Canary Islands Sound Alarm Over EU Funding Changes
Fernando Clavijo, President of the Canary Islands, has sent a strongly worded letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressing “grave concern” about proposed changes to the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework. The reforms could significantly impact funding for Europe’s outermost regions, including the Spanish archipelago.
Risk to Decades of Regional Support
Clavijo warns that the 2028-2034 financial proposal would transfer control of regional funding allocations to national governments, dismantling 50 years of cohesion policy designed specifically for Europe’s most remote territories. “This shift threatens to undo decades of progress in economic convergence and quality of life improvements funded directly by Brussels,” the president states.
Billions in Funding at Stake
Under the current 2021-2027 framework, the Canaries receive over €4.6 billion specifically for their outermost region status. Additional funds include €2.73 billion from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF), plus €1.878 billion from the Program of Options Specifically Relating to Remoteness and Insularity (POSEI). The proposed changes would make these allocations dependent on Spanish government decisions rather than guaranteed EU support.
Special Status Under Threat
The president argues the reforms represent a dangerous “renationalization” of EU budgeting that abandons clear funding distinctions for agriculture, fisheries, and regional development. Particularly concerning is the potential loss of POSEI – the key program compensating for the islands’ geographic disadvantages like remoteness, fragmented territory, and external supply dependence.
Mobilizing for Change
Clavijo pledges to work with Spanish and EU institutions to amend the proposal, stressing the need to maintain Article 349 of the EU Treaty which recognizes the special needs of outermost regions. The Canary Islands government has already issued a formal rejection of the financial framework, demanding solutions tailored to the archipelago’s unique circumstances.
Defending Island Livelihoods
The president emphasizes how EU funds directly impact Canarians’ daily lives, covering extra costs of remoteness and supporting vital local agriculture. Without protected funding streams, the islands’ ability to maintain competitive farming and fisheries – already challenged by their isolation – would be severely compromised.
Call for Continued Dialogue
Closing his letter, Clavijo expresses willingness to collaborate on designing a fairer financial framework that respects regional diversity. The Canary Islands government plans detailed analysis of all budgetary proposals in coming months, seeking solutions that preserve the archipelago’s hard-won economic protections.
