During her speech at the Senate General Commission of Autonomous Communities, Carolina Darias has revealed that winning the battle against the pandemic, saving lives, containing the spread, protecting the health and safety of citizens, and beginning economic and social reconstruction of our country to mitigate its effects, it is the greatest challenge facing the autonomous state in recent decades. "Citizens expect civic behavior from their representatives in accordance with their sacrifice, that we are able to reach a common minimum of understanding to rebuild this country."
Cooperation between institutions
The institutions are being subjected to "a very hard effort test", stressed the minister, who has valued the capacity of the institutions to function effectively at the moment, as evidenced by the device of understanding, coordination and collaboration between the Government of Spain and those of the autonomous communities.
"All public institutions, starting with the Head of State, are doing their best to work together, giving evidence of a great sense of responsibility and institutional loyalty," stressed the minister, adding that this image of the The enormous institutional effort developed is the one that must be transmitted to the public, because it corresponds to the sacrifice made, remaining in their homes during this time.
In this context of uncertainty, he recalled that in the month and a half that we have been in alarm, it has been necessary to "accelerate" institutional activity and more than 60 multilateral cooperation meetings have been held at the highest level, all have been activated the coordination mechanisms provided for in our institutional system and more than 120 high-impact measures have been adopted, grouped into five different packages.
The Government recognizes the work of all public administrations, deploying a wide-ranging device to respond to the greatest health challenge in recent history, "putting the best of ourselves to achieve a shared goal: save lives," he said.
The institutions, he pointed out, are fulfilling the triple purpose of containing the epidemic, putting in place measures of social and economic support to maintain the productive fabric and the incomes of workers and families and promoting science to definitely win the virus. The minister has demanded to advance in "a minimum common understanding" to respond to the great transformations of our country and to live up to what the citizens demand with exemplary behavior in the crisis.
"Politics must accompany this exemplary nature," said Darias, who called for a "cordial policy" aimed at reaching the necessary consensus to give the answers that this international pandemic declared by WHO on March 11 and by the one that has declared a state of alarm in Spain.
I remember the victims of the pandemic and those who work to combat it
The minister has started the "special" appearance, in an "exceptional" time, expressing her condolences for the 24,543 deceased as a result of COVID-19, sharing the pain for her absence. "We will honor them together as they deserve," he said. It has transferred courage and strength to all the people who are battling the virus, and has ensured that the 112,050 diagnosed who have recovered is a fact that throws hope.
He has also addressed those who are on the front line against the pandemic – health personnel, public employees and those who contribute daily to minimize the terrible consequences of this pandemic – to thank them for their work, commitment and dedication, which are "a beacon "and" his dignity, the reason of being of this country ".
The minister has highlighted the example of citizenship of citizenship, which, with its enormous sense of responsibility and daily sacrifice, fights this pandemic in the best way that can be done at this time: preventing the spread of the virus and accepting, in a brave way , stay at their homes and limit their outings. "
Government decisions
In this "unprecedented" situation, in which there were no "maps or charts", the minister explained the decisions that the Government has been taking in accordance with what the evolution of events required at all times, trying to maintain always a respectful balance between the demands derived from sanitary measures, the needs of economic activity and respect for freedoms and rights. The work carried out in these weeks has allowed it to go from a percentage of new infections of around 35%, to just 0.6%, an indicator of the conditions that will help to recover "a new normality".
Faced with the example of citizenship of citizenship, the minister has specified that institutions must respond by extreme prudence and a sense of responsibility and by generating confidence and hope in the future "that we have to build together", reinforcing family ties, friendship and proximity, and also the institutional ties that repair the pain caused.
"This painful battle has made us more aware of the need to speak to each other, communicate, embrace each other, take care of each other, strengthen institutional ties, those that we have been weaving in this democratic journey and that we are improving and perfecting. They are ties that today unite us in a shared longing: first, to save lives and face the health crisis, then to start reconstruction without leaving anyone behind. " "No government," he added, "when faced with another similar situation, will start again from scratch, as we have had to do," he said, the government is responsible for bequeathing to future governments the extensive experience and knowledge acquired from this pandemic.
Cooperation is necessary between institutions, to strengthen the ties that unite us, better serve the needs of citizens and to rebuild the trust that gives horizons of collective hopes, country hopes, extending well-being and health security.
- Conferences of presidents and autonomous presidents and autonomous cities: basis for understanding and social cohesion
- Coordination between ministries and their homonyms in the autonomous communities.
The minister stressed that institutional cooperation is essential, more in a decentralized state, with the assumption of shared powers between the different public administrations. After the declaration of the state of alarm, he recalled that the Conference of Presidents and Presidents, as the highest multilateral cooperation body between the Government of Spain and the Governments of the Autonomous Communities and the Cities of Ceuta and Melilla, constitutes the basis for understanding , share the guidelines of public policies and address relevant issues in the health, economic and social crisis.
