The Diplomat
In his traditional Christmas speech, His Majesty the King made an appeal not to waste the forthcoming arrival of European funds to modernise our country.
Don Felipe sent a message to Spaniards to politicians that, in the face of differences of opinion, they should be capable of reaching “consensus that guarantees greater stability, greater well-being in homes and gives families the necessary peace of mind about their future”.
Among other things, the Monarch reviewed the reasons for concern among Spaniards, such as the pandemic, the rise in electricity prices and the difficulties in finding employment, especially among the youngest people. And, after wondering whether we should allow ourselves to be carried away by pessimism, falling into conformism, hoping that the problems will resolve themselves, he replied: “I don’t think so”.
The King pointed out that there is a “historic opportunity, a demand to update, update and modernise our country, while remaining firm in our democratic principles and in the values that inspire our coexistence”.
He went on to say: “Our future as a country goes hand in hand with the European Union; this is how the majority of Spaniards understand it. Europe was an aspiration and an objective, and today it is a great political, economic, social and cultural reality, in which we share with our European national partners the same democratic values that offer us an institutional framework of stability, security and confidence. And also of new opportunities”.
In this respect, he indicated that “the fight against the pandemic, with all its complexity, has strengthened the Union itself, which has taken on very important commitments – unprecedented – in health, the economy and employment”.
“And now the Union is opening up to the opportunity to invest European funds in the modernisation of our country and our companies, in an economy that is necessarily increasingly digital, greener and more inclusive.
Don Felipe concluded his reference to the Next Generation European funds that Spain is to receive, assuring that “it is a unique opportunity that we cannot miss”.
Spain is expected to receive around 140 billion euros under the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM), aimed at supporting investment and reforms in Member States to achieve a sustainable and resilient recovery, while promoting the EU’s green and digital priorities. Of this amount, some 60 billion will be non-refundable transfers and our country will be able to access a maximum volume for implementation in the period 2021-22, corresponding to the REACT-EU Fund, to promote the green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy.
