canary islands airport management talks date

Canary Islands set date for airport management talks

Bilateral commission date confirmed

The bilateral commission between the Canary Islands regional government and the Spanish state, created to address the archipelago’s participation in the management of its airports, now has a date: Friday 2 July. The meeting, which will most likely take place in Madrid — following an initial gathering held in Tenerife — is considered a top priority by the regional executive as it seeks to move forward with a model that allows the Canary Islands a say in the “strategic decisions affecting the airport network.”

Documents to be circulated this week

Alfonso Cabello, spokesperson for the regional government, explained that the Ministry of Public Administrations will circulate the draft documentation to be analysed during the meeting this week.

Basque Country agreement as a reference

The Canary Islands government has proposed that any agreement should take inspiration from the one reached with the Basque Country, which established a “reinforced participation body between both administrations.” However, it stresses that the Canary Islands’ case is backed by specific statutory provisions. Cabello recalled that Article 161 of the 2018 Statute of Autonomy — specifically sections three and four — recognises the Canary Islands’ right to actively participate in decisions relating to “airport fees and multi-year investment plans.”

“Not a seat on the Aena board, but a voice in decisions”

“The Canary Islands does not want a seat on the Aena board of directors,” Cabello stated. “What we want is to be part of the decisions that affect airports in this autonomous community.” He insisted that the demand “is nothing more than the fulfilment of the law,” given that the regional government considers the archipelago’s territorial uniqueness and its heavy reliance on air travel make it essential to strengthen the Canary Islands’ role in airport management.

Statutory backing stronger than Basque model

According to Cabello, the ministry is aware that the Canary Islands Statute “goes further” than the legal framework underpinning the Basque agreement, which gives the region a stronger case for securing a more substantial role in running its airports.

Source

Scroll to Top