Urban Economic Promotion Areas (APEU for its initials in Catalan)

On 22 December 2020, the Catalan Parliament approved the law on Urban Economic Promotion Areas (APEU). The APEUs are well-defined geographical areas in one, or several municipalities in which business activities and public administrations agree on an objective: to promote and dynamise the area based on an action plan adapted to general interest objectives.

Barcelona City Council facilitates the joint management of any area of concentrated economic activity in the city that wishes to do so in order to increase its competitiveness, improve the quality of its surroundings and diversify the services offered there. 

  • They are an instrument of collaboration between private business activities and public administrations to promote a model of shared governance that improves the commercial areas of cities. The creation of the APEUs follows the following criteria:
     

    • The aim is to increase competitiveness and improve the urban environment. 
    • The area must be perfectly delimited.
    • Private initiative carries out the actions, and the administration oversees them.
    • Economic activities must approve the project democratically.
    • The APEUs last between 3 and 5 years. Afterwards, it is necessary to vote to revalidate them.
    • They are mainly financed through the contributions of their members.
    • A management entity in control, with an agreement with the administration.

  • Each APEU is accompanied by a specific action plan adapted to the needs of each commercial area. Generally speaking, however, this model has the following functions: 

    • It promotes urban, tourist and commercial activity.
    • It organises events and activities to dynamise the area. 
    • It captures investments to improve the commercial sector.
    • It reduces the number of empty commercial premises. 
    • It improves the cleanliness, safety, signposting and lighting of the areas. 
    • It develops the shared management of services for APEU members.
    • It offers training to their members. 

  • The APEU can help to promote and reactivate Barcelona's local commerce. Therefore, actions are being carried out in Barcelona to promote them. 

    • Consultancy service. A consultancy process to analyse the viability of the area in a specific area of Barcelona is made available to the commercial groups that are interested in forming an APEU. 
    • Strategic analysis. The option of carrying out a qualitative and quantitative strategic analysis is given to commercial establishments that wish to implement an APEU. It also helps to draw up a feasibility report on its implementation. 
    • Information sessions. Information sessions have been organised in webinar format with all the necessary information to find out how the APEU can contribute to promoting and reactivating the commercial and restaurant sector in Barcelona, as well as making the city's neighbourhoods more dynamic and cohesive. 
    • Training. The course ‘The keys to setting up an APEU’ has been organised. This is a programme divided into three blocks that have addressed topics such as strategy and leadership, planning and financial viability and the legal aspects of the APEU.

Documentation and related links