The Government stresses institutional collaboration and dialogue with the autonomous communities as fundamental tools for co-governance and improving the lives of citizens

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, receives the President of the Balearic Islands, Margalida Prohens (Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has continued his round of meetings with the regional presidents, where he has stressed institutional collaboration and dialogue with the autonomous communities as fundamental tools for strengthening the model of co-governance promoted by the Executive and improving the lives of citizens.

The head of the Executive met with the President of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Margalida Prohens, and the President of the Regional Government of Extremadura, María Guardiola, at Moncloa Palace. After each meeting, the Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, reported on its content and reaffirmed the Government's desire for dialogue with all the communities after the rejection by the president of the Community of Madrid of her bilateral meeting with Sánchez: "We will continue to reach out to further work on co-governance."

Torres highlighted the employment data released on Friday, which places Spain at a record high in terms of employment (21.82 million workers) and active population (24.57 million); with an unemployment rate of 11.2%, the lowest since 2008. "The data is extraordinary and should make us all happy, because it demonstrates the strength of the Spanish labour market," said the minister.

Collaboration on migration issues and commitment to the Balearic Islands

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his meeting with the President of the Balearic Islands, Margalida Prohens | Pool Moncloa / Jose Manuel Álvarez

In his meeting with the president of the Government of the Balearic Islands, the president of the Government of Spain stressed the importance of collaboration and solidarity among all the communities in order to provide an urgent and structural solution to the migration issue. Sánchez has called for the involvement of all the autonomous regions and parties to approve and reform the Law on Foreigners. "We once again ask the PP to come back to the table," Minister Torres said.

The head of the Executive has highlighted the value of the Government's action to make housing a basic pillar of the Welfare State. In the case of the Balearic Islands, the Government has earmarked a record investment of 204 million euros in this area. Sánchez has reiterated the Executive's will to guarantee access to housing at an affordable price; and has called on the autonomous communities to apply and develop the approved measures in their territories.

In terms of transport, the president highlighted the 924 million euros in direct investment in railway infrastructure since 2018, as well as the commitment made by the Government to update the railway and road agreements on the islands. In turn, Sánchez praised the investment of 153 million euros in Tourism Sustainability Plans and another 20 million euros as an extra-peninsular territory.

The head of the Executive has also highlighted the investment figures that endorse the commitment to the Balearic Islands. Since 2019, the islands have received funding of 20.16 billion euros, 61.5% more than in the last six years of the previous government. In addition, from 2022, the Executive complements Balearic Islands funding with compensation for insularity, which in 2023 meant an extra investment of around 110 million euros.

Commitment to infrastructures and transport in Extremadura

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, together with the President of Extremadura, María Guardiola | Pool Moncloa /Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

In his meeting with the president of the Government of Extremadura, the head of the Executive appraised the increase in investment in the region, which in 2024 will receive 4.448 billion euros, 15.9% more than in 2023. With Sánchez at the head of the government, Extremadura has received almost 6 billion euros more than under the previous government. In addition, the region has received 2.063 billion euros in European funds.

The president of the Government of Spain has focused on his Executive's investment efforts to promote Extremadura's infrastructures. Sánchez underlined the objective of completing the high-speed line to Extremadura by 2030. Likewise, the head of the Executive has expressed his support for irrigation in Tierras de Barros (Badajoz), a project that the Government declared to be of general interest in 2021 and which is now in the hands of the Regional Government for its definitive implementation.

With regard to the future of the Almaraz nuclear power plant, Sánchez reaffirmed the Government's commitment to a clean and renewable energy model, capable of generating employment and decarbonising the economy and, at the same time, he conveyed the Executive's desire for dialogue with the Regional Government on energy matters.

Friday 22 November: Catalonia, Castilla y Leon, Ceuta and Melilla

The president of the Government of Spain will continue his round of meetings on Friday 22 November at Moncloa Palace, where he will meet with the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Salvador Illa (10:00); the President of the Government of Castilla y León, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco (12:00); the President of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas (16:00); and the President of Melilla, Juan José Imbroda (17:30).

Non official translation