Council of Ministers

Government of Spain to allocate 40 million euros more to grants, which will benefit some 800,000 students

2019.7.12

  • x: opens new window
  • Whatsapp: opens new window
  • Linkedin: opens new window
  • Send: opens new window

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The Council of Ministers authorised the so-called Royal Decree on Thresholds, governing the student grants and the financial support system for the 2019-2020 academic year. The regulations, which define the requirements for entitlement to financial support, increase the number of applicants this year with an entitlement to grants and raise the amounts to be received by some of these.

The Acting Minister for Education and Vocational Training and Government Spokesperson, Isabel Celaá, explained that the initial budget of 1.47 million euros allocated to grants and financial support this year is being increased by approximately 40 million euros. This will allow 17,000 students to receive help who were not previously entitled or received a lower amount than they will now.

The minister went on to explain that the changes made to the Personal Income Tax calculation in 2018 mean that the number of applicants entitled to financial support can be increased, as well as the number of applicants receiving the highest amounts.

Isabel Celaá said that the grants "are targeted at a little over 800,000 students", both university and non-university students. She also said that the application period is being brought forward a month this year in response to student demands to receive their money earlier.

Patricia Ortega, first female general in the Spanish Army

The Government has promoted Colonel Patricia Ortega García to the rank of Brigadier General of the Polytechnic Engineers Corps of the Spanish Army. This promotion took place because the vacancy arose and a proposal was made by the Army Chief of Staff.

The Government Spokesperson highlighted the fact that Patricia Ortega will thus become the first woman in the Spanish Armed Forces to climb the ranks to the position of general, 30 years after women were first allowed to join.

Approval of this appointment represents a milestone in the culmination of the process to integrate women into the Spanish Armed Forces. Women currently account for 12.7% of all military personnel, two points above the NATO average.

Supply of combat vehicles

Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la BellacasaIn terms of defence issues, the Council of Ministers authorised an 8x8 combat vehicle manufacturing supply contract.

Isabel Celaá said that this contract forms part of the necessary renewal of the Spanish Army's fleet of terrestrial combat vehicles, the current BMRs, which will be replaced by the so-called 8x8 vehicles.

Furthermore, the minister said that the contract is worth an estimated two million euros and will be spread out over annual periods between 2019 and 2030.

Isabel Celaá stressed that production of the new armoured vehicle will create approximately 650 direct jobs and a further 1,000 indirect jobs. It will have a significant impact on the economies of Alcalá de Guadaira (Seville), Trubia, (Asturias), Aranjuez (Madrid) and Andoain (Guipuzcoa), towns where the companies taking part in the project have their production plants.

Exhibition at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

The Government has granted the State guarantee for the exhibition entitled "The Impressionists and Photography", which will be on display at the National Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum between 15 October 2019 and 26 January 2020.

Second extradition request for 'Josu Ternera'

The Council of Ministers made a second extradition request to France for the member of terrorist group ETA, José Antonio Urruticoechea Bengoechea, 'Josu Ternera', who was arrested in France on 19 May.

On 28 June, his extradition was requested for the attack against the Guardia Civil Headquarters in Zaragoza in 1987. On this occasion, the request was made by Central Criminal Investigation Court Nº 1 of the Spanish National High Court based on the alleged offence of terrorist murder of Luis María Hergueta on 25 June 1980, in Vitoria.

Current affairs

Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la BellacasaThe Government Spokesperson welcomed the news that the Spanish economy is growing faster than the EU average as "an indicator of great strength". This fact was highlighted by the European Commission when it upwardly revised its economic growth forecasts for Spain in 2019 to 2.3% of GDP, almost double the 1.2% forecast for the Eurozone.

Isabel Celaá explained that strong investment is driving the economy forward, which in turn is driving the labour market. According to figures she announced, Spain surpassed 19.5 million people in gainful employment in 2018 with 1.5 million new jobs and the "highest number of National Insurance contributors since comparable records began in any month of any year".

Regarding the investiture session called for 22 and 23 July, Isabel Celaá said that the offer made by the Acting President of the Government and candidate, Pedro Sánchez, to Unidas Podemos for a coalition government remains on the table and contains a "progressist and open programme proposal" on which work can be done.

The Government Spokesperson added that the proposal also includes posts in the government structure, although not on the Council of Ministers, but insisted that the negotiations should start with the project and not the individuals "because what the people of Spain care about is not who but rather what".

Non official translation