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Brussels – Spain is among the EU countries that have received the least percentage of recovery funds so far with respect to the resources allocated to it, with 38.420 billion euros representing 23.6% of the total, less than the European average and below Italy or France.
The Spanish plan consists of 163,000 million (79,850 million in direct aid and 83,160 million in credits), which means that the country still has to absorb three out of every four euros allocated to it before the recovery fund expires in 2026.
This figure is lower than the EU average of 35.9% and is far from the figures for France and Italy, who have already obtained 58% and 52.7% of the aid allocated to them, according to the analysis carried out by EFE of the data from the European Commission’s platform for monitoring the recovery fund.
In fact, Spain’s rate is the ninth lowest in the club: only Sweden, Netherlands, and Ireland (which have received nothing), Hungary (8.8%), Belgium (17.3%), Poland (19%), Cyprus (21.5%), and Germany (22.3%), are behind.
The ranking is led by Denmark, with 59.3%, and in the leading positions are also other countries such as Estonia (53%), Slovakia (41.7%) or Greece (41.4%).
In absolute terms, Spain is the second country with the most funds received behind Italy (102,000 million) and ahead of France (23,390 million), Greece (14,880 million), Poland (11,390 million), Romania (9,410 million) and Portugal (7,770 million).
Regarding the number of tranches completed, the leaders are Italy, which has already unlocked four payments and has already requested the fifth, Croatia, also immersed in the fifth review, and Portugal, which has already obtained the fourth of its disbursements.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise argues, consulted by EFE, that the calculation of the percentage on non-repayable aid “is a fairer metric given the fact that Spain is the second largest recipient of funds”.
Under this criterion, Spain would be the sixth most advanced with 47.7%, behind Denmark (59.3%), France (58%), Italy (52.8%), Croatia (54.2%) and Estonia (53%).
In any case, the department headed by Minister Carlos Cuerpo emphasizes that it is working to receive “all the funds allocated to the country” since “they are key in the government’s efforts to modernize the economy at times of such global uncertainty”.
A year without payments
Spain paved the way for the reception of these aids and continues to be recognized by Brussels: the Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, recently assured in the European Parliament that the country began at the forefront and “so far has not communicated any problems” in the absorption of funds.
Indeed, it was the first partner to ask for and receive the first disbursement in 2021, which amounted to 10 billion, but it has already been more than a year without getting the green light for a new payment. The third tranche, of 6 billion, reached the public coffers on March 31, 2023.
The political paralysis caused by the electoral call in 2023, first, and the difficulties in advancing the reform of the unemployment subsidy, later, have slowed down the absorption in Spain of the anti-crisis aids and have caused delays with respect to the indicative calendar contained in the plan.
The government should have requested the fourth disbursement in June of last year, but the request did not reach the headquarters of the European Commission until December and the institution has since then been evaluating the 61 milestones that condition the disbursement.
In order to avoid a full payment of 10 billion and prevent Brussels from cutting this amount, it is necessary for the government to advance the reform of the unemployment subsidy which is still in the negotiation phase with the social agents.
In a recent interview with EFE, Minister Cuerpo assured that positive progress is being made in this area, but he did not rule out extending the deadline agreed with the community authorities to analyze compliance with the milestones linked to this tranche, which expires next May 20. (May 2)