ASG spokesperson, Casimiro Curbelo, will convey to the president of the Government of Canarias the necessity to reinforce and adapt existing measures. Curbelo emphasizes that the effects of this international crisis not only reach the Canary Islands sooner but also with greater intensity.
In this regard, the politician will warn that the recent increase in fuel prices is generating a chain-reaction increase in transport costs, business expenses, and basic products, directly impacting household economies.
“"The decisions adopted are helping to alleviate the situation, but they are not fully compensating for the increased costs already borne by businesses and self-employed workers."
While positively assessing the package of measures approved by the state government and the agreement reached with Canarias for specific compensations, Curbelo will stress that it is “a first step that must have continuity.” He argues that the underlying problem is not solely fiscal but also structural, given the Archipelago's high external dependence, especially in energy and transport.
This dependence amplifies any global crisis, with a particular impact on the non-capital islands, where surcharges are higher and alternatives more limited. Therefore, the ASG leader will propose the need to enable additional tools such as greater fiscal flexibility, increased borrowing capacity, and mechanisms adjusted to the differential impact suffered by Canarias as an outermost region.
In the same plenary session, Curbelo will address a question to the vice president and minister of Economy to analyze the specific impact on the business fabric of the decree-law approved by the Government of Canarias, endowed with nearly 30 million euros, aimed at alleviating the crisis's effects. The spokesperson will acknowledge that the adopted measures—such as zero IGIC for energy products or support for strategic sectors—are moving in the right direction but will focus on their actual effectiveness.
Given this scenario, he will advocate for the continuous evaluation of measures and demand that the regional Executive specify the indicators it is using to measure their impact, as well as the possibility of introducing adjustments or reinforcements based on the results.
“"The economic fabric of the islands not only needs immediate relief measures but also certainty, planning, and the capacity for anticipation."
Curbelo will propose in the Chamber the need to advance towards a sustained strategy that strengthens the resilience of the Canarian economy against external crises, beyond punctual responses. In his opinion, the current situation demands coordinated, flexible institutional action adapted to the reality of the Archipelago, to prevent the effects of a global crisis from again translating into a disproportionate impact on Canarias.
