The President of the Government, Pedro Sanchezannounced this Tuesday the first direct aid package for those affected by DANA in the Valencian Country and other territories. The Council of Ministers has approved a plan worth more than 10.6 billion euros and includes both direct aid and tax exemptions or a line of guarantees.
Sánchez appeared in Moncloa to explain that the Government’s work will be carried out in a plan containing three phases. The first, which is already being developed, is the urgent response to the catastrophe. The second will be the reconstruction of the affected areas. Finally, a “relaunch and necessary transformation” phase will take place to adapt the territory to the climate emergency that is uniquely affecting the Mediterranean Sea.
The scope of action at the moment will be 78 municipalities (75 from the Valencian Country, two from Castilla-La Mancha and one from Andalusia). The door is left open to include some more. Sánchez has announced that the public aid provided for in the law for death, disability, damage to property and housing will be quadrupled, without income thresholds. The Government of Spain is going to transfer up to 72,000 euros for cases of disability.
Between 20,000 and 60,000 euros will be used to repair damaged homes. Up to 10,300 euros to change or repair furniture, appliances and belongings. And up to 37,000 euros to repair elements of the neighborhood communities.
They have also been included direct aid of 838 million euros for SMEs and the self-employed of the most seriously affected areas. These aid will be 5,000 euros for the self-employed and will range between 10,000 and 150,000 euros for companies, depending on their business volume. To receive them, all you have to do is indicate your bank account number and they will begin to be collected in less than a month, benefiting some 65,000 self-employed workers and some 30,000 companies.
The Government creates a extraordinary temporary disability of workers and self-employed workers with physical or psychological damage caused by DANA. The measure guarantees 75% of your salary from the first day of disability. The cessation of activity benefit has also been approved for self-employed workers who must stop or suspend their work, which corresponds to 70% of the contribution base.
The people who perceive the Minimum Living Income (IMV) or non-contributory pensions will see the amount increased by 15% over the next three months.
Regarding the Insurance Compensation Consortium, dependent on the Ministry of Economy, the first payments will begin this Wednesday. compensation to those families and companies that have lost their vehicle.
It also creates a DANA endorsement line worth 5,000 million euros for companies and the self-employed. And as a consequence of the labor reform, as Sánchez explained, the affected companies that temporarily suspend the activity of their workers through an ERTE will be exempt from paying 100% of the staff’s Social Security contributions, at least until February 2025.
Regarding the mortgages or consumer loansthe Government has reached an agreement with the banks through which citizens and SMEs will be able to postpone the full payment of their loans for 3 months, and pay only the interest for an additional 9 months.
Fiscal measures and support for town councils
The Government has approved a series of fiscal measures. Among them is the exemption from IBI payment corresponding to the fiscal year 2024 or the reduction of the IAE corresponding to the fiscal year 2024. Nor will Traffic or Police fees be paid when processing the deregistration of damaged vehicles or replacing driving licenses and DNI and aid for personal injuries is exempt from taxation. in personal income tax.
The Government’s support for the affected municipalities is reflected in the fact that the Executive will pay 100% of emergency expenses that they have. Up to 50% of all the works that have to be carried out in the coming months and years to repair infrastructure, facilities and services such as roads, sports centers, or civic centers will also be paid.
Other measures announced have to do with the reinforcement of courts and teams of notaries and property registrars. In the same way, an inter-ministerial Commission will be created that will coordinate the reconstruction and relaunching of the Plan for the Valencian Community.
In this sense, Sánchez has emphasized the implementation of mechanisms to strengthen bilateral cooperation with regional governments affected and, very especially, the Government of the Generalitat Valenciana.
Finally, it has already been formally requested to the European Commission Aid from the European Solidarity Fund. In addition, a request for approval will be made to the Council and the European Parliament – as a matter of urgency – for a new Regulation called RESTORE, which will allow the ERDF and ESF+ cohesion funds to be reprogrammed to dedicate part of their resources to alleviating the damage caused by natural disasters. .
“Much to do”
“It’s a good first step, with concrete, realistic measures that come into force now“, highlighted Sánchez during his speech. In the coming days, more will be approved. “There is a lot of work ahead, and we are going to be with our people until the end, with all the means and time that is necessary,” added the President of the Government.
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