Catalan President announces €400 million aid package for companies hit by Middle East war

The Catalan President, Salvador Illa, has announced that the government will approve a first package of aid of up to €400 million to address the impact of the war in the Middle East on the Catalan economy. 

The plan will include a total of 40 measures, including direct aid, tax exemptions, and financing tools to support both families and businesses, particularly in the most affected sectors such as transport, agriculture, and fishing.

The main objective, Illa says, is to protect the purchasing power of families and workers amid rising energy and basic goods costs, while also ensuring the continuity of economic activity.

The plan is to include specific measures to help vulnerable households cover expenses such as food and energy supplies.

Illa has announced that this package will be expanded according to the evolution of the conflict and has emphasized that the aid will be granted only if companies retain their employees.

"Solidarity and cooperation"

The Catalan President frames these measures as part of a coordinated response to the conflict with both the Spanish government and the European Union, stating that "the best way to protect ourselves is to act with maximum unity and coordination."

He has praised the European response in defense of peace and international law, emphasizing that "the strength of the European model lies in solidarity and cooperation among states."

Illa has also made an explicit appeal for the unity, responsibility, and consensus of all political, economic, and social actors, warning that "this is not the time to try to gain political advantage" from the crisis.

He urged large companies and the financial sector to act responsibly and avoid "extraordinary profits" in a context of rising costs and economic uncertainty.