Bilbao (EFE).- Minister Arantxa Tapia has indicated that “a minimal part” of the European funds for economic recovery have arrived in the Basque Country and has doubted that they are being used to transform SMEs.
The Minister of Economic Development, Sustainability and the Environment of the Basque Government has participated in Bilbao in a conference organized by Executive Forum.
In that forum, the counselor Tapia asked herself: “Are European funds being used to transform our SMEs?”
“I doubt it -he replied-, because they are arriving in drops and in those large PERTEs -Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation- our SME is very difficult” to be contemplated by the demanded requirements.
The counselor Tapia has considered that “it would be necessary to address other types of measures to reach this last SME and help it to transform”.
In his opinion, the lack of experience of shared work between the public and private sectors “is being one of the main difficulties for Next Generation European resources” to reach companies.
“It can be improved a lot”
The counselor Tapia has insisted that in the arrival and development of European funds “much can be improved.”
He explained that the aid provided for the implementation of the electric vehicle, energy efficiency and development of self-consumption “are lines that are working well”, which reach the final consumer.
However, they do not reach “directly to the industry itself, except for the aid program for energy efficiency,” he pointed out.
In relation to aid for environmental actions, he has opined that “probably not” they are helping to transform the sector.
Regarding the line of funds related to the recovery of waste, he has criticized that “18 million of 150,000 million have arrived”, which have been distributed.
The counselor Tapia has also indicated that of the large PERTEs, the only one “absolutely awarded” is the one related to the promotion of the electric car and “we expect the resources this February”, she added.
Renewable energy
He has considered that it is “fine” that the administrative procedure for the location of wind farms is “very guaranteed”, but has said that it is “excessively long”.
For this reason, it has advocated being “a little more agile” due to the existing climate emergency.
In his speech, he also highlighted that the Basque Country has “enormous opportunities” at the current moment of transformation.
In this situation, he has opted to delve into public-private collaboration, which “has worked” so far.
It has also considered that political and institutional stability in the Basque Country also “contributes” to future development in the face of the “more turbulent” environment in other areas.
In reviewing the actions in which the Basque Government is working, he stated that “there are several projects on the table” in the field of renewable energy.
He has trusted that in addition to the authorizations given for the construction of two wind farms in Azazeta and Labraza, someone else can “start”.
The counselor explained that first it is necessary to analyze the environmental, agricultural use and cultural and heritage conditions that may exist, within the framework of an administrative procedure that is “very long”.
Tapia has also advocated “protecting” Basque industry and “facilitating” the construction of wind farms with Euskadi technology instead of “decarbonizing based on industrial development” in the US and China.
Reduce energy dependence
He recalled that currently 90% of the energy in the Basque Country is imported and that the objective is to reduce this dependency, although in an industrial economy like the Basque one “we are not going to be self-sufficient”, he pointed out.
“We need renewable energy,” said Tapia, who has advocated promoting “social participation” in the process for its development.
He has pointed out, in this sense, that citizens are shown in the surveys in favor of renewable energies, but that “then it becomes a little more complicated when the necessary installation approaches our house.”
Given this, he pointed out that “we must be brave and say yes, with that social participation”, and has asked “not to turn our backs on this”.
The counselor has also referred to waste management, among other issues.
He explained that the Basque Government is working with the Provincial Councils to establish a fee higher than that established in the Tax on the deposit of waste in landfills.
Likewise, it has considered “probable” the subsequent dialogue with other Autonomous Communities with the aim of making the so-called “garbage tourism” disappear.
Euskadi’s claim is to be “self-sufficient” from the point of view of discharges, as he has said.
New industry in favor of sustainable mobility
Among other actions, it has also advocated for the development of a new industry in favor of sustainable mobility with new biofuels and synthetic fuels.
As he has argued, “the new mobility is not going to be only electric and it is not going to be electric in 2035, no matter how much we have decided in Europe that we are not going to sell a single vehicle that is not electric.”
On the other hand, it has opted to retain and attract talent and has advocated reflecting on making the Basque Country Euskadi attractive for face-to-face work in its companies.
As he has considered, teleworking, which is “attractive” to many young people, “does not help excessively to develop creativity and new ideas.”
In addition, and compared to those who think that young people leave due to lack of opportunities, they have considered that they do so because they want to have an international experience.
hydrogen corridor
On the other hand, he has opined that it is not enough that in the project of the Mediterranean corridor for the transport of green gas and hydrogen a warehouse is foreseen in the Basque Country and has affirmed that “the Atlantic corridor must be developed”.
As he has revealed, “the Basque Country is an industrial country that needs connections” and “to be well present in Europe.”
In Euskadi “we have always been international, we have always been European” and “we think that the connection of the State with Europe cannot only be with the Mediterranean axis”, he stated.
As he has claimed, “the Atlantic corridor must be developed because, otherwise, it seems that only the Mediterranean exists and the Atlantic is for vacations.”
The counselor has indicated that Euskadi can be connected “from Irún”, but has added that “France also has to do its homework”. EFE