Just Transition Allocations in Asturias (Spain)

In October 2019, the Spanish Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, announced that her department would allocate EUR 600 million to develop agreements promoting economic activity in areas undergoing energy transition. The announcement superseded a previous one, which allocated EUR 250 million. The most affected regions are Asturias, Castilla y León and Aragón. In November, Ribera started meetings in Asturias to negotiate compensation for the energy transition. The cost of restoring the environmental impacts of mining operations in the short term was evaluated at EUR 163 million and could generate up to 584 jobs per year. In addition, the central government raised EUR 2.25 million to carry out retraining for people who would lose their jobs in Asturias, Castilla y León and Aragón. A social plan was also included that included early retirement for employees of at least 48 years of age. The Ministry foresaw up to 300 million (from European funds) for energy projects related to renewable sources.

In February 2020, Brussels proposed that eight Spanish provinces receive resources from the fund for the industrial and energy reconversion of European regions, especially mining regions, to achieve the climate objectives set by the EU. The European Commission proposed A Coruña, Asturias, León, Palencia, Teruel, Almería, Córdoba and Cádiz, to which the Commission would assign the EUR 307 million planned for Spain. The document, according to the Community Executive Cañete, was a “starting point” for negotiations.

Further reading

La Nueva España (2019): Los “fondos verdes” por las térmicas prevén 163 millones para restaurar el paisaje. Read here.