Por Redaccion This line is funded by the Just Transition Fund, designed to support European territories most affected by the transition to a green economy. The Government of Asturias has today authorized an additional expenditure of eight million to finance the call for grants to large companies in strategic sectors for the transition to a zero-emission economy, which will now have a budget of 48 million. The initial allocation, set at 40 million, was insufficient to meet the demand.
The extension of credit aims to cover applications that meet the requirements of the call, launched in August 2024. The complexity of the evaluation process prevented the allocation from being resolved last year. Once the credit increase is approved, guaranteeing coverage of the needs raised by the companies, the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Industry, and Commerce will report in the coming weeks on the outcome of the call.
This line, financed by the Just Transition Fund (FTJ), supports the development of industrial investments linked to decarbonization, specifically projects of large companies and groups of large companies with SMEs, in order to support the value chain of renewable energies.
The grants cover expenses related to the manufacture of equipment and strategic components for the transition to a greener economy. Specifically, the following actions are financed:
- The production of equipment that promotes the transition to a net zero emissions economy, such as batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, electrolyzers, and CO2 capture, storage, and utilization equipment.
- The production of essential components designed and mainly used for the production of the aforementioned equipment.
- The production or recovery of fundamental raw materials necessary for the production of the aforementioned equipment and components.
Criteria related to job creation, environmental protection, and socio-economic impact on the territory have been taken into account for the selection of projects. Aspects such as the maturity and technical and economic viability of the actions have also been considered.
On the other hand, the regional government currently has a grant program for small and medium-sized enterprises under the FTJ, with an initial allocation of three million. The grants will finance the manufacture of batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, electrolyzers, and CO2 capture, storage, and utilization equipment. They will also cover investments that promote the production of essential components for this type of equipment.
Asturias is the region most benefited by the Just Transition Fund, with around 263 million allocated. Of this amount, 80% will be used to support business projects. Furthermore, the Principality was the first autonomous community to receive approval from the European Commission to start deploying the fund, having correctly met all requirements and controls.
More protected housing
The Government has given the green light to a budget of 4,106,054 euros for the joint contracting of the drafting of the project and the construction of an energy-efficient building that will house 21 publicly promoted affordable rental housing units on Severo Ochoa Street in Candás, Carreño. The building will also have storage rooms, garages, and a commercial space.The project will be financed with European funds from the Next Generation Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, with the budget divided into two annual installments: 2,985,938 euros for this year and 1,120,116 for the next. This year’s budget includes 132,813 euros for project drafting.
The Government of the Principality, through the Ministry of Territorial Planning, Urbanism, Housing, and Citizen Rights, plans to tender 400 new public housing units in 2025, in addition to the 600 from last year.
Support for sports
The Government Council has authorized an expenditure of 1,045,738 euros for grants to sports federations in the Principality. This budget represents a 48% increase compared to last year, when it had a budget allocation of 675,000 euros.These funds strengthen federated sports and ensure the sustainability of entities essential for promoting sports excellence in Asturias. The Ministry of Culture, Linguistic Policy, and Sports works closely with these entities, for example, in the organization of Sports Games or Spanish school championships.
At the same time, the Principality continues to support high-level clubs, which will also receive one million this year, as in 2024. Additionally, 30,000 euros have been allocated for the promotion of traditional sports and an additional 100,000 for grassroots sports organizations.
Culture has responded with increased budgetary support to the designation of Asturias as the European Sports Region 2025, an achievement reached through the ADN: Asturies, Sports, and Nature program, for which 470,000 euros have been allocated.
Advances for teaching staff
The Government Council has ratified the Agreement for the Improvement of Public Education, reached at the end of 2024 with the unanimous support of trade unions.The document includes five measures, with the reduction of the teaching load for Infant and Primary teachers to 23 teaching hours per week standing out. This initiative, which will come into effect in September 2026, will also benefit Asturian and Eonavian teachers, as well as the teaching staff of those stages. This agreement will involve the hiring of 486 new professionals, with an annual budget allocation of 23.5 million.
Additionally, up to three working groups will be created to improve the organization and operation of educational centers, by amending the resolutions of August 6, 2001; simplifying the administrative tasks of teaching staff, and analyzing a possible reduction in teaching hours for teachers over 55 years of age.
The last measure commits the Principality to replace the current unified management software for educational centers (Sauce). The change will be carried out in three phases, starting next school year, with an expected investment of three million.