39 councils achieve the Green Flag and three remain without the distinction

The Department of Environment and Climate Change has awarded the Green Flag of Galicia badge to 39 of the 42 municipalities that applied for the call and denied recognition to Illa de Arousa, Guntín, and Ponte Caldelas. The decision, signed by the regional minister Ángeles Vázquez Mejuto on September 29, 2026, is published in the Official Gazette of Galicia (DOG no. 200) on October 21, in section III, with the official reference CVE-DOG: 2x0avbo6-w5z7-o4b7-1ss0-6ih0skqdbiq2.

The call is governed by the Order of April 13, 2026, published in DOG no. 73 on April 21, which approves the regulatory bases for the badge. The deadline for submitting applications ended on May 29, 2026, and 42 candidacies were registered: 13 from category 2 municipalities and 29 from category 3. The jury in charge of evaluating them was convened on September 18 and met on September 28, 2026, to issue the proposal report, while the instruction of the procedure corresponded to the Department of Legal-Administrative Management of the Institute of Territorial Studies, an autonomous body attached to the department.

The scale evaluates 44 requirements divided into six subjects (M1 to M6). Category 3 municipalities must prove a minimum of three requirements in three different subjects, while category 2 municipalities require four requirements in four subjects. The maximum period to resolve and notify is five months from the end of the application period.

The 39 recognized municipalities

The resolution recognizes the badge for the following municipalities, in accordance with the legal grounds:

• Rairiz de Veiga, Sobrado, Cervo, Ares, Tomiño, Oímbra, O Porto do Son, Vilariño de Conso, Cerdido, San Sadurniño
• Quintela de Leirado, Mos, Carballeda de Avia, Porqueira, Vedra, Frades, Carnota, Touro, Boiro, Silleda
• Narón, Muros, Outeiro de Rei, San Xoán de Río, Parada de Sil, Larouco, Sanxenxo, O Porriño, Ordes, Ribeira
• A Pobra do Brollón, Boimorto, Begonte, Vilasantar, A Laracha, Chantada, Vilar de Barrio, Muíños, and Sober

Three denials due to processing defects

The file states that eight municipalities were required to amend their applications within a period of 10 business days, with the warning that, if they failed to do so, they would be considered to have withdrawn their request: Tomiño, Parada de Sil, Ribeira, A Pobra do Brollón, Illa de Arousa, Vilasantar, Guntín, and Muíños.

Six of them responded in a timely and proper manner and obtained the seal. Illa de Arousa and Guntín did not answer the request and are considered to have withdrawn, while Ponte Caldelas was unable to prove compliance with the requirement provided for in article 5.1.d).3º of the call order.

One year of logo and merit in grants

The department authorizes each recognized council to use the specific flag logo for one year. The granting of the badge constitutes merit both for obtaining grants regarding natural heritage and for aid intended to finance actions regarding waste within municipal competence.

The delivery will take place in a public act for which the councils will be summoned in advance, and the list of those recognized will also be published on the department’s website. The resolution warns that if any awarded council omits or falsifies the submitted documentation, the withdrawal of the badge may be agreed upon.

Appeals against the resolution

The resolution exhausts the administrative route. A contentious-administrative appeal may be filed against it before the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Galicia within two months from the day following the notification, or optionally, a request for reversal before the same body within one month.

The recognition comes after the Xunta opened the first call for this badge in April, which now enters its public delivery phase. For the 39 awarded councils, the seal translates into a direct advantage when applying for aid lines to conserve natural heritage and improve municipal waste management during the coming year.

Source: Official Gazette of Galicia, no. 200, October 21, 2026, section III (Other provisions), pp. 53200-53223 (official reference: CVE-DOG: 2x0avbo6-w5z7-o4b7-1ss0-6ih0skqdbiq2).