The Mayors of Barcelona and Cologne signed a twinning protocol in Barcelona on 30th March 1984.  With this twinning agreement the two city councils agreed to foster cultural, educational, social, touristic, technological and economic exchanges between the two cities, to achieve greater knowledge, a closer friendship and permanent collaboration between the two cities. 

So as to boost this agreement, the City of Cologne has a support committee for the twinning with Barcelona, which makes this agreement one of the most active for Barcelona, with an important number of exchanges, mainly cultural and educational, carried out since the date of signature.