The EU will today be discussing proposals by the Cypriot presidency to reduce European aid and subsidies in certain areas as part of the 2014-2020 budget, a measure which could affect Andalucia, Galicia, Castilla-La Mancha and Murcia.
There appears to be little support for subsidies to the so-called ‘transition regions’, where the level of wealth per capita is between 75% and 90% of the EU average. This would mean that Andalucia, Galicia and Castilla-La Mancha would lose the majority of their subsidies.
Earlier suggestions by Brussels had been to maintain subsidies at two-thirds of their current levels. Germany is another country which has regions in a similar situation.
The document being discussed by the 27 member states also included a proposal to freeze European aid to any country not carrying out EU recommendations in relation to excessive deficits.