Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, on behalf of the European Commission, has clarified that EU funds allocated to Spain for dam safety focus on flood prevention and structural improvements, but do not cover routine maintenance. The answer, given to a parliamentary question by MEP Dolors Montserrat (PPE), reveals that over EUR 112 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) have been allocated to state-owned dams since 2014, with EUR 35 million disbursed. Additionally, Spain's recovery and resilience plan includes Milestone 428 under Component 5, which targets safety contracts for eight dams and reservoirs, with completion required by 31 August 2026 for the final payment request.
The question was prompted by reports from Spain's Ministry for the Ecological Transition and civil engineering associations warning of a serious investment gap, with 60% of state-owned dams needing hydrological, structural, or drainage safety work. Montserrat asked whether EU funds had been used for priority preventive maintenance and structural safety rather than new investments.
Fitto's answer confirms that ERDF investments support flood prevention and improvement of dam components, gates, spillways, valves, and monitoring systems, but explicitly states that the ERDF does not support routine maintenance. Milestone 428 focuses exclusively on safety contracts for eight dams and reservoirs and does not include funding for new dams or extensions.
The Commission emphasises targeted, safety-related investments rather than general upkeep, aligning with EU cohesion policy rules that exclude operational maintenance. The answer provides concrete figures and a clear deadline, indicating a structured approach to monitoring.
The seventh payment request from Spain, including Milestone 428, must be submitted by 31 August 2026. The Commission will assess compliance before disbursing related RRF funds. This timeline gives Spain a clear target for completing the safety contracts.