There will be direct aid, tax exemptions, and financing for families and businesses, and it can be expanded
The President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, has announced that the Govern will approve a first package of measures in response to the possible economic consequences of the war in the Middle East worth 400 million euros at the Consell Executiu this Tuesday, with the aim of protecting the purchasing power of families and workers and the Catalan productive fabric.
At the ‘Gran Encuentro Expansión Catalunya’, organized on Monday by Expansión at the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau in Barcelona, he detailed that it will consist of direct aid, tax exemptions, and financing for families to cope with food and energy supply expenses, and for companies in affected sectors such as transportation, agriculture, and fishing.
It will be a first package of measures that will be expanded according to the evolution of the impact of the conflict, the president said, and stated that they are driven by the need for citizens and productive sectors not to bear the «extraordinary and unfair mistake» that this war represents.
The plan will have 40 measures, and the aid granted to companies will be «logically conditioned to the preservation of jobs,» and there will also be a commitment to accelerate the energy transition in Catalonia.
Following the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, the Govern announced that it would respond to the possible economic consequences, and therefore, the president has brought together parliamentary groups, employers, and trade unions in recent weeks to share the measures to be implemented, which he announced would be complementary to those adopted by the European Union and the Government.
CALLS FOR RESPONSIBILITY FROM PARTIES AND BUSINESSES
In this situation, Illa has once again appealed to unity and responsibility, first and foremost, of governments and opposition parties: «This is not the time to seek political gains, it is the time to think about the whole country,» he argued.
The same responsibility has been demanded of large companies and the financial system, to whom he warned that it is not the time to «seek extraordinary profits,» but to act in favor of the general interest and common good.
He defended that the priority of the Govern should be to protect the economy and social cohesion from the consequences of war, and that the way to do this is to act «with the utmost unity, responsibility, and consensus» and to coordinate between governments and the EU to be stronger, more effective, and better protect the interests of Catalonia.
«NECESSARY INTERVENTION THAT NO ONE DISCUSSES»
The president has justified the Govern’s intervention in the current exceptional situation where «the market is experiencing a disruption and is not functioning correctly,» to guarantee the safety and rights of citizens and companies.
«An intervention that no one discusses is necessary,» Illa continued, stating that the same criterion is followed by the Government regarding access to housing, something he believes is an obligation of governments.
WAR IN IRAN
Regarding the war in Iran, he noted that the «military demonstration» by the United States and Israel may not be interpreted as a show of strength, but the opposite, and he praised the EU’s reaction and leadership in it as seen by the Government.
He said that the Govern shares this position, and regarding Trump’s announcement of delaying attacks on power plants for five days after «very good conversations» with Iran, he expressed confidence that this situation will be consolidated and there will be a definitive de-escalation of the conflict.