Spain
Spanish Libraries - ESIF
Policy Objectives 4 and 5 in the European Structural and Investment Funds
The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) are the main tools for implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights in Spain. This pillar aims to ensure equal opportunities, fair labour markets and social protection.
In comparison with the EU average, the social situation has improved but there are still gaps, especially in terms of employment. Groups such as women, young people, the low-skilled, the disabled and migrants have significantly lower employment rates.
To address these inequalities, European funds will focus on a number of areas:
Employment: Training, job orientation and entrepreneurship support programmes will be promoted to increase employment, especially among the most vulnerable groups.
Education: Investments will be made in education and training to improve the skills of the workforce.
Social inclusion: Measures will be implemented to reduce poverty and social exclusion.
Spain has set national targets in line with the EU 2030 targets to increase employment, improve training and reduce poverty.
PO 4 highlights the importance of the European Funds in reducing social and economic inequalities in Spain. By investing in employment, education and social inclusion, it seeks to improve the living conditions of citizens and contribute to the sustainable development of the country.
Spain faces a significant territorial imbalance. On the one hand, the big cities concentrate a large—, while the inland and the northwest are experiencing a strong depopulation. This is compounded by a general ageing of the population, especially in rural areas.
These imbalances create a number of problems: difficulty in accessing public services in depopulated areas, overloaded services in cities, and challenges related to mass tourism in some regions.
In order to address these challenges, a number of policies and European Funds are being implemented. These funds are aimed at improving connectivity in rural areas, developing public infrastructures and services, supporting entrepreneurs, and promoting sustainable development in urban and rural areas.
The main objective is to achieve a more balanced and sustainable territorial development. The aim is to reduce the inequalities between the different regions of Spain and improve the quality of life of all citizens, regardless of where they live.
In summary, the text stresses the importance of tackling Spain’s demographic and territorial challenges through coordinated and-equally funded policies. The key role of the European Funds in this process is emphasised.
ESIF-funded library projects
The Librarium digital library provides access to publications in several languages – Spanish, English, German, French and Portuguese. The aim is to complement the traditional catalogue of printed publications found in school libraries. More than 250 000 copies of the 12 000 publications are available through the lending platform, which users can access free of charge via the internet and through a mobile app. A total of 680 schools have the option of using LIBRARIUM, of which 191 have launched their own innovative projects with the library. Currently, LIBRARIUM has around 30 000 active users and more than 110 000 loans have been completed. The catalogue is expanding at an average of eight new titles daily, including books and popular magazines. LIBRARIUM’s search functions allow users to find a publication by author, title, subject or ISBN number.
The one-user card for all libraries integrated in the Common Programme of the Valencian Libraries means that the user can borrow documents from different libraries at the same time up to a number of 12 (maximum 6 special items). In addition, the card of the Network provides a series of additional advantages (discounts in bookshops, theatre, etc.)
Activities to enhancing the supply of cultural infrastructures on the territory, facilitating the sustainability of quality cultural activities and promoting opportunities for citizens’ participation and creation. As an example, it is proposed to provide the Library of Andalusia with its own headquarters in accordance with the importance of this institution within the network of libraries and documentation centres.
Interreg-funded library projects
The Galician town of Verín and the Portuguese city of Chaves are connected by more than just the Tâmega river. Just 25 minutes apart, they form the oldest ‘Eurocity’ on the border, which stands as a success story in cross- border cooperation. The aim is clear: to improve the quality of the lives of citizens and exchange cultural experience. The sharing of services, creation of initiatives like the “Eurocitizen Card” allows inhabitants of the two neighbourhoods to enjoy discounts for public services, including swimming pools, hot springs, libraries and much more. In addition, the implementation of a free bus across the border connecting the two towns, the creation of a green corridor along the Tâmega river and the branding of Chaves-Verín as a tourist destination has strengthened the region’s future through smart, inclusive and sustainable growth. Certainly, the project has demonstrated that the institutional, economic, social, cultural and territorial integration of two border towns is perfectly doable and comes with major benefits for the communities concerned.
