During a media briefing, Grande-Marlaska stated that these construction works are «a specific example of what has been, is, and continues to be the government’s project over the past seven years, to carry out a comprehensive renovation of the infrastructure of both the Civil Guard and the National Police.»
«In January 2019, the first infrastructure plan was approved, with an investment of 600 million euros, which was later increased by another 400 million euros in terms of energy efficiency for all infrastructure, all funded through recovery, transformation, and resilience funds.»
The Interior Minister noted that almost six million euros were invested in Jaca, with thermal insulation work carried out on facades and roofs, a «comprehensive» renovation, complemented by the installation of photovoltaic panels and solar energy, resulting in over 60% energy savings. He emphasized that these works were carried out by local companies.
Part of the investment comes from the Secretary of State for Security, which allowed for improved accessibility in two buildings with access ramps for people with reduced mobility. There was also intervention in the main building to convert the space for weapons into a citizen service area.
This action «is another demonstration of our commitment to infrastructure, as well as to energy transformation and sustainability; it is a commitment to law enforcement agencies and state bodies to work under the best conditions.»
He mentioned that the National Police and the Civil Guard have increased by 10% in Aragon over the last six years. The Zaragoza command is «already completed,» with internal equipment in progress, involving a total investment of 30 million euros.
The Ministry of the Interior is already preparing the Infrastructure Plan II, and «Aragon will also benefit from a similar financial package to the first plan.»
Grande-Marlaska was accompanied by, among other officials, the government delegate of Aragon, Fernando Beltán; the Director-General of the Civil Guard, Mercedes González; the government delegate of Huesca, José Carlos Campo; and the President of the Society of Penitentiary and State Security Infrastructure and Equipment (SIEPS), Sofía Hernanz.
After visiting the Jaca quarter, the Minister moved to the Mountain Training Center, located in Candanchú (Huesca). He attended a materials exhibition at the advanced command post and greeted students from the 37th course in mountain specialization.
Grande-Marlaska was introduced to the activities of this unit for the first time, a training center aimed at enhancing the skills of mountain service members through specialized mountain courses and the civilian mountain instructor course. Upon completing training at CAEM, Civil Guards are deployed in five areas: JACA, NAVACERRADA, Granada, Cangas de Onís, and Viella.
«Since the creation of the National Mountain Inspection in 1981, the Civil Guard’s mountain service has participated in over 27,000 mountain rescues, saving more than 46,000 individuals.»
He emphasized the «significant risks» that the Civil Guard faces in all its units, particularly in the mountain service, highlighting that eight Civil Guard members from the Mountain Service, from 81-82, died in the line of duty, including one victim of a terrorist attack, and four civilian members of the air service died in personal actions.
The Civil Guard’s mountain service conducted a total of 1,196 mountain rescue, aid, and intervention operations, including the rescue of two hikers who were disoriented inside a cave in Sima Garmcatiga.
As a result of the Dana weather phenomenon that affected Spain in October, various mountain groups also responded in the affected communities, with special focus on the Valencia province.
