- The president of the Junta has rejected the energy model proposed by the central government for being discriminatory to the Community and has demanded more investments in electric infrastructures to meet all the territory’s needs
- He has also called for an effective housing policy, state funding of 50% for education from 0 to 3 years, and proposed measures to address the lack of doctors, such as increasing positions in deficient specialties
June 6, 2025
Castilla y León | President of the Junta of Castilla y León
The president of the Junta of Castilla y León, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, has participated today in the Conference of Presidents held in Barcelona, where he has urged the Government of Spain the need 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 towards the citizens.
An encounter in which Fernández Mañueco has called on the Government of Spain for urgent investments to halt the deterioration of state-owned infrastructures. In this sense, he has pointed out 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 inland Spain, which need more services and not cuts.
Similarly, he has also demanded the definitive boost to the Atlantic Corridor, with connections in 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
On the other hand, he has denounced the serious deficits in telecommunications, with nearly 20% of the territory lacking adequate Internet access, and has called for state investments to ensure connectivity, mobility, and economic development throughout the territory.
Energy model
Fernández Mañueco has expressed his rejection of the proposal raised in the regional summit on energy matters, which involves relegating Castilla y León and other autonomous communities in the new electric grids.
Castilla y León is a national leader in renewable energy production and is energetically supportive. In this field, Fernández Mañueco has expressed his rejection of the proposal that the Government of Spain has put on the table today regarding energy, which involves relegating Castilla y León and other autonomous communities in the new electric grids.
The lack of electric infrastructures and poor planning jeopardize the projects that the Junta of Castilla y León has underway in 1,400 new hectares of industrial estates. Therefore, the head of the regional Government has advocated for the use of all available energy sources, sufficient capacity of energy infrastructures to meet consumption needs, and the improvement of self-consumption regulations in industries and industrial estates.
Housing and legal security of property owners
In terms of housing, the president has once again called for serious and effective measures to be addressed in the Sectorial Housing Conference, and has lamented that the central Executive has not progressed in the proposals that Castilla y León presented in the previous Conference of Presidents.
Furthermore, he has recalled that the Junta of Castilla y León offers a solid policy in this area, with investments that surpass state proposals, more public housing supply for affordable rent and sale with bonuses for young people and in rural areas, as well as aid and tax reductions for rental purchase and rehabilitation.
Similarly, he has requested to make state land and housing available to the autonomous communities; streamline administrative procedures; reduce taxes for acquisition, rehabilitation, and rent; and promote effective legislative reforms against occupation.
Economy and support for businesses
On the other hand, despite Castilla y León’s economy showing record employment figures, difficulties arise for companies established in the Community that jeopardize numerous jobs. Fernández Mañueco has cited the case of Azucarera as an example, for which the Junta is working to find solutions and support the workers, and has called for the involvement and coordination of all administrations to address these situations.
Funding of 50% for education from 0 to 3 years
In the field of education, the president of the Junta has emphasized 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 has also highlighted that the Community guarantees the free education from 0 to 16 years, financed entirely by the regional Government, a commitment that represents a true milestone at the national level. For this reason, he has called on the central Executive to fund at least 50% of the 0 to 3-year segment, as it is already mandatory.
Furthermore, he has praised the success of the Vocational Training in Castilla y León, with record numbers of students and a job placement rate close to full employment, and has requested state support to finance the contribution of students in internships and to streamline the deadlines for updating curricula.
In the university field, he has highlighted the measures implemented by the Junta, which have strengthened the staff and increased the number of students through an increase in scholarships and a reduction in fees. In this regard, the president has requested adequate funding for the implementation of the LOSU and for universities to be free from political interference, being evaluated solely based on results and quality.
Autonomous funding and debt
During his intervention at the Conference of Presidents, Fernández Mañueco has rejected the debt forgiveness law, as it not only is discriminatory but also forces some communities to assume the debt of others. He has also advocated for the implementation of a clear, fair, sufficient, supportive, 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 healthcare matters, Fernández Mañueco has demanded that the Government of Spain assume its responsibility in planning the needs of specialist doctors and has called for the realization of the requests made by Castilla y León. Specifically, he has requested more training positions in deficient specialties, an extraordinary call for Family and Community Medicine, the immediate implementation of the Emergency and Urgent Care specialty, and a faster homologation of non-EU titles.
The president has appreciated that this year all MIR positions have been filled thanks to proposals from Castilla y León such as the elimination of the cutoff grade and the in-person selection of positions, and has requested that this formula be definitively consolidated. Likewise, he has emphasized that the Junta fulfills its part, with a greater offer of training positions and a specialist retention program, including new modalities and incentives, to ensure healthcare throughout the territory.
Finally, Fernández Mañueco has defended that the Conference of Presidents must be a useful body and an opportunity to dialogue at the highest level on matters of State, while also emphasizing the need to prepare in advance the issues to be discussed, with proposals, studies, and prior meetings, as well as to follow up and evaluate the agreements.