The Government of Spain will finance in advance and in full more than 370 works for the repair, restitution and reconstruction of municipal infrastructures affected by the DANA

The Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, presides over the constitution of the committee of experts on DANA, which is also attended by the Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant

The Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory has approved the ministerial order granting the direct concession of 1.745 billion euros to the town councils of the province of Valencia, Letur (Albacete), Mira (Cuenca) and Alhaurín de la Torre (Malaga), to finance in full the repair, restoration or reconstruction of infrastructure, equipment or municipal facilities and services and the provincial road network damaged by the DANA between 28 October and 4 November 2024.

€1.745 billion for more than 370 interventions in municipal administrative centres, cultural and sports facilities, schools, social care centres, municipal markets, cemeteries, local police and civil protection centres, transport facilities and care centres. "And in addition to this, we will fund any road works that are required. In total, there could be around 500 interventions", added the Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory.

Ángel Víctor Torres, head of the department in charge of distributing and coordinating direct subsidies to local authorities for reconstruction, stressed that the order includes "unprecedented measures applied in record time to the largest amount of resources mobilised for reconstruction in our history".

In his appearance on Monday at the Government Delegation in the Valencian Community, Torres recalled that, with the ministerial order published today in the BOE (Official State Gazette), the government is fulfilling the commitment made on 23 January by the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, to the mayors of 78 affected municipalities.

The minister highlighted the effort made in his department, given that "it has taken us only 11 days to get the machinery up and running. Six days after it was approved by the Council of Ministers".

Changes to the financing of works

Until now, the Government of Spain had assumed, as a matter of course, 50% of the costs of repairing municipal infrastructure damaged by natural disasters. The order from the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory for the DANA subsidies, establishes 100% financing by the government, with the additional pledge that the funds will be delivered in full and in advance to the local authorities.

Also, for the first time, local councils are allowed to sign an agreement with TRAGSA, enabling this public company to award and execute the works. Another new feature of this order is that infrastructures may be relocated and technical improvements may be added to them to increase their resilience to natural phenomena. In addition, the regular deadlines for the different phases have been extended to make it easier for municipalities to complete them.

Creation of the Committee of Experts

The appearance of Minister Torres at the Government Delegation in the Valencian Community took place today following the creation of the Committee of Experts, which is made up of 35 members.

The Committee includes specialists in constitutional law, risk prevention, economic and industrial development; experts in the field of land-use planning or rural and agri-food engineering; in environment and climate emergencies, geology, hydraulic infrastructures, equality, mental health, data analysis and artificial intelligence. It is also made up of representatives from six professional associations in the Valencian Community and from civil society (social, business, trade union and third sector groups).

This Committee, in addition to advising on reconstruction decisions, will collaborate in the drafting of a post-DANA reconstruction strategy, which will establish the lines to be followed in order to achieve the social and economic recovery of the area. On the other hand, the Committee will address long-term issues, with recommendations on how to deal with future crises.

The meeting was also attended by the Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant; the Secretary of State for Territorial Policy, Arcadi España; the Government Delegate, Pilar Bernabé; the 2nd Vice-President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Francisco José Gan Pampols; the Commissioner for Reconstruction, José María Ángel, and the President of the CSIC, Eloísa del Pino.

Distribution of aid

The Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, in order to implement this measure, has sought a technical assessment of the estimated cost of the works. These valuations have been used to determine the subsidy amounts, which provide for the following lump sums:

Non official translation