The Government subsidizes the GTMO 5+5 secretariat with 50,000 euros

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has regulated, through Royal Decree 721/2026 of September 9, the direct granting of a subsidy to the Center for Transport Studies of the Western Mediterranean (CETMO) for the development of the secretariat activities of the Group of Transport Ministers of the Western Mediterranean (GTMO 5+5) during the 2026 budget year. The provision, approved by the Council of Ministers on September 8, is published in the Official State Gazette number 225, of September 11, 2026, in section I, page 121269, with reference BOE-A-2026-18997.

The aid is structured as a direct grant on an exceptional basis and for reasons of public interest, under article 22.2.c) of Law 38/2003 of November 17, General Law on Subsidies. The text, signed by King Felipe VI and Minister Óscar Puente Santiago, will enter into force on the day following its publication.

An international commitment by Spain

The GTMO 5+5 was born from the international cooperation Protocol signed in 2007 by the Transport Ministers of ten Western Mediterranean countries, and is part of the 5+5 Dialogue with the objective of advancing regional cooperation in transport matters and contributing to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership process. Since then, Spain has financed the operating budget of its secretariat, which is carried out by CETMO.

CETMO originated from an agreement signed on April 19, 1985, between the then Ministry of Transport, Tourism and Communications and the Generalitat de Catalunya, materialized by Decree 177/1985. In 1988, it was recognized as a center linked to the United Nations, and today it focuses its mission on improving transport conditions in the Mediterranean region.

Amount, deadlines, and subsidized activities

The maximum amount of the subsidy is 50,000 euros, financed from budget allocation 17.20.451N.489, and will be compatible with other aid provided that the cost of the activity is not exceeded. The eligible actions include:

• The preparation, execution, and monitoring of the GTMO 5+5 work program.
• The organization, coordination, convening, and monitoring of its in-person or virtual meetings.
• The monitoring of international meetings related to Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in transport.

The period for carrying out the activities spans from January 1 to October 30, 2026. Payment will be made in a single installment during 2026, subject to justification via a justification account with the provision of expenditure vouchers, which must be presented within fifteen business days following the end of the execution period.

Procedure and control

The resolution of the procedure corresponds to the Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, under the instruction of the Sub-directorate General for International Relations. The beneficiary entity shall have ten business days to submit its application, and the maximum period for resolution shall be fifteen business days from the entry into force of the royal decree.

The CETMO must prove compliance with the requirements of Article 13.2 of Law 38/2003, submit to the verification actions of the Secretary of State, to the financial control of the General Comptroller of the State Administration and the Court of Auditors, and acknowledge the ministry’s collaboration in the dissemination of activities. The grant will be published in the National Grants Database and on the ministry’s portal.

Relevance of the measure

With this aid, Spain maintains its international commitment to the Euro-Mediterranean region and guarantees the continuity of a strategic transport cooperation forum that brings together ten coastal countries. The multi-annual funding of the GTMO 5+5 secretariat ensures the stability of a key instrument for the integration of infrastructure and transport flows in the Western Mediterranean.

Source: Official State Gazette, no. 225, September 11, 2026, Sec. I, page 121269 (official reference: BOE-A-2026-18997).