Council of Ministers

Government allocates more than 268 million euros to international protection programmes

2017.3.3

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Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The Council of Ministers approved a call for proposals for subsidies, for a total of 268,720,000 euros, allocated to international protection programme and socio-healthcare programmes at the Short-Stay Immigrant Centres (Spanish acronym: CETI) in Ceuta and Melilla.

The aim of these subsidies is to boost the reception and integration of asylum-seekers throughout Spain. This round of subsidies will allow 26,535 people to be attended to between now and May 2018.

The Minister for Education, Culture and Sport and Government Spokesperson, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, pointed out that "the number of people who have applied for refugee status has increased significantly in recent years". In this regard, he specified that in the last two years there have been 42,264 applications, of which 7,000 have been accepted. "We are the fifth-highest country in the European Union in terms of applications".

International Women's Day

Pool Moncloa/J.M. CuadradoThe government approved a declaration on the occasion of International Women's Day, to be held on Wednesday, 8 March, which reaffirms its commitment to equal treatment and opportunities for men and women, and establishes ongoing work, at both a national and an international level, on the prevention and fight against all forms of discrimination against women as a priority.

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo stressed that all forms of violence against women, particularly gender-based violence, will be condemned.

Other agreements

The government approved a review of registry demarcation rules, whereby the number of registries will be adjusted to the current needs of the service and thus improve the service received by citizens.

The government also authorised the implementation of emergency works to repair the storm damage caused to the coastline of Catalonia in December, in the provinces of Barcelona, Gerona and Tarragona, for a sum of 410,000 euros, charged to the General State Budget.

It also appointed the Central Government representatives who, together with the Minister for Home Affairs, will form part of the National Civil Protection Council. It also approved the National Programme to control and eradicate the Guatemalan potato moth, a plague that is affecting potato tubers in certain parts of Galicia and Asturias.

Economic figures

During his appearance at the press briefing following the Council of Ministers, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo reviewed the economic figures announced this week. In this regard, he underlined that recorded unemployment fell in February by 9,355 people and in the last year by 402,110, which represents "the largest year-on-year reduction on record". He also highlighted that social security contributor numbers increased by 74,080 in January which, in seasonally-adjusted terms, "has enjoyed more than three years of growth".

Pool Moncloa/J.M. CuadradoAccording to the minister, these figures confirm "the buoyant period being enjoyed by the Spanish economy and the strength of economic growth, accompanied by strong job creation thanks to a policy based on fiscal consolidation and reforms".

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo also quoted the National Institute of Statistics figures that show that the economy maintained average growth of 3.2% in 2016, and that "it will be able to reach the target of growth of 2.5% forecast for 2017". The Spanish economy is growing at twice the rate of the European average and, furthermore, this is quality growth because we have sustained growth based on a model shift. Our budget policy has contributed to this, specifically through reducing taxes, and with economic growth that has almost wholly transferred to job creation thanks to the labour reform", he added.

The Government Spokesperson also highlighted the increased contribution of exports to growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2016 and the 13.8% increase in spending by inbound tourists in January this year.

On this point, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo reiterated the importance of approving the General State Budget in order "to underpin the economic recovery and increase international credibility".

Financing of regional governments

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo reported that the Government Delegate Committee for Economic Affairs agreed on Thursday to allocate the regional governments, a sum total of 11.94 billion euros for the first two quarters of 2017 through the Financing Fund. The committee also established a new raft of additional conditions so that regional governments can access funding in relation to market unity, e-government and public employment.

The Government Spokesperson highlighted that both the Regional Liquidity Fund (Spanish acronym: FLA) and the Local Authority Financing Fund have contributed to overcoming the crisis, to regional dialogue and have activated the principle of inter-regional solidarity. Through these funds, he stated, regional governments obtained more than 215 billion euros and local authorities more than 6.4 billion euros between 2012 and 2016.

The minister pointed out that Catalonia is the region to receive the most funding under the FLA in the first half of this year (3.6 billion euros out of a total of 10.28 billion).

Room to reach agreement with stevedores

Pool Moncloa/J.M. CuadradoThe Council of Ministers listened to a report from the Minister for Public Works, Íñigo de la Serna, on the Royal Decree-Law on Stevedores, approved on 24 February.

At the meeting, Íñigo de la Serna referred to the letter sent by the European Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, in which she pointed out that the Royal Decree-Law ensures full compliance with the ruling handed down by the Court of Justice of the European Union which ruled against Spain in the understanding that its regime for stevedores went against the freedom of establishment. In her letter, Violeta Bulc promised that, once the law is ratified by Parliament, the European Commission will send a writ to the court requesting that the proceedings be concluded.

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo urged the employers' association and the trade unions to reach an agreement within the framework of the collective bargaining agreement. "If the parties have good intentions, then we are convinced that it is perfectly possible to maintain jobs, and the government is willing to help in this matter". The government, he added, is prepared to offer more time so that an agreement can be reached.

The Government Spokesperson recalled that, if this agreement is not ratified, Spain will face a fine of 21 million euros. Furthermore, as from the time at which a ruling exists for not having enforced the court's binding decision, "which may be given at any time", we will need to pay 134,000 euros a day, "which would need to be paid by all the people of Spain", pointed out Íñigo Méndez de Vigo. The minister called for responsibility from the political parties and pointed out that the European Commissioner will appear before the Joint Committee on the European Union and Public Works in the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday, 7 March.

Current affairs

When asked about the negotiation progress for the General State Budget for 2017, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo reiterated the government's commitment to present the draft bill at the end of March or beginning of April.

He also reported that the Minister for the Treasury and Public Function, Cristóbal Montoro, is talking with the trade unions and the regional governments on the need for more teaching staff, as was agreed at the latest Conference of Regional Presidents. "The minister has every intention of reducing the number of interims, that is under negotiation at this time and we are sure that it will accompany the Budget when it is presented", he remarked.

Pool Moncloa/J.M. CuadradoAs regards the decision adopted by the parties that govern in Catalonia taken in recent days to speed up the process to break away from the rest of Spain, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo called for dialogue, responsibility and calm. He also urged the Regional Government of Catalonia "to uphold the law, including its own laws" in relation to the opinion from the Consell de Garanties Estatutàries [Council of Statutory Guarantees] which unanimously declared the part of the Budget of the Regional Government of Catalonia related to the referendum to be unconstitutional and unlawful.

In relation to the declarations made by Ciudadanos on the breach of the agreement that led to this party supporting Mariano Rajoy at the investiture session, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo said that the government will comply with what it signed. He also underlined that the government started to work less than four months ago, while the agreement is for a term of office lasting for four years, and also stated that some of the commitments included in this agreement require an absolute majority and hence the support of other parliamentary groups.

As regards the repercussions at a national level of the breakdown in the pact agreed with this political force in Murcia after the President of the Regional Government of Murcia received a court summons, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo argued that "one-off situations that take place in a certain location should not affect something as important as the General State Budget". The approval of the public accounts, he argues, affects the financing of key public services and of the regional governments.

When asked about the bus belonging to the organisation Hazte Oír that a judge has banned from appearing in the streets because of the slogans on its side against transsexuality, the Government Spokesperson stressed that the government "is in favour of respecting diversity and is against any form of gender discrimination", "because of its convictions and because these are international obligations". In relation to whether it should withdraw the status of Hazte Oír as being in "the public interest", he pointed out that this question falls to the Minister of Home Affairs which will "act according to a judicial ruling".