Advance payments for the Archipelago reach a record €7.098 billion, and the decree approved on Thursday in Congress also facilitates the use of surplus for housing policies
The PSOE representative for the Canary Islands in Congress, Alicia Álvarez, highlighted on Thursday the approval by the Spanish Government of the Royal Decree Law setting advance payments for 2026, which will enable the Canary Islands to receive €7.098 billion, “the highest amount in its history within the autonomous financing system.”
This figure represents a 7.6% increase compared to the previous year, adding over €500 million to the regional treasury. Furthermore, incorporating the estimate for the 2024 settlement, the Canary Islands will receive a total of €8.167 billion through the autonomous financing system, an 8.6% increase compared to 2025, marking another record for the Archipelago.
Alicia Álvarez emphasised that these figures demonstrate the Spanish Government’s commitment to the Canary Islands and debunk any narratives regarding a supposed lack of resources to meet citizens’ needs. She also noted that local councils and island governments in the Canary Islands are set to receive historical funding this year, amounting to €1.437 billion, a 9.2% increase from the previous year.
“The Canary Islands today have more transfers than ever, more regional budget than ever, and more revenue than ever. However, residents continue to see essential services such as public health, dependency care, and education deteriorate, while no effective response is provided to the ongoing housing crisis facing the Archipelago,” she stated.
Housing as a Priority
The socialist representative reminded everyone that the decree approved on Thursday includes a second significant measure for the Canary Islands: the ability to allocate budget surpluses to housing policies. The regulation establishes an exceptional regime allowing local entities to use excess funds from 2025 and the following four years on housing-related initiatives, without the need for annual legal authorisations.
In this regard, Álvarez urged the Canary Islands Government to consider the opportunities presented by this measure and to lead a decisive response to the primary issue currently concerning the residents. “If housing is truly the priority proclaimed by the Canary Islands Government, there are now more tools than ever to act. It is time to transform those resources into real solutions for Canary Island families,” the socialist representative asserted.
