On 20 March 2026, the Spanish Government approved Royal Decree-Law 7/2026, the Comprehensive Response Plan to the Middle East Crisis. The regulation combines immediate relief measures on energy costs with broader structural actions aimed at strengthening the resilience of the Spanish economy against future episodes of international instability.
For Spanish companies with international operations, this regulation is not solely an energy matter. It is a package of measures with direct implications for cost structures, tax planning and access to public support instruments, at precisely the moment when geopolitical uncertainty is already affecting supply chains, operating margins and investment decisions in international markets.
Identifying which measures apply to each company, and how to activate them correctly, is not a straightforward exercise. It depends on the sector, the operating model and the composition of the business. Getting it right can make a meaningful difference to the 2026 bottom line.
The measures with the greatest practical impact for internationalised companies
Royal Decree-Law 7/2026 introduces a broad set of actions. Those with the most direct relevance for companies with international operations or complex operational structures include the following:
Reduction of energy VAT to 10%, applicable to certain energy supplies and fuels until 30 June 2026. Combined with a 0.5 percentage point reduction in the Special Tax on Electricity during the same period, this has a direct effect on production, storage and logistics costs for companies with intensive electricity consumption — a common profile in industry, manufacturing and operators with their own facilities.
Direct aid for specific sectors, including transport, agriculture and livestock farming, as well as other sectors that can demonstrate a genuine impact from rising energy costs. Access to these grants is not automatic: it requires evidencing the impact, meeting established eligibility criteria and completing the application process correctly. Companies that do not initiate this process sufficiently in advance risk missing the deadlines.
Financial support for road freight transport operators, aimed at facilitating liquidity and operational financing in a sector already under pressure from rising fuel costs and disruptions to international routes.
Incentives linked to energy efficiency, renovation and renewable self-consumption. This block has a more structural horizon: it is designed to accelerate electrification and reduce companies’ energy dependence in the medium term. For companies with investment plans involving facilities or infrastructure, reviewing whether any of these incentives is compatible with their planned projects may open funding avenues that would not otherwise be available.
Why this regulation matters now for companies operating internationally
Spanish companies with international operations are simultaneously absorbing several pressures: rising energy costs, exchange rate volatility in currencies linked to the region, supply chain disruptions affecting eastern Mediterranean and Gulf routes, and uncertainty over the outlook for ongoing contracts in MENA markets.
In that context, the measures introduced by RD-Law 7/2026 offer a margin of relief on the domestic cost base that can help sustain overall operational profitability. But that margin only materialises if the company correctly identifies which instruments apply, meets the access requirements and manages the application process within the established timeframes.
The regulation’s tax reduction measures are partially in force until 30 June 2026. What is not processed before that date cannot be recovered.
A regulatory environment that will continue to evolve
Royal Decree-Law 7/2026 is an emergency response to a situation that has not yet stabilised. The crisis in the Middle East remains unresolved, and the Spanish Government has indicated that the support framework may be extended or modified depending on how the situation develops. Companies monitoring the geopolitical impact on their international operations must also track any regulatory modifications that may derive from this decree in the coming months.
Operating in international markets in this kind of environment requires advice that covers the Spanish regulatory dimension, the operational impact at destination and the optimisation of available support instruments simultaneously. These are not three separate conversations — they are one.
Does your company know whether it can benefit from any of these measures?
At Feliu N&I, we help Spanish companies with international operations identify which regulatory developments apply to them and assess their fiscal and operational impact in concrete terms. If your company has intensive energy consumption, operates in logistics or transport, or is considering investment in efficiency or electrification, it is worth reviewing your position under RD-Law 7/2026 before the deadlines pass.
Contact us for a personalised consultation.
