The Gran Canaria Island Council will have the highest ever budgets for social policies (354 million) and investment (302) in a budget which, by 2027, will have grown by 11.02 per cent to 1,171,759,505 euros and which, according to its president, Antonio Morales, demonstrates the council’s strength.
At a press conference on Thursday, Morales outlined the main points of the fourth budget of this term of office and highlighted the «strengths» that the island possesses «to face the new times and new challenges» lying ahead for global citizens, which it does, moreover, «with a united government».
In his view, the strength of his governing coalition, which accompanied him at the press conference, comprising the PSOE, NC and the splinter group from Primero Canarias, is «an important factor in supporting the proposal for economic diversification and social development being promoted by this government».
Gran Canaria: Five key priorities shape the record budget
These budgets are based on five priority areas of action which, according to Morales, include social cohesion and inclusion, gender equality, the revitalisation of economic activity and the promotion of employment, whilst also consolidating the Island Council’s position as the island’s leading investor.
The priorities for the island’s next budget also include sustainability and climate action, promoting culture and cultural heritage, and fostering democratic rights, public participation and solidarity.
Morales has committed to «energy sovereignty, food sovereignty, sustainable mobility, water security, diversified and sustainable tourism, green, blue and circular economies, reforestation, innovation, modernisation and digitalisation, which will drive progress towards a smart island».
To these 1,171.7 million euros must be added the 231 million administered by the island council but which form part of the Canary Islands funding block and the REF, and which are transferred directly to the island’s local councils.
The island’s president has acknowledged that these figures stem «from a complex situation arising from a confusing world, inflation that continues to affect us, a climate crisis, and armed conflicts in Europe, the Middle East and closer to home».
He has therefore reiterated his organisation’s commitment «to tackle these challenges head-on» and to address the key priorities set out in the budget.
Gran Canaria's social budget reaches an all-time high
The budget items set out in the budgets presented today include 353.78 million euros for social policies, representing 30.19 per cent of the budget and an increase of 7.8 million euros compared with the current budget.
According to Morales, it is the largest social budget in the organisation’s history, and accounts for almost a third of the total.
As an example of the budget increase, Morales pointed out that «since 2019, the budget allocation for dependants in Gran Canaria has doubled».
Investment: 302.1 million euros is being channelled into island projects
Investments total 302.1 million euros, accounting for 25.78 per cent of the overall budget, an increase of 81.95 million euros compared with 2026.
Among the investments highlighted by the island’s president are those aimed at expanding the Gran Canaria Stadium, the contract for which has recently been awarded, the new Infecar sports hall, the refurbishment of the Gran Canaria Sports Complex and the Jardín Canario, and the construction of further social housing developments such as those in El Secadero, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
These accounts also include expenditure on investments in roads and road networks, as well as on the compulsory purchase of land for the future Gran Canaria railway; the improvement of commercial and industrial areas; the refurbishment of tourism infrastructure; and initiatives in the social and healthcare sectors.
Gran Canaria's island model is to be further developed
«You can see that the focus of these budgets, just as it was last year, is very clear: increasing funding for social policies and consolidating the allocations earmarked for economic recovery and diversification,» said Morales.
He added that these budgets «aim to build on» the model for the island that he introduced when he joined the Island Council three legislative terms ago and which, in his view, «has achieved extraordinary results both economically and in terms of social development» in Gran Canaria.
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