These weeks we have held more presidential conferences than since its creation in 2004. In fifteen years six conferences were held and in the last month and a half seven, and with full attendance, reflecting the sense of responsibility and institutional loyalty, from unity of action under three principles: coordination, collaboration and solidarity, keys to the work that public institutions have carried out during this month and a half. In this sense, the Pacts of Social and Economic Reconstruction have occupied part of the successive meetings
The minister has presented a detailed report on the level of institutional coordination in all the departments of the Government of Spain:
FIRST VICE PRESIDENCY AND MINISTRY OF THE PRESIDENCY, RELATIONS WITH THE COURTS AND DEMOCRATIC MEMORY
It has managed the parliamentary approval of the regulatory base that has made most of the actions possible,
SECOND VICE PRESIDENCY AND MINISTRY OF SOCIAL RIGHTS AND 2030 AGENDA
Meetings of the Inter-territorial Council of Social Services and the System for Autonomy and Care for Dependency, adopting agreements on the declaration of social services as essential, distribution of a loan of 25,000,000 to guarantee the basic right to food for boys and girls in vulnerable situation, distribution of an Extraordinary Social Fund of 300 million to finance basic social service benefits, organizational measures and coordination to reduce the risk of contagion in nursing homes.
THIRD VICE PRESIDENCY AND MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Analyze the digital and technological solutions that are being implemented to contribute to the management of the health emergency derived from COVID-19, such as the self-diagnosis application, Covid-19 assistance, the conversation channel through WhatsApp, Hispabot-Covid19 and the DataCOVID mobility study.
FOURTH VICE PRESIDENCY AND TRANSITION MINISTRY AND THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE
In meetings with regional councilors, agreements were adopted on management criteria for some essential services during the confinement of families, guarantee of water, electricity and gas supply in all households, extension of the social bonus to self-employed workers who have stopped or reduced their activity or billing, extension of the social bonus to those who expire the benefit, suspension of the revision of the price of bottled LPG and gas TUR, flexibility of electricity and gas contracts for self-employed workers and companies or measures to support marketing companies
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
He underlined the essential role in the complex situation and the enormous effort behind each of the measures adopted and a high degree of consensus that all the authorities responsible for leading the way have maintained in more than 20 meetings of the Inter-territorial Council of the National System of Health and more than 20 meetings of dependent organisms.
He has referred to the containment scenario, decreed in early March and days later, that of reinforced containment, the application of educational and social distancing measures throughout Spain. During this time, one person has been appointed from each Autonomous Community to facilitate dialogue to define de-escalation measures. On April 20, the National Study of Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Spain (ENE-COVID) is presented, and all the autonomous communities show their willingness to collaborate and support this study.
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
Within the Center for Operational Coordination (CECOR), collaboration and coordination with the Basque Country, Navarra, Catalonia and the Canary Islands is being excellent through the daily exchange of information and data related to police and effective actions. Coordination centers have been established at the regional and provincial levels in government delegations and subdelegations. At the local level, coordination is being promoted through the Local Security Boards.
Since the entry into force of the alarm state, the entire National Civil Protection System (SNPC) is at its maximum activation level. It is the first time that the entire SNPC is activated to its maximum extent and throughout the national territory, which allows comprehensive support of its resources to the National Health System. Important institutional effort deployed in recent weeks by the State Security Forces and Corps.
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
The Ministry of Defense articulates Operation BALMIS, a basic instrument of action since March 15, in order to establish the contribution of the Armed Forces in solving the successful fight against the pandemic, making operational, health, and logistics capabilities available and infrastructure of the Military Emergency Unit, the General Inspection of Military Health and the Army, Navy, Air Force and Royal Guard.
Action has been taken in all provinces, with more than 1,300 localities benefited. The Armed Forces have deployed 6,482 troops, 14,000 actions in nursing homes, health centers and hospitals. They have demonstrated an enormous capacity for adaptation, a highly recognized and valued effort by citizens, recognition for their work and for having accompanied our elders at the end.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION, MOBILITY AND URBAN AGENDA
An especially active Ministry given the territorial dimension of the department. It has been in charge of the coordination of ground transportation, sensitive to requests to reinforce trains to move toilets or to adapt train schedules used by toilets.
The Ministry is adapting the approved de-escalation scenarios, in which the transport and mobility sector will have a key role. Transport, mainly urban transport, will be subjected to a significant level of stress and it is necessary to design in advance a safe and coordinated system with the rest of the administrations and actors involved.
TREASURY
The Ministry has communicated to the regional councilors that the Government's commitment is to maintain a fluid dialogue with the territorial entities, to coordinate the set of measures and respond to the health emergency, mobilizing more than 230,000 million euros. The first update payment of the installments on account for the year 2020 has been paid and the second payment will be soon. The autonomous communities will receive this year 115,887 million euros, the highest number ever recorded and 7.32% more than the previous year.
