The Government of Aragón is regaining prominence on the national agenda by hosting, eleven years later, the Forum on Economy and Regional Policy. This meeting will take place on October 23 and 24 in Jaca and will gather representatives from the State, all autonomous communities, and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. The gathering will be held at a decisive moment: Spain must verify the execution of more than 3 billion euros of European funds before the year ends, or it risks losing part of the community co-financing allocated for the period 2021-2027.
In this context, Aragón aims to certify at least 60 million euros. However, according to current data, the community will not only meet but will exceed this threshold, reaching 65 million certified. This difference is significant, as each percentage point in execution represents millions of euros allocated to projects in innovation, employment, sustainability, and public services.
The Forum, co-chaired by the Ministry of Finance and the Government of Aragón through the Department of Finance, Interior, and Public Administration, will address both the current situation of the FEDER funds and the strategic challenges for their application. Among the prominent projects being financed in the community are industrial initiatives linked to the Strategic Technologies Platform for Europe (STEP), improvements in energy efficiency in educational and healthcare centers, modernization of emergency services, optimization of municipal waste management, and administrative digitization processes.
Aragón has recently been recognized by the European Commission with a favorable reallocation of European funds in the STEP reprogramming for November 2024, positioning itself among the three autonomous communities—along with Madrid and Catalonia—that have received the green light from Brussels to advance in their industrial autonomy. Moreover, these funds come with 100% financing for regional coffers, which means a direct injection without the need for regional co-financing.
Beyond the technical and financial aspects, the Forum also recovers a significant political dimension. In a context of budget uncertainty and inter-territorial tensions, coordination among administrations and transparency in the use of European funds become essential elements to ensure a balanced and sustainable economic recovery across the national territory.
