Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services and Housing

The latest meeting by the City Council – Government of Catalonia Joint Commission reaffirmed the combined desire to strengthen institutional cooperation and drive strategic projects in the city and Catalonia, reaching various agreements in different spheres.

Notable agreements include the creation of a joint working group with the Government of Catalonia, which will also invite the Port Authority and representatives from the Spanish state, to find the best solutions to reduce the environmental impact and mass tourism from cruise ships.

European Next Generation Funds

In an effort to improve strategic projects developed jointly and receiving Next Generation funds, the role of the Technical Coordination Committee has been strengthened to implement these. A notable agreement here is the one between the Catalan Housing Agency and the Barcelona Housing Consortium, providing 42.5 million euros for renovation policies in the city.

Different types of action have also been agreed on in the fields of territory and sustainability (metro network), healthcare (Hospital del Mar and action on Covid in hospitals) and education (renovation of primary and all-through schools to boost the competitiveness of the Catalan knowledge system). The amount approved for this is 175.5 million euros.

There was also agreement on promoting the project Ciutadella del Coneixement – Mercat del Peix and funding strategic projects in the city and Catalonia, with a sum of 13.5 million euros between 2022 and 2023.

Local cooperation

Agreement was reached with the Catalan government’s Ministry for Equality and Feminism to establish a new framework agreement for the development of equality projects, non-discrimination and support against sexist violence 2022-2025. This multi-year agreement means an investment of 11 million euros in four years.

Cooperation on health

The commission also agreed on a new City Pact for the construction and improvement of healthcare facilities, the identification and lease of spaces for new primary healthcare centres (CAP), the tendering of the project for the new headquarters of the Public Health Agency, the continued rollout of the act on dental care in Barcelona and the incorporation of hygiene professionals at CAPs, plus joint funding for 70% of the suicide prevention phone service.

Cooperation on safety and prevention

The commission agreed to set up a working group with the participation of the City Police, the Fire Service and Rural Officers corps to collaborate on forest fire prevention and the control of wild boar in Collserola, better joint access to data applications by the security corps and the definition of a protocol to improve and increase coordination by police in connection with prevention and intervention in cases of gender violence.

The Joint Commission also reached an agreement on cooperation to facilitate the use of the Blanquerna Cultural Centre in Madrid, and to collaborate on projects to promote Barcelona. Here the commission covered various topics such as mobility and public transport, the issue with rickshaws in Barcelona and how to regulate them, the situation with joint consortiums and measures to promote the Barcelona Municipal Charter.