FECAI submits forty proposals to the Canary Islands Decree of the regional government
Lola García: “It is essential that the real demands of the islands are incorporated, in priority areas such as energy, housing, water, or economic diversification.”
The Canary Islands Federation (FECAI) held its General Assembly on March 9 at the Fuerteventura Technology Park, a facility managed by the island council. During the session, representatives from the various island councils aligned their positions on the Canary Decree that the regional executive will forward to the State, urging it to embed the islands’ genuine needs and improve the archipelago’s social and economic conditions.
Forty proposals were consolidated into a single document that will be sent to the regional government for inclusion in the decree. FECAI President and Fuerteventura Island Council President Lola García emphasized:
“It is crucial to convey a clear message that the island corporations continue to work together, defending a common stance on the key issues for the Canary Islands.”
The proposals focus on several priority areas:
- Ultraperipheral cost overruns
- Energy transition – reducing reliance on fossil fuels and promoting sustainable energy systems.
- Housing – addressing demographic pressure with a special public‑housing and affordable‑rental plan for the Canary Islands.
- Water – strengthening state support for water infrastructure, increasing funding for desalination and treatment, and acknowledging the high water costs in the archipelago.
- Infrastructure – improving transport and public services.
- Economic diversification – encouraging strategic sectors beyond tourism, such as the Canary Geo Innovation Program 2030, the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC), and the Canary Oceanic Platform for marine science and technology.
Specific measures highlighted by García include:
“Demand the relocation of the Charco Thermal Power Plant as a historic claim, moving it to a more suitable area such as Zurita.”
The federation also defended clear positions on territorial protection:
- Opposition to rare‑earth mining on Fuerteventura.
- Strengthening protection of natural spaces.
- Modifying the economic management regime of the National Parks in the Canary Islands to reflect the unique tourism and environmental pressures they face.
During the assembly, FECAI called on the State to complete the transfer of coastal competencies to the autonomous community and to allow island councils to use treasury surpluses for investments in priority sectors such as housing, health, education, and transport.
FECAI stressed that the decree’s measures must be based on equality among the non‑capital islands, ensuring that proposals are not limited to the “green islands” but also include Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, which face similar structural challenges.
Support for Ecca.edu
The federation also expressed its backing for Ecca.edu’s candidacy for the Princess of Asturias Awards, recognizing the institution’s decades‑long contribution to education and social development for thousands of people both within and outside the islands.
Visit to the Fuerteventura Technology Park
FECAI members toured the Fuerteventura Technology Park, which they described as “a clear representation of where we want to head in the Canary Islands: economic diversification, innovation, and the creation of new opportunities.”
“We wanted the other island councils to see this project firsthand, because we firmly believe in generating synergies between islands and working from complementarity, not competition,” said President Lola García.