The Government of Spain earmarks €867 million for vocational training for workers

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The third Vice-President and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, and the Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports and Government Spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, at the press conference (Pool Moncloa / Carlos Herrero)

The Council of Ministers has agreed to distribute €867 million among the Autonomous Communities for the development of actions linked to the national Vocational Training system, aimed at the labour force. These funds will finance actions to be carried out until December 2025, from which both employed and unemployed workers will be able to benefit.

According to the Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports and Government Spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, this is "a very important budget item that will allow thousands of workers to obtain a certificate of professionalism or to take part in what is known as micro-training". In this regard, Alegría stressed that the initiative will enable the development of "flexible" training, as currently required by the labour market: "The productive fabric itself is demanding this from us in the face of the lack of labour which, thanks to this training that comes hand in hand with vocational training, we are able to meet".

Of the total of these funds, which come from the General State Budget, €696.5 million will be allocated to training for unemployed workers; €145.9 million to training for employed workers; and another €24.8 million to specific programmes organised by the communities, both for employed and unemployed workers.

More funding and more students in vocational education and training

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports and Government Spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, during her speech at the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa / Carlos Herrero

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports highlighted the increase in funding in this area since the approval of the last Vocational Training Act. According to the minister, since then the number of workers being trained in these courses linked to the Vocational Training catalogue has risen from 11% to over 20%.

"And also during these years, specifically since 2019", continued Alegría, "the funding this Government has allocated to Vocational Training has increased by 865%, which has allowed us not only to undertake the transformation and modernisation of the productive model, but also to put that important focus on VET".

In this regard, Alegría indicated that there are currently more than 1,130,000 young people enrolled in Vocational Training in Spain, which represents an increase of 35% in the last two years.

Sustainable development of the municipalities of Doñana

The Council of Ministers has regulated the €70 million to finance local projects that contribute to meeting the objectives of the Framework of Actions for the sustainable territorial development of the area of influence of the Doñana natural area.

The third Vice-president and minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, has pointed out that this is "another step forward" in the government's commitment to Doñana. Ribera has placed these actions within the framework of the agreement signed with the Junta de Andalucía in November 2023 for the latter to renounce the autonomous law "that put the viability of Doñana at risk" and allow the government to fulfil its obligations to the EU with regard to the protection of "these highly important wetland ecosystems".

The third Vice-President and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, at the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa / Carlos Herrero

The third vice-president recalled that major investments are being made in the area around Doñana linked to water policy to guarantee water and legal access to this resource. "But we know that restoring nature requires more than just environmental or water-related actions," said Rivera, who stressed the need to combine them with socio-economic initiatives involving the different administrations.

In the case of local administrations, last May the vice-president signed a general protocol of action with 14 mayors from the Doñana area, which is now materialised in the agreement adopted by the Council of Ministers. Teams from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and other departments have worked with the municipalities to identify the projects and programmes with the greatest demand or local interest. The transfer of funds will be finalised in an individual agreement with each municipality in the coming weeks.

Spheres of action

The €70 million are divided equally in two annual instalments - 2024 and 2025 - and will be distributed among the municipalities according to their surface area and population. The funds, according to Teresa Ribera, will make it possible to implement "in four or five years" actions in six major areas: generation of a circular economy; water purification and improvement of water supply and infrastructure; energy efficiency; sustainable mobility; renaturalisation of the Doñana environment and recovery of municipal land; and promotion of infrastructure for sustainable development, entrepreneurship and innovation.

The third vice-president pointed out that many other programmes have specific lines of funding, such as the PERTE for the Digitalisation of the Water Cycle, and that actions are still pending in areas like housing or assistance for seasonal workers and immigrants.

"Our intention is to show that the restoration of nature is not only always worthwhile, but requires an appropriate combination of environmental and socio-economic policies," he said. Ribera recalled that on the 18th of last year, the Law on the Nature Restoration Act came into force, providing Europe with a framework to guarantee both natural ecosystems and the economic activity and health of citizens.

President's trip to Africa and support for the Spanish Paralympic team

The third Vice-President and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, and the Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports and Government Spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, at the press conference | Pool Moncloa / Carlos Herrero

During her speech at the press conference, Pilar Alegría also highlighted the trip that the head of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, is starting today to Mauritania, Gambia and Senegal, three countries "of great strategic importance for Spain and the EU".

Alegría recalled that in February last year Pedro Sánchez travelled to Mauritania accompanied by the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, a trip that reflects "Spain's commitment" to this area and in which various projects were set in motion.

"This government is going to continue working in coherence with our migration policy with these African countries, reinforcing existing cooperation to achieve an effective and supportive management of migration, with a global policy and continued efforts", explained Pilar Alegría.

The Minister for Sport ended with a message of "support, recognition and congratulations" for the Spanish athletes who will take part in the Paralympic Games in Paris, which begin this week. A government representative, including the president and the minister herself, will travel to the French capital to accompany the 150 Spanish athletes, "a larger delegation than that of the Tokyo Games".

"I am sure that this magnificent delegation of 150 men and women who will take part until 8 September in Paris will give us much joy to celebrate. So, to all of them, especially to Marta Arce and Álvaro Valera, who will be our standard bearers tomorrow, I want to convey our affection, our support and our recognition", she concluded.

Non official translation