The Balearic Islands have been forced to return 3.3 million of European funds from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism and will soon return another 3.6 million. In the end and for the time being, the government will have had to return 36% of the 18.5 million received by the Ministry of Economy and Finance chaired by Antoni Costa. The first 3.3 million mentioned above were returned by decision of the previous government of Francina Armengol. The reason for this is the restrictions and the lack of interest in the investment programs imposed by the Sánchez government.
Costa told Parliament on Tuesday that the money was being returned due to the restrictions and deadlines imposed by the ministries to execute the projects with these funds. He also stressed that the government of the nation imposes allocating European funds to programs that have no interest for the Balearic Islands. In this sense, he cited the example of a programme launched by call for tenders which did not register any applications.
Thus, Antoni Costa clarified that from the ministry he leads “Only 36% of European funds have been returned of the Recovery and Resilience mechanism, in no case,” he added, “more than half of said funds,” as stated by the PSIB-PSOE.
Costa thus responded to a question posed by the socialist deputy Carles Bona, to whom the minister asked him to “stop lying” or, failing that, to “make false declarations” because “the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Innovation received 18.5 million euros, of which, to date, 3.3 million have been returned, at the request of the previous government of Francina Armengol, and, unfortunately, The state had to be informed of the intention to return an additional 3.6 million, which represents 36% of the funds, not more than 50%, as you say.
In detail, the advisor stressed that “the funds corresponding to the Single Program have not been executed, including three of the four projects for the deployment of broadband infrastructure, and the reasons are very simple, in fact it was the Government of Armengol that communicated to the State.
Thus, Costa recalled that “on June 28, 2022, the government of the socialist Francina Armengol informed the State that it would not execute the single program, dedicated to industries and companies, because in the Balearic Islands there are no purposes established by the State.” “490,000 euros and 15,700 euros of interest are returned and, in this same letter, 1.1 million euros are waived,” he added.
The minister also mentioned the Program dedicated to Buildingswith 1.7 million euros. “The call is launched, under the conditions set by the State and the result is a great success, zero beneficiaries,” he said ironically, emphasizing the “A miserable failure and the return of 1.7 million euros.”
Finally, Costa mentioned the Programme dedicated to services for Town Halls which, as he indicated, “is inadequate to the needs of the Balearic Islands”. To this call, he recalled, “eight town halls have presented themselves, and five resign immediately when they see the paperwork involved”. “Restitution of 3.6 million euros that we had to make”, indicated the councilor.
“This is what we have been saying from the beginning. We do not want to return a single euro, but the management of European funds by the Sánchez government prevents the possibility of not making the return. Too much bureaucracy, too short deadlines and a mismatch with the needs of the citizens of the Balearic Islands. And I am not saying it, the Armengol government has already said it, so stop lying.
With these words, the minister wanted to respond to the accusations of “lack of management” made by the socialist Carles Bona, who accused the government of “being the opposition to the Sánchez government” and of “doing nothing” to avoid the return of European funds from the recovery and resilience mechanism, which, as he warned, means “worse public services for the Balearic Islands.”
Armengol returned 3.4 million
The Minister of Education and Universities, Antoni Vera, revealed this Tuesday that the Pact has returned four days before the 2023 regional elections 3.4 million euros of European funds for the creation of Vocational Training (VT) places.
Vera thus responded to the opposition’s criticism regarding the exemption of five million euros also allocated to the creation of FP places.
This return, ministry sources said, is due to the failure to develop the recognition and accreditation of professional skills, training in digitalization and sustainability applied to productive sectors and a small part of the resizing of the FP offer.
The advisor recalled that Jobs cannot be created if there is no room for them and he accused the PSIB of suffering from “selective amnesia”. The Education Minister pledged to continue promoting the expansion of places and solving the structural problem of lack of infrastructure.
Vera responded to the PSIB MP Amanda Fernandezwho criticised the fact that five million euros had been cut and warned against the attempt to privatise education after 30 per cent of the new places had been created.
At another point in the debate, the councilor also spoke out against the socialist’s criticism. Alex Pitaluga regarding the development of places with private schools instead of creating new ones.
The mayor argued that the spaces were created to ensure universal access to the free 0-3 stadium because there were not enough public spaces.
