Immigration, housing, health and equality are some of the areas in which the Valencian Community still has to do its homework, according to the Economic and Social Committee (CES) of the Valencian Community. The institution presented yesterday at the Palau de la Generalitat its report 2022 and highlighted its concern about aspects of the living conditions of Valencians that must be improved, including the vegetative growth of the population and its affectation, among others, in the job market.
The CES recommended promoting inclusion migration policies to avoid discrimination against migrants, “whom we need to maintain demographic balance. We have a problem, we lack young people,” said Nardi Alba, one of the coordinators of the report and ESC member. Here she also mentioned the need to promote the return of Valencians abroad.
Another of the aspects that the CES highlighted in its summary was the growth of gender violence, a particularly sensitive problem these weeks due to the controversy after the pact between PP-Vox to govern the Valencian Community and its subsequent consequences in other territories, like Extremadura.
Here, the CES exposed “the shame of being on the podium of the rate of sexist violence”, with an increase in the registration of victims of gender violence in the last year of 11%. Thus, the committee called for “efficient and permanent coordination of all institutions” for the prevention of victims and the provision of public resources to combat this scourge.
Also, in health, the CES visualized its concern about the increase in waiting lists. “For yet another year, we are very concerned about the continued increase in waiting lists,” Alba said. According to her data, in 2022 the waiting list for first consultation grew by 35% and that of surgical care by 12%. In contrast, the CES applauded the increase in the health budget and the number of specialized mental health posts, which stands at 12%.
Likewise, in his speech Nardi Alba pointed to the difficulties of youth emancipation and school failure. “We are concerned about the school dropout rate, it is far from the European objective of 2030, although there is a good evolution and it has dropped significantly,” acknowledged the intervener on behalf of the CES.
In his opening speech, the president of the institution, Arturo León, highlighted the importance of continuing to claim the improvement of regional financing. The entity maintains that there is a “fiscally incongruous reality that goes against all logic” for which reason it calls for a reform of the “expired” financing system, the review of the debt and the maintenance of compensation mechanisms for the Valencian Community.
