Del Consell de Cent a la ciutat global

An open, topical debate on the governance and boundaries of the Barcelona metropolitan area.

For centuries, Barcelona’s influence has extended far beyond its municipal limits. As early as the Middle Ages, the Consell de Cent governed a territory that stretched past the walled city, reaching from Castelldefels and Montgat to Collserola.

In the aftermath of the War of the Spanish Succession, the Nova Planta Decree established the boundaries of the municipal districts, yet Barcelona’s weight as a capital did not diminish. Its metropolitan outlook is visible in every major urban-planning project since the mid-19th century, from the demolition of the walls to Cerdà’s Eixample. The only obstacle to further growth were the policies imposed from Madrid. That is, until 1897, when the annexation of the towns of the plain marked a major turning point.

Today, the Catalan capital ranks among the global cities with the greatest influence as economic drivers within their countries. This has revived the debate on the governance of the metropolitan area and its possible expansion towards a five-million-strong region.

While many view this ambition as a form of covert annexation, they overlook the fact that the metropolitan region must be polycentric to remain competitive in the global economy. Preserving the autonomy of each municipality need not preclude the transfer of certain powers to a supramunicipal authority. Barcelona is now very well placed to compete globally, but it must continue to evolve towards a fully articulated metropolitan region.