During his address in the Senate, Chinea advocated for a differentiated approach for the archipelago, arguing that its status as an outermost region amplifies the adverse effects of any international crisis. Key proposals included relaxing the spending rule, updating aid for goods transport, and increasing the financial allocation for the Programme of Options Specifically for Remoteness and Insularity (Posei).
“"The impact of energy tensions is not the same in the Canary Islands as in the rest of the country. Here it is faster, deeper, and more lasting."
The senator from La Gomera emphasized that this reality demands specific responses, not merely adaptations of measures designed for continental territories. In this regard, Chinea called for a dedicated plan for the Canary Islands that considers its unique economic, territorial, and fiscal characteristics. He warned that the Economic and Fiscal Regime (REF) could become an obstacle if not adequately compensated by the State.
Among the concrete proposals, Chinea highlighted the need to make the spending rule more flexible, arguing that current fiscal restrictions limit the capacity of public administrations to act in a context of successive crises. He also focused on the structural surcharges of goods transport, exacerbated by international instability, requesting that state subsidies be updated according to real costs and constant euros.
Finally, the senator advocated for strengthening the primary sector through an update of the Posei allocation, defining it as a key structural tool for the economic, social, and territorial sustainability of the Canary Islands. He also stressed the need for greater institutional coordination between the Spanish Government and the Canarian Executive to design and apply concrete, measurable measures promptly, based on the recent agreement between the president of the Government of the Canary Islands and the minister of Territorial Policy.
In his rebuttal, Chinea also introduced the debate on internal inequalities within the archipelago, with particular attention to the non-capital islands such as La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. He reiterated ASG's proposal to implement an IRPF tax bonus for residents of these three islands, following the successful model already in place in La Palma after the volcanic eruption.
