Urgent measures on financing, retail, airports, energy and youth jobs

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1. The ICO (Instituto de Crédito Oficial) sets up a guarantee and surety program of up to €1.2 billion for one year to support the financing and internationalization of Spanish companies, backed by the State.
2. During 2014, local governments may take out new loans to cancel their debt with the Supplier Payment Fund, provided they generate financial savings and meet requirements, with authorization from the Ministry of Finance.
3. Opening, moving or expanding retail stores no longer requires authorization in general, with a single procedure decided within three months. Large tourist influx zones are expanded: if the regional government does not declare one within the set deadlines, stores enjoy full freedom of opening hours throughout the municipality.
4. Interchange fees for card payments are capped: at most 0.2% on debit and 0.3% on credit, with lower caps for payments under €20. Merchants are banned from charging customers extra fees for paying by card.
5. Aena's airport network is declared a service of general economic interest: infrastructure cannot be closed or sold without authorization, and fees are regulated every five years through the Airport Regulation Document (DORADORA Airport Regulation Document: a five-year plan setting fees, quality standards and investments for Aena's airports.).
6. A temporary regime is set for operating drones (remotely piloted aircraft) under 150 kg: depending on weight, prior notification or authorization from the State Aviation Safety Agency is required, with rules on pilots, insurance and flight zones.
7. In ports, the maximum term of concessions rises to 50 years (up to 75 when financing land access), and a Port Land Accessibility Financial Fund is created to improve road and rail connections.
8. The National Youth Guarantee System is created: young people aged 16 to 25 (up to 30 with a disability of 33% or more) who neither work nor study can register to receive an offer of employment, education, training or an internship. Companies that hire them on permanent contracts get a €300 monthly rebate for six months.

Who it affects

• Local governments: Can take out new loans to cancel their debt with the Supplier Payment Fund if they meet the requirements.
• Retailers: Fewer procedures to open or expand stores and, in tourist municipalities without a declared zone, freedom of opening hours all year.
• Consumers: Cannot be charged extra fees for paying by card, and bank fees on card payments are capped.
• Young people aged 16 to 25 (up to 30 with a disability of 33% or more): Can register for the Youth Guarantee to receive job, training or internship offers, and companies that hire them get rebates.
• Energy companies, retailers of energy and banks: New energy-saving obligations and caps on the fees for their card transactions.

Words worth knowing

Tasa de intercambio (interchange fee)

Fee paid between the entities involved in a card payment.

DORA

Airport Regulation Document: a five-year plan setting fees, quality standards and investments for Aena's airports.

Declaración responsable (responsible declaration)

A document in which someone declares they meet the legal requirements and may start their activity.

Silencio administrativo (administrative silence)

If the administration does not reply in time, the request is deemed granted or denied depending on the case.

Concesión demanial (public domain concession)

Permission to privately use a public asset, such as an area of a port, for a set period.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries