Key data
| Regulation | Royal Decree 617/2026, of July 22 |
|---|---|
| Publication | July 23, 2026 |
| Entry into force | July 23, 2026 |
| Beneficiary | Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) |
| Grant amount | €559,550 |
| Percentage of total fund | 4% of employment training funds for local administration in 2026 |
| Local entities benefited | More than 7,000 (municipalities, provincial councils, island councils and island councils) |
| Category | Grants and Subsidies |
| Fiscal year | 2026 |
| Enabling regulatory framework | Art. 22.2.c) of the General Subsidies Law; Circular 1/2019 of the IGAE |
| Reference strategic plan | Strategic Plan for Subsidies 2025-2027 of the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function |
Spanish local administration will have a new training boost for its public employees in 2026. The Royal Decree 617/2026, of July 22, regulates the direct allocation of €559,550 to the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), charged to employment training funds for local administration. The regulation came into force on the same day of its publication in the BOE, July 23, 2026.
The amount is equivalent to 4% of total employment training funds for local administration in 2026. These resources will be allocated entirely to finance inter-administrative training plans promoted by FEMP for its member entities.
What does this regulation establish?
The Royal Decree regulates the direct allocation of the grant, that is, without competitive bidding. The technical reason is the 2023 budget extension: according to Circular 1/2019 of the General Intervention of the State Administration (IGAE), said extension deprives these subsidies of nominativity, which requires them to be processed under article 22.2.c) of the General Subsidies Law, which allows direct allocation when there are reasons of public, social or humanitarian interest duly accredited.
The funds will finance inter-administrative training plans designed and managed by FEMP, aimed at improving three key capacities of local public employees:
- Management capacity
- Adaptation capacity
- Leadership capacity
The grant is part of the Strategic Plan for Subsidies 2025-2027 of the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function. Furthermore, the regulation explicitly clarifies that this aid does not constitute state aid within the meaning of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), so it is not subject to the restrictions of European competition regulations.
Economic and operational impact
For local entities, this grant does not entail any direct cost: the formal beneficiary and manager of the funds is FEMP, not municipalities or provincial councils. The impact is positive: access to funded training for its employees without the need to allocate their own budget items for it.
For FEMP, receiving €559,550 implies the obligation to design, execute and justify inter-administrative training plans to the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function, in accordance with the conditions established in the Royal Decree.
| Concept | Detail |
|---|---|
| Direct beneficiary of the grant | FEMP (Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces) |
| Final recipients of training | Public employees of more than 7,000 local entities |
| Cost for local entities | None (training financed from the grant) |
| FEMP obligation | Design, execution and justification of inter-administrative plans |
| Supervising body | Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function |
| Consideration as state aid | No (according to the TFEU) |
Who does it affect?
This regulation directly affects the following groups and institutions:
- Municipalities throughout Spain, as the main local entities receiving training.
- Provincial councils, which are also part of FEMP's scope of action.
- Island councils (Canary Islands).
- Island councils (Balearic Islands).
- Local public employees who participate in inter-administrative training plans promoted by FEMP.
- HR and training managers of local entities, who must coordinate the participation of their employees in the plans.
- FEMP itself, as beneficiary and manager of the funds.
Practical example
A medium-sized municipality —for example, with 150 public employees— does not receive any direct economic transfer nor must perform any budget procedure. However, its employees will be able to access the inter-administrative training plans that FEMP designs and finances with the €559,550.
Suppose FEMP organizes a training plan in project management and leadership for middle managers. The municipality can enroll its technicians and area managers at no cost to the municipal budget, since the training is covered by the grant. The only effort required is internal coordination to identify which employees benefit from each training action and manage their participation.
This model is especially relevant for small and medium-sized municipalities, which typically lack their own budget for continuous employee training and depend on inter-administrative funds to keep their workforce skills up to date.
What should local entities do now?
- Contact FEMP to learn about the catalog of inter-administrative training plans available for 2026 and registration deadlines.
- Identify training needs of the workforce in the areas of management, adaptation and leadership, to align them with the funded training offer.
- Designate an internal manager (HR or training) to coordinate employee participation in FEMP plans and manage registration logistics.
- Inform employees of the availability of funded training, especially middle managers and technicians with management responsibilities.
- Verify participation requirements established by FEMP for each plan, as they may vary depending on the employee profile or type of local entity.
Frequently asked questions
How much money does FEMP receive with this grant and where does it come from?
FEMP receives €559,550, an amount equivalent to 4% of employment training funds for local administration in 2026. The funds come from the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function, within the framework of the Strategic Plan for Subsidies 2025-2027.
Why is this grant awarded by Royal Decree and not by competitive call?
Because the 2023 budget extension deprives these subsidies of nominativity, according to Circular 1/2019 of the IGAE. This requires them to be processed under article 22.2.c) of the General Subsidies Law, which allows direct allocation for reasons of public interest duly accredited, without the need for competitive bidding.
How many local entities does this training benefit?
The inter-administrative training plans promoted by FEMP with this grant are aimed at public employees of more than 7,000 local entities, including municipalities, provincial councils, island councils and island councils throughout Spain.
Does it entail any cost for municipalities or provincial councils?
No. The formal beneficiary of the grant is FEMP, which manages and finances the training plans. Local entities and their employees access training at no direct cost to their municipal or provincial budgets.
What areas will the training financed by FEMP focus on in 2026?
According to Royal Decree 617/2026, the objective is to improve three capacities of local public employees: management, adaptation and leadership. The specification of content and training actions is the responsibility of FEMP in the design of its inter-administrative plans.
Official source
View complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-16017