
In the realm of Social Welfare, the groups propose modifications to the Canary Islands Social Services Law, as well as the home assistance decree and the social services catalogue, aiming to broaden the resources available to local authorities, thus allowing town councils to choose an alternative provision method to enhance management.
Another amendment relates to the forest cent, with the aim of financing initiatives to prevent forest fires, restore degraded ecosystems, and conserve soil.
MAKE THE ‘FOREST CENT’ FLEXIBLE
The intention of this amendment is to “increase flexibility” in decision-making by councils, extending the range of the amount between 0 and 0.02 cents.
In terms of infrastructure, the reform of the regulatory framework governing Marinas stands out as it is a critical component for the tourism competitiveness of the Canary Islands.
The economic amendments in this budget, they add, are designed to secure social policies with particular focus on health, education, justice, and housing.
They also aim to create job opportunities and foster stability across the islands while keeping in focus the five declared emergencies: water, energy, housing, climate, and migration.
Concurrently, the 2025 budget continues its commitment to the recovery of La Palma following the volcanic activity, prioritising investments and tax incentives in housing, they emphasise.
By categories, 1,336,854 euros are allocated in the Presidency; in Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion, and Water, 1,992,000; in Public Works, Housing, and Mobility, 3,236,000 euros; in Ecological Transition and Energy, 3,555,000 euros; in Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty, 1,352,000 euros; in Economy, Industry, Commerce, and the Self-Employed, 1,425,000 euros; in Tourism and Employment, 1,900,000 euros; in Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture, 1,170,450 euros; in Education, Vocational Training, Physical Education and Sports, 6,442,082 euros; in Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Children, and Families, 5,101,000 euros; in the Canarian Health Service, 8,988,957 euros; in the Canary Housing Institute, 3,480,000 euros; in Various Departments, 2,000,000 euros; in the Canary Islands Institute of Equality, 20,000, and in the Canary Islands Employment Service, 100,000 euros.
