Spain’s recovery and resilience – Supported projects: Reforms

Disclaimer: This page exclusively serves information purposes and is not an exhaustive database of projects funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Notably, the map provides a snapshot of projects based on the current status of their implementation. It does not reflect the distribution of the projects funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility across the different areas within Spain. The map will be regularly updated to include additional projects and information. The showcase of the projects in this page is without prejudice to any future assessment by the Commission in the context of the verification of the satisfactory fulfilment of milestones and targets pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The measure references mentioned below are those contained in the Annex to the Council Implementing Decision approving the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan and allow for easy identification of the measures

For more info on the projects, please contact the Commission’s representation: Maria Canal Foncuberta, Paz Guzman Caso de los Cobos

Entry into force of the Royal Decree on Renovation Offices (‘one-stop shops’)

(reference C2.R5 in the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan)

In October 2021, the Royal Decree on Renovation Offices entered into force in Spain. Renovation offices support households and communities of owners to renovate a residential building because they act as ‘one-stop shops’.

More information can be found on the website of the Spanish Official Journal here

Measures to improve the functioning of the food chain

(reference C3.R1 in the Recovery and Resilience Plan of Spain)

The objective of this reform is to improve the functioning of the food chain by amending the national legislation governing trade relations in the food chain, including but going beyond the transposition of Directive (EU) 2019/633.

More information can be found on the website of the Official Journal here.

Entry into force of Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition

(reference C7.R1 in the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan).

The Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition adopted in May 2021 sets binding renewable targets for 2030. The objective is for Spain to reach climate neutrality by 2050 (including a 100% renewable electricity system). The law also includes elements such as the reduction of administrative barriers and requirements for the installation of public recharging points.

More information can be found on the website of the Spanish Official Journal here and on the website of the government here

Creation of the Institute for the Just Transition Fund

(reference C10.R1 in the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The objective of the reform is to create the Institute for the Just Transition Fund. The objective of this Institute is to ensure a just and smooth transition in those territories affected by the closure of coal mines. To do so, the Institute, in cooperation with regional, local and social actors, identified the issues faced by the population in these areas and it is designing and implementing solutions to address them. The implemented programs include those related to reskilling and upskilling unemployed workers, depopulation, environmental restoration and green, digital and social infrastructure.

The creation of the Institute was published in the Official Journal on 5 May 2020, and on 25 March 2021 the Statute that governs the operations deployed by the Institute was published in the Official Journal as well.

More information can be found at the links below:

• www.transicionjusta.es
• Instituto para la Transición Justa (miteco.gob.es)

National Digital Competences Plan

(reference C19.R1 in the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The National Digital Competences Plan is aiming to ensure digital inclusion, reduce the gender digital divide, improve digitalisation of education, promote the acquisition of digital skills for workers and unemployed people, increase the number of ICT specialists and enable SMEs to have the necessary digital skills. The Plan was approved by the Council of Ministers on 26 January 2021 and will mobilise a total of EUR 3.750 million over the period 2021-2023.

More information can be found here

Regulation and Integration of Vocational Training

(reference C20.R2 in the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The Organic Law on the Regulation and Integration of Vocational Training aims to transform the vocational training system into a system that is conducive to quality employment for young people, capable of responding flexibly to people’s interests, expectations and aspirations for professional qualifications throughout their lives and to the demands of productive sectors.

The aim is to make vocational training a lever for economic and social transformation for the country.

The legislative text is the result of an intensive participative process which started at the end of 2020. It received input from the business sector, the Autonomous Communities, other ministerial departments, social partners, numerous associations and entities, as well as citizens. It also received favourable reports from the State School Council, the Economic and Social Council, the General Council of the VET, Sectoral Conferences and the Council of State. 

The law was finally adopted in the Senate on 23 March 2022.

More information can be found on the website of the government here.

Amendment of the Worker's Statute to support the reduction of temporary employment by streamlining the number of contract types

(reference C23.R4 in the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The objective of the reform is to reduce the very high number of temporary contracts in the private sector in Spain. In doing so, the reform seeks to give workers more stability and to enhance the productivity of firms.

More information can be found on the website of the government here and on the website of the Spanish Official Journal here and here

Taxes on single-use plastics and waste

(reference C28.R4, of the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The objective of the reform is to reduce the amount of waste in general and particularly from single-use plastic packaging. For this purpose, Spain has established a tax on depositing waste in landfills and on incineration and co-incineration plants. In addition, Spain introduced a new tax on single-use plastic packaging. Both taxes are put in place to increase incentives for the reduction of waste and the promotion of the reuse of materials and the circular economy.

Creation of a permanent unit within AIReF responsible for carrying out the spending reviews mandated by the government

(reference C29 R.1 in the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The objective of the reform is to improve the quality of public spending. For this purpose, the organisation of the independent fiscal authority of Spain (AIReF, Autoridad Independiente de Responsabilidad Fiscal) was reshuffled to add a permanent division responsible for Public Expenditure Assessment (Spending Reviews). This will strengthen AIREF’s capacity to carry out spending reviews. In doing so, it will also support the other objectives under this reform, which include the preparation and publication of further spending review reports over the coming years. The recommendations of the spending reviews will be monitored by a unit in the Ministry of Finance, which was created at the same time as AIReF’s Statute was amended. These actions together are expected to ensure the effective follow-up on the recommendations made by AIReF and result in better spending policies in Spain.