2024-07-22: Allegations to the RFEP-FF.A.A. Integration Agreement sent to the Secretary General of Spanish (Juan Carlos Vinuesa)

Dear Secretary-General,

In response to his e-mail of 5 June, attached to the draft Convention on the Integration of Autonomous Federations in the RFEP, which indicates a period of 15 calendar days for the making of contributions and observations to the said document, the undersigned submit the following allegations:

- Covenants or stipulations. Second paragraph.
- Elimination of the first paragraph.
- Elimination of the second paragraph.

- Covenants or stipulations. Third subparagraph.
- Subparagraph (c): deletion of the phrase "in the terms set out in the Electoral Regulation."
Subparagraph (d): deletion of the words "or above aputonomic."
Subparagraph (e): deletion of the phrase "including the signing of contracts and / or agreements that may affect the RFEP shall require its prior conformity"
- Subparagraph (g): delete the whole subparagraph.
- Subparagraph (i): delete the whole subparagraph.

- Covenants or stipulations. Paragraph 4.
Subparagraph (d): deletion of the words "or above autonomic."
- Subparagraph (h): deletion of the words "and privileges."
"To have full and direct access to the RFEP licensing database.
(j): addition: "To receive prior communication of any activity that the RFEP intends to carry out within the territory of the respective FA, as well as of the presence of the President or other directors in its territory."
"To be a party to any relationship of the RFEP with the relevant autonomous administration, so that the RFEP cannot conclude agreements or receive autonomous subsidies without the mediation of the FA."
"To participate in the signing of any contract or agreement that the RFEP intends to conclude in relation to activities of piragüism to be held in the territory of the FA."
- Subparagraph (m): addition "To participate in the appointments of arbitration teams and State competition committees on its territory."

- Covenants or stipulations. Paragraph 5.
- Point 2 (a): delete the whole subparagraph.
- Point 2 (b): delete the whole subparagraph.
- Point 2 (g): delete the whole subparagraph.
- Point 2 (i): delete the whole subparagraph.
- point 2 (j): delete the whole subparagraph.
- Point 5: addition: at the end of the paragraph, "with strict compliance with the applicable autonomous legislation."

- Covenants or stipulations. Paragraph 6.
- First paragraph: addition: "or of the RFEP."

By applying the above-mentioned removal and addition proposals, the proposed convention, with the deleted red removal proposals and the green addition proposals, is added as an annex for greater ease of visualisation.

These proposals are presented by the presidents of the autonomous federations, which are listed below on the date of the electronic signature.

Signed by the Presidents of the Regional Federations.

2024-06-24: Disorganization and lack of transparency and participation in the Spanish Federation of Piragüismo

We have just received a joint communiqué from several of the territories, involved in this discussion with the national authority and representing more than half of the federal licenses in our country... which refuse to sign the current agreement proposed by the Royal Spanish Federation of Piragüismo.

The president of the Royal Spanish Federation of Piragüismo, Javier Hernanz, has informed the presidents of the autonomous federations of the sending of the Agreement of Integration to the Higher Council of Sports (CSD) for approval. This movement, far from providing clarity and direction, has demonstrated an alarming lack of organization and a worrying lack of transparency and participation that threatens the independence and autonomy of territorial federations.

The president, following the criticisms received and the allegations sent by six federations, has promised to convene the presidents of the autonomous federations to explain the agreement and, if necessary, to amend it, once it has received the approval of the CSD. However, this proposal is late and bad. It is inconceivable that an agreement should be sent to the CSD for approval without the necessary consensus of the stakeholders themselves.

This approach shows a clear lack of leadership and management capacity on the part of the highest sports authority. Moreover, this integration agreement is based on amended Statutes which have not yet been approved by the Steering Committee of the High Council for Sports and are therefore not in force.

Main criticisms:

1. No actual negotiation: The President, following the discomfort caused by his lack of prior negotiation, has been forced to give the appearance of negotiation. However, such an alleged negotiation does not exist, as it continues with its anticipation of sending the CSD an unnegotiated agreement.
2. Lack of transparency: Communication has been inadequate and opaque. The presidents of the autonomous federations have received vague and generic information, without knowing the allegations received or what federations made such allegations. The legal advice allegedly responsible for drafting the convention is also unknown.
3. Time loss: The process of sending the agreement to the CSD before discussing it with the autonomous federations is an unnecessary step that only delays its processing in time and the need to seek agreement with the federations concerned. This time lost could have been used to work together with the autonomous federations to improve the drafting of the convention.
4. Uncoordination: The promise to convene post-CSD meetings indicates a lack of planning and forecasting. Such processes should have been carried out before they were sent to the CSD and avoid the need for a second CSD approval after the review and modification reflected by the president.
5. Confusion of times and forms: The president confuses times and forms. The times, because they are being done the other way around (sent the agreement to the CSD and then called the presidents). And the forms, because first it imposes and denies negotiation, and then it tries to give the appearance of transparency, bringing together the presidents. The autonomous federations maintain our interest in jointly agreeing on a convention and then, once agreed, refer it to the CSD.
6. Minimum Convention: If we do not reach an agreement, the autonomous federations will sign only the Convention on the Integration of Minimum that the CSD marks, according to the Sports Act.

2024-06-21: The Spanish of Piragüismo imposes without negotiating the agreement on the territorial (I)

The Spanish Federation of Piragüismo imposes without negotiation the agreement of integration of the territorial... Autonomous federations, which represent more than 50% of the total Spanish licenses, refuse to sign the current agreement proposed by the Spanish

Several autonomous federations of Piragüismo express their strongest rejection of the draft integration agreement recently presented by the Royal Spanish Federation of Piragüismo (RFEP). This draft, drawn up without the proper process of negotiation and consensus, is intended to impose unilateral criteria that directly affect the autonomous powers and autonomy of our federations.

The RFEP has acted unilaterally, refusing to open a space for debate and constructive dialogue to address and address the legitimate concerns and concerns of the autonomous federations. In the words of the Secretary-General of the RFEP, Mr Juan Carlos Vinuesa, "Integration, therefore, is voluntary for the FFAA (the freedom of integration must be total. Preamble to the Law) and in no case is it provided in the Law that the agreements involve a negotiation, rather than the contrary."

This procedure, characterized by the imposition of the RFEP criterion without prior discussion, not only violates the principle of subsidiarity, but also undermines the very essence of the decentralized sports management model that promotes cooperation and territorial cohesion.

Furthermore, it is important to note that the draft convention submitted by the RFEP has not been submitted for approval by its own governing bodies (Board of Directors or delegated committee). This lack of transparency and respect for internal procedures reflects an authoritarian and undemocratic attitude, which cannot be accepted or tolerated by the autonomous federations.

The autonomous federations of pyragüismo reaffirm their commitment to the defence of their competences and rights, as well as to the promotion of a model of sports management that respects the diversity and particularities of each autonomous community.

We call on the Spanish Federation to reconsider its position and open itself to an exemplary negotiation process, based on mutual respect and the common interest in promoting the development of pyragüism throughout the national territory. In addition, this integration agreement is based on Statutes that have not yet been approved by the Steering Committee of the High Council for Sports, which adds a new level of uncertainty and lack of legitimacy to the process.

The implementation of such an agreement without due statutory approval is an action which we consider unacceptable and which compromises the stability and proper functioning of the Pyragüism in our country.

In this regard, we are prepared to cooperate in the search for solutions that benefit all the parties involved, provided that the principles of dialogue, transparency and respect for the autonomy and representation of the autonomous federations in their territory are respected.