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
Incorporation in the COVID-19 Call for incentives to matching funds, sending information collected from the IPOs, mainly the CSIC, on human resources and available facilities, the Covid-19 ISCIII Fund and the Production and manufacture of new kits or extraction systems. Meetings have been held with those responsible for four clinical trials financed by the COVID Fund that investigate different possible treatments.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Our educational institutions have participated in meetings at the highest level to address the measures on the occasion of the Covid-19, initiatives on Vocational Training, planning the offer of the academic year 2020-2021 and perspectives before the end of the 2019-2020 course.
MINISTRY OF UNIVERSITIES
It has acted for the modification of the dates of completion of the Baccalaureate Assessment Test for Access to University, determine the dates of the academic year 2020-2021 and approval of the recommendations on general criteria for the adaptation of the Spanish university system to the pandemic.
MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND SPORTS
The dialogue will be reflected in a "Pact for Culture". The Ministry works with the autonomous communities in solving the problems derived from this crisis, ensuring that disinfection measures in cultural heritage are compatible with the protection of cultural property. Also guarantee the sustainability of music, dance and circus companies and the stability of cultural structures.
The Ministry has reformulated the PLATEA program, to promote the state circulation of shows. The 5,250,000 euros provided to finance the tour contracts will be devoted entirely to rescheduling cancellations and replacing with other titles.
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Meetings with the autonomous communities to exchange points of view on the current situation of the agri-food and fishing sectors derived from COVID-19.
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Constant relationship with the autonomous authorities to define the measures to harmonize the necessary protection of the health of workers with the guarantees of the provision of essential justice services in each of the autonomous communities, establish essential services to guarantee judicial protection effective throughout the national territory in the face of the evolution of the pandemic, coordinating the measures to be adopted in relation to the officials who serve in the Administration of Justice, and the provision of essential services.
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, COMMERCE AND TOURISM
Industry Sector Conference as a regular channel of communication with communities, as essential elements in mediation with social agents and companies. Review of the situation of supplying PPE and other health teams, approval of scoring methodologies for territorial criteria for the REINDUS 2020 call, discussion of proposals and concerns for the de-escalation phase, preparation of a plan for aid to trade with measures to apply during and at the end of the crisis. Analysis of the situation in the tourism sector, sharing measures, some aimed at alleviating the impact on tourism activity and employment.
MINISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL ECONOMY
Meeting of the Sectorial Conference on Employment and Labor Affairs in which they discussed the Annual Plans for Employment Policy (PAPE 2019 and 2020), the report on regulatory proposals in the field of employment, the processing of ERTE and the application of regulations regulatory thereof approved since the declaration of the state of alarm.
EQUALITY MINISTRY
Meeting of the Extraordinary Sectoral Commission on Equality, addressing the situation of public policies against gender violence and its declaration as an essential service, and the updated Resource Guide; as well as the contingency plan and measures approved by the Council of Ministers. The Plenary of the State Observatory on Violence against Women was also held.
MINISTRY OF INCLUSION, SOCIAL SECURITY AND MIGRATIONS
Contacts and meetings with all the autonomous communities to jointly analyze the implementation of the Minimum Vital Income, urgent measures in the field of agricultural employment, channel needs and observations to develop an immigration policy adjusted to needs, effective and efficient.
MINISTRY OF CONSUMPTION
Within the framework of the Consumer Sector Commission, special surveillance is being coordinated with other institutions in sensitive areas (gels and masks), information on developments affecting consumer rights and coordinating their interpretation and application, training and information on consumer rights. consumers and users in situations derived from the health crisis and on recommendations for consumption habits during confinement.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, EUROPEAN UNION AND COOPERATION
Collaboration with the autonomous communities in the direct obtaining of sanitary material abroad, with arrangements for overflight permits, solving obstacles to exports, facilitating customs and administrative procedures, helping the return of more than 23,000 Spaniards, of them more than 6,000 in chartered flights from all continents, mainly tourists and students.
MINISTRY OF TERRITORIAL POLICY AND PUBLIC FUNCTION
Important work of the government delegations and subdelegations in coordinating the actions of the ministries in the territory and with the autonomous communities. Compilation of queries from the territories and government delegations on the application of the Royal Decree declaring the state of alarm, as well as processing and management of the corresponding responses and transfer of instructions and orders from delegated authorities to the territories.
Constitution of coordination centers in government delegations chaired by government delegates. Follow-up and contact with the heads of the Border Inspection Posts (PIF). In the area of public service, information on the measures adopted in the field of public employment has been sent to the representatives of the communities, and the Commission for the Coordination of Public Employment has reviewed the measures adopted against COVID-19 to guarantee the operation of the Administration and public services.
The minister ended her intervention with her initial message, recalling the lessons left by the pandemic: we must take care of and strengthen the ties that unite us, that our autonomous State has well withstood the stress test to which we have subjected it to save lives, and that citizens, who are setting an example with their sacrifice, expect their public representatives
