The Government grants 7.3 million to Campo de Gibraltar for municipal investments

The Council of Ministers has authorized the direct granting of subsidies for a maximum amount of 7,300,000 euros to the Mancomunidad de Municipios del Campo de Gibraltar to finance investments in infrastructure and public services in the region. The measure is articulated through Royal Decree 732/2026, of September 16, published in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado) no. 230, of September 17, 2026, in section I of general provisions (official reference BOE-A-2026-19328). The regulation enters into force on the day following its publication.

A region with exceptional problems

The text is based on the “varied and exceptional problems” of the municipalities of Campo de Gibraltar, derived from its geostrategic situation as Europe’s gateway to the African continent, its condition as a hinge between the Mediterranean and Atlantic maritime spaces, and a population exceeding 270,000 inhabitants. Added to this is the situation of the area’s water reserves, which makes investment in the integrated water cycle “even more pressing.”

The grant is supported by the Plan for Campo de Gibraltar, approved by agreement of the Council of Ministers on November 16, 2018, and by article 22.2.c) of Law 38/2003, of November 17, General Law on Subsidies. The royal decree justifies the direct award, without competitive bidding, on the grounds that the Mancomunidad is the only entity capable of executing the planned investments. Since 2018, budget laws have provided for nominative subsidies of 7,300,000 euros for the region.

Distribution of the 7.3 million among the eight municipalities

The subsidy is financed through budget application 37.02.942N.765, “To finance investments in municipalities of Campo de Gibraltar,” from the extended budget for 2026. The distribution by municipality is as follows:

• Algeciras: 2,031,000.00 euros.
• La Línea de la Concepción: 1,610,000.00 euros.
• San Roque: 1,277,000.00 euros.
• Los Barrios: 670,000.00 euros.
• Tarifa: 660,000.00 euros.
• Jimena de la Frontera: 435,000.00 euros.
• Castellar de la Frontera: 367,000.00 euros.
• San Martín del Tesorillo: 250,000.00 euros.

The total amounts to 7,300,000.00 euros. The eligible investments are grouped into four areas: integrated water cycle infrastructure, urban waste management infrastructure, digitalization and corporate infrastructure actions, and municipal facilities.

Deadlines, justification, and control

On June 1, 2026, the Mancomunidad approved a report of actions detailing the investments, their amount, the execution period, and the distribution by municipality. The investments must be executed before the end of the 2027 fiscal year, and the justification must be submitted before April 1, 2028, via a justifying account.

The grant will be implemented through agreements between the Ministry of Finance, the Association of Municipalities of Campo de Gibraltar, and each of the city councils that compose it. Advance payments are authorized, and the beneficiary entity shall be subject to the control of the General Comptroller of the State Administration and the Court of Auditors. Total failure to meet the objectives will entail the full reimbursement of the aid.

Compatibility and Publicity

The grants are compatible with other subsidies, income, or resources from any public or private administration or entity, whether national, from the European Union, or international, provided that the sum does not exceed the total cost of the actions. The subsidies will be published in the National Subsidy Database, in accordance with Royal Decree 130/2019, of March 8, and all dissemination must mention the Ministry of Finance and the General State Administration.

The royal decree bears the signature of King Felipe R. and the Minister of Finance, Arcadi España García, and was issued following the deliberation of the Council of Ministers on September 15, 2026.

The regulation guarantees the eight municipalities of the region a sustained level of investment in basic public services—water, waste, and facilities—within a context of drought and demographic pressure, and reinforces the role of the Association as the sole executing entity for state funds in the area.

Source: Official State Gazette, no. 230, of September 17, 2026, section I. General Provisions, page 122649 (official reference: BOE-A-2026-19328).