The City Council of Puerto del Rosario has launched a new European Funds Unit with the aim of strengthening its capacity to attract EU funding and develop strategic projects that promote the development of the municipality in key areas such as connectivity, sustainability, administrative modernization and social cohesion.
The initiative, which was approved as part of the 2025 municipal budget, has an initial budget of 88,000 euros and is part of the government group’s commitment to transforming the city model through strategic planning and taking advantage of European opportunities.
The new unit is made up of a multidisciplinary team composed of: a full-time A2 technician specialized in project planning, a part-time A1 technician with a legal profile and an administrative support staff.
The mayor of Puerto del Rosario, David de Vera, explained that “.this unit is born with a cross-cutting vocation. It will not only centralize the detection of calls for proposals, but will also provide technical support to all departments to prioritize and design proposals that respond to the real needs of the municipality”. . He also added that “the attraction of European funds is today an essential tool to progress towards a more innovative, cohesive and sustainable municipality”.
First strategic projects
The first order managed by this unit has been awarded to the Asociación Canaria de Telecomunicaciones (TELECO) and contemplates the implementation of fiber optics in rural and sparsely populated areas of the municipality. The first economic valuation amounts to 5.3 million euros and is being reviewed for its submission to future calls for EU funding.
In addition, the municipality is already working on identifying other priority lines that could be co-financed with European funds, including:
- Digitalization of municipal services.
- Energy efficiency and public lighting projects.
- Circular economy and waste treatment.
- Actions in the area of social inclusion and green employment.
Coordination and planning by areas
Each department has begun to define its strategic projects, which will be channeled through this new office to prepare technical reports, feasibility studies, schedules and budgets in accordance with the requirements of the various European programs.
The City Council stresses the importance of this new administrative structure as a medium and long term planning tool, which will position Puerto del Rosario in advantageous conditions for future calls of the Next Generation EU, the ERDF or the European Social Fund Plus, among others.
