Spain shifts €105M from public transport to youth summer program

Spain’s Ministry of Transport diverted **€105 million** originally earmarked for autonomous communities and municipalities to finance the Verano Joven (Young Summer) program. With no new budget passed since 2022, the government repurposed existing allocations to cover discounts costing over **€110 million** annually.

The ministry, recently led by **Óscar Puente**, removed **€105 million** designated for "improving public transport" to pay for the Verano Joven scheme. Launched in **2023**, this program offers summer train and bus discounts for those under 30, imposing an annual cost exceeding **€110 million** on public funds.

## No budgets since 2022

These subsidies were introduced after the last approved budget at the end of **2022**. This forced the executive branch to mobilize other funds to pay for the grants. The accounting maneuver involved emptying pockets already reserved for different purposes.

In **2025**, the government covered almost the entire Young Pass with **€80 million** that had previously been allocated to autonomous communities for "social measures and quality improvements in public transport services." It added another **€25 million** for the same purpose via grants to "local entities."

## All money from regions and municipalities

These amounts corresponded to the total budgeted aid for communities and municipalities. In other words: Transport withdrew all public transport subsidies for regions and municipalities that year to pay for Verano Joven.

The issue raises uncomfortable questions about priorities. A half-price ticket for summer travel was funded with money intended to improve the service used daily by those with no other options. The rail infrastructure suffers, but the ticket is cheap.