Mallorca: Middle East war aid row over 1% payout claim

Mallorca, Spain: a claim that just 1% of direct aid for sectors hit by the Middle East war has been paid sparks a row in the Balearic parliament in Palma on Tuesday. Socialist MP Marco Antoni Guerrero makes the claim; Antoni Costa, the Balearic government’s vice-president and economy minister, disputes it.

Paid or still being processed?

Costa says most of the more than 36 million euros in direct aid has either been paid or set in motion. He does not say how much of that total recipients have received.

For farming and other primary industries, almost one million euros has been paid through vouchers for local products, Costa says. Another 6.5 million euros is committed and being processed. The government is also working with the sector on 3.5 million euros to cover higher animal feed costs. Costa says it could not act sooner on this aid without a legal framework from the European Union and Spain’s government.

Vouchers, transport and credit

Costa says 3.8 million euros has been paid through retail vouchers. Industrial aid applications submitted without errors have either been paid or will be paid this week, he adds.

For transport, officials have proposed approving 751 applications worth 5.4 million euros. Costa says one million euros has already been paid to self-employed freight drivers and companies providing non-scheduled transport. The first round of taxi and private-hire vehicle grants began on Monday, with a second decision in preparation.

Costa also points to 75 million euros in credit lines and a further 45 million euros available to revise public contracts if needed. Guerrero argues that the previous Balearic government delivered aid faster during the war in Ukraine.

Topics: Environment · Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com