The agreement, signed by the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, and the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, fulfills Article 161 of the Statute of Autonomy and responds to a historic demand. The Canary Islands-State Bilateral Cooperation Commission, held in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, culminates years of work to ensure Canarian participation in strategic infrastructure.
Fernando Clavijo highlighted that the agreement allows the Canary Islands to "have a say and address decisions" on essential infrastructure for mobility, freight transport, and the economy. The president valued the dialogue and rigor that led to this understanding, calling it a vital step for the present and future of the islands.
The Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Mobility, Pablo Rodríguez, emphasized that the Canary Islands are moving from being "mere witnesses" to becoming "protagonists" in airport decisions. He pointed to the monitoring of DORA III, with investments exceeding 1.8 billion euros between 2027 and 2031, as a key challenge.
The new body will have equal representation (four representatives from the Canary Islands and four from the State) and will meet quarterly. Its functions include gathering proposals before the development of master plans, issuing mandatory reports on these documents, and participating in the preparation of the Airport Regulation Document (DORA), including the calculation of airport charges.
Furthermore, the transfer of functions and services for the aerodromes of Antigua (Fuerteventura) and El Berriel (Gran Canaria), as well as nine heliports, has been agreed upon. This transfer, scheduled for January 1, 2027, will allow the Canary Islands to assume planning and authorization functions for these infrastructures, which are particularly important for emergency response.
Also participating in the Bilateral Commission on behalf of the Canary Islands were the Minister of Presidency, Nieves Lady Barreto, and the Minister of Finance, Matilde Asián, among others. Representing the Spanish Government were the Secretary of State for Transport, José Antonio Santano, and the Government Delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana, among others.
