The president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, has presented a public-private collaboration plan that foresees mobilizing up to 3.3 billion euros to "accelerate" strategic infrastructures in Catalonia, with the goal that actions that would normally require between 20 and 25 years can be completed in around 6 years.
The announcement was made this Monday during the 41st Cercle d'Economia Meeting, which is being held until Wednesday at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya. Illa specified that, of the 3.3 billion euros foreseen, 1.8 billion will be put out to tender "immediately" and the remaining 1.5 billion will be activated in a later phase.
Within the first block, it is foreseen to put out to tender actions for 1.8 billion euros, among which are included the stations of the central section of Line 9 of the Barcelona Metro, the deployment of the 2+1 axes on various Catalan roads, and the partial doubling of the section between Berga and Bagà (Barcelona).
"The public-private collaboration model is a model that has yielded good results in Catalonia," Illa remarked, recalling that this type of formula had been paralyzed since 2010 for various reasons and arguing that current circumstances allow for its resumption.
Although he insisted that the first package will be put out to tender "immediately," he did not offer a specific timeline for this block or for the second, nor did he clarify whether the chosen formula would be concessions or another type of collaboration scheme.
"To resort to private savings to be able to make the investments we need now, which will serve to generate prosperity now, which will better connect the country, and which we will be able to repay to the private capital that has invested over time," he stressed.
1.8 billion "immediately"
In this first package, the Government plans to tender 500 million euros for the stations of the central section of Line 9 of the Barcelona Metro. In addition, the deployment of the 2+1 axes will have 720 million and will cover 366 kilometers of road network, while the doubling of the Berga-Bagà section will have 470 million.
The second block, endowed with 1.5 billion, will focus on "accelerating" the doubling of the C-55, the second phase of the tram-train between Tarragona and Reus, several bus interchanges, and the Lleida-Quatre Pilans railway terminal.
Consorci d'Inversions and new financing model
Regarding investments, Illa has also alluded to the Investment Consortium agreed upon between the central Government, the Generalitat, and ERC, which in his opinion will grant "much more voice" to Catalonia in investment planning, something he considers decisive for boosting prosperity through high investment in infrastructure.
He has also pointed out the relevance of the new regional financing model and has expressed his conviction that Congress will endorse it: "It must be approved. And if not, whoever does not approve it, we must make them accountable to the citizens."
According to Illa, there is now a window of opportunity because the economy is functioning and the Government of Spain "is willing to put the 20 billion euros it has available to the autonomous communities."
Budgets and political stability in Catalonia
When asked if he foresees a more stable Catalan legislature after the budget agreement with ERC and the Comuns, he replied: "Governing with comfort today is a kind of oxymoron. I don't think there are governments that can carry out their work with comfort," although he expressed his satisfaction with the agreement reached.
He has defended that the new accounts offer "a horizon of stability to the country," by allowing the Generalitat to have more resources, and has stated that he trusts they will be executed "as quickly as possible."