- The President of the Junta has rejected the energy model proposed by the central government for being discriminatory to the Community and has called for more investments in electrical infrastructures to meet all the territory’s needs
- He has also demanded an effective housing policy, state funding of 50% for education from 0 to 3 years, and proposed measures to address the shortage of doctors, such as increasing the positions in deficient specialties
June 6, 2025
Castilla y León | President of the Junta de Castilla y León
The President of the Junta de Castilla y León, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, participated today in the Conference of Presidents held in Barcelona, where he urged the Spanish Government to address various issues of interest to the people of the Community and the whole of Spain, from a commitment to defending the interests of Castilla y León, institutional loyalty, respect for the Rule of Law, and responsibility to citizens.
During the meeting, Fernández Mañueco called on the Spanish Government to make urgent investments to halt the deterioration of state-owned infrastructures. In this regard, he highlighted the need for the central Executive to reconsider the decision to eliminate 346 bus stops and 10 High-Speed stops in Segovia, Medina del Campo, and Sanabria, actions that particularly harm rural areas and the inner Spain, which need more services and not cutbacks.
He also called for a definitive boost to the Atlantic Corridor, with connections to all provinces of Castilla y León, on equal terms with the Mediterranean Corridor, due to its importance for business competitiveness and addressing the demographic challenge
Furthermore, he denounced the serious deficits in telecommunications, with nearly 20% of the territory lacking adequate Internet access, and demanded state investments to guarantee connectivity, mobility, and economic development throughout the territory.
Energy Model
Fernández Mañueco expressed his rejection of the proposal presented at the regional summit on energy matters, which relegates Castilla y León and other autonomous communities in the new electrical grids.
Castilla y León is a national leader in renewable energy production and is energy solidary. In this context, Fernández Mañueco rejected the proposal that the Spanish Government tabled today on energy matters, which involves relegating Castilla y León and other autonomous communities in the new electrical grids.
The lack of electrical infrastructures and poor planning jeopardize the projects that the Junta de Castilla y León has underway in 1,400 hectares of new industrial estates. Therefore, the head of the regional government defended the use of all available energy sources, the sufficient capacity of energy infrastructures to meet consumption needs, and the improvement of self-consumption regulations in industries and estates.
Housing and Legal Security of Owners
In terms of housing, the President reiterated the need for serious and effective measures to be addressed in the Housing Sectorial Conference, and lamented that the central Executive has not made progress on the proposals presented by Castilla y León in the previous Conference of Presidents.
He also noted that the Junta de Castilla y León offers a solid policy in this area, with investments surpassing state proposals, more public housing offers for affordable rent and sale with bonuses for young people and in rural areas, as well as assistance and tax reductions for rent, purchase, and rehabilitation.
He also requested the availability of state-owned land and housing for autonomous communities; streamlining administrative procedures; reducing taxes for acquisition, rehabilitation, and rent; and promoting effective legislative reforms against occupation.
Economy and Support for Businesses
Additionally, despite Castilla y León’s economy showing record employment figures, challenges arise for established companies in the Community that endanger numerous jobs. Fernández Mañueco cited the case of Azucarera as an example, for which the Junta is working to find solutions and support workers, and called for the involvement and coordination of all administrations to address such situations.
Funding of 50% for Education from 0 to 3 years
In the education sector, the President highlighted that Castilla y León has become a national benchmark, with an educational system that is a leader and example for the whole of Spain.
He also emphasized that the Community guarantees free education from 0 to 16 years, fully funded by the regional Government, a commitment that represents a true milestone nationally. For this reason, he called on the central Executive to fund at least 50% of the 0 to 3-year segment, as it is already mandatory.
He also praised the success of Vocational Training in Castilla y León, with record numbers of students and a job placement rate close to full employment, and called for state support to finance student contributions during internships and to streamline curriculum update deadlines.
In the university field, he highlighted the measures implemented by the Junta that have strengthened staff and increased students through increased scholarships and reduced fees. In this regard, the President requested adequate funding for the implementation of the LOSU and for universities to remain free from political interference, being evaluated solely on results and quality.
Autonomous Funding and Debt
During his intervention at the Conference of Presidents, Fernández Mañueco rejected the debt condonation law, which, in addition to being discriminatory, forces some communities to assume the debt of others. He also advocated for the implementation of a clear, fair, sufficient, solidarity-based, multilateral, and transparent autonomous funding model, negotiated by all, responding to the real cost of services and ensuring equality in access to public services.
Healthcare Personnel
In the healthcare sector, Fernández Mañueco demanded that the Spanish Government take responsibility for planning the needs of specialist doctors and make the requests made by Castilla y León a reality. Specifically, he called for more training positions in deficient specialties, an extraordinary call for Family and Community Medicine, the immediate launch of the Emergency and Emergency Doctor specialty, and a quicker homologation of extracommunity titles.
The President appreciated that all MIR positions have been filled this year thanks to proposals from Castilla y León such as the elimination of the cut-off grade and the on-site selection of positions, and called for this formula to be definitively consolidated. He also emphasized that the Junta is fulfilling its part, with a greater offer of training positions and a specialist loyalty program, including new modalities and incentives, to ensure healthcare throughout the territory.
Finally, Fernández Mañueco defended that the Conference of Presidents should be a useful body and an opportunity to dialogue at the highest level on State matters, while also emphasizing the need to prepare in advance the issues to be discussed, with proposals, studies, and prior meetings, as well as monitoring and evaluating the agreements.