The Catalan Government has announced the deficit for last year was 3.29%, short of the 2.66% target set by Barcelona. The Catalan Minister for the Economy, Andreu Mas-Colell, has praised citizens for having tightened their purse strings, and says Catalonia is on track to meet is 1.3% deficit objective in 2012
The Catalan artist’s work is yet again the main attraction of a major UK exhibition. After the success of the painting retrospective at Tate Modern in 2011, Yorkshire Sculpture Park will stage the first major exhibition of Miró’s sculptures in the country in the spring. Also, some of the most exquisite work of the artist will be on sale next week in Christie’s and Sotheby’s, with record prices expected.
Almost all of Catalonia was covered in a blanket of snow on Thursday morning. The Siberian cold front affecting the entire European continent arrived in Catalonia midweek. All emergency services have been put on alert, but no major incidences have occurred. However, almost 900 schools were forced to close their doors at noon on Thursday and school transport in some counties has been suspended on Friday as a precautionary measure.
The Spanish Government has signed 23 bilateral agreements with other countries that fix Madrid Barajas as the only airport in Spain where their flights can operate. This discriminates against Barcelona El Prat Airport by not permitting it to have international and intercontinental connections. The European Parliament has unanimously approved an amendment presented by a Liberal Catalan Nationalist MEP from CiU.
From the 2nd to the 11th of February, Barcelona is at the centre of the thriller novel. The Carvalho Prize will be given to Greek writer Petros Màrkaris and tribute paid to the recently-deceased head of the Antifraud Office of Catalonia, David Martínez Madero.
The President of the Catalan Government, Artur Mas, has offered Spain’s Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy; cooperation regards Spain’s structural reforms, such as the Labour Market reform. Mas has not put prior conditions on the table, but only wants to “be able to talk about a new fiscal agreement between Catalonia and Spain”. He said he understands that this is not an “urgent priority for Rajoy”, but it is a “crucial issue” for Catalonia and “an opportunity” for Spain. Mas stressed that his cooperation would not be indefinite, and would have to be renewed in the future. The Catalan President told FAZ about a possible “federation” or “confederation” between Catalonia and Spain.
Barça managed to get a valuable draw in Valencia in the first leg of the Spanish Cup semifinal, in a game where Jonas put the home side ahead, and Puyol equalised with a header. The Camp Nou will decide who’ll go through to the Spanish Cup Final.
Catalonia gives away between 8% and 9% of its GDP every year. The main actors in Catalan civil society got together to formally push for a new fiscal agreement with Spain, through which Catalonia would continue transferring money to poorer Spanish regions, but not at current levels. The meeting brought together the leaders of the main business-owners association and the two main trade unions, as well as intellectuals from Barcelona’s Athenaeum, business people, and politicians from every political party except those classed as Spanish nationalists. The meeting was similar to the one held 113 years ago.
The Brandery is an urban fashion trade show which holds two editions every year, one in summer and the other in winter. The Brandery winter edition was held from the 27th through to the 29th of January 2012 at the Montjuïc fair trade complex.
The lack of satisfactory offers has forced the Catalan Government to postpone its plan of selling several buildings off for cheap and losing money. Selling real estate assets is one of the ways the Catalan Government hopes to increase revenue and reduce the public deficit. Since none of the offers reached the minimum expected, the Government has decided to wait and postpone the sale.
The Catalan bank Banc Sabadell’s profits experienced a 39% fall when compared to its 2010 results. However, the entity strengthened its balance sheet thanks to an increase in the core capital ratio, which added up to 10.3%. Despite the persistent instability of the financial markets, Banc Sabadell expanded its market share and its products and services reached 2.7 million customers.
During last year 8,217 human towers built. According to latest data, just 3.5% of the total number of human towers collapsed.
A quick guide for the foreign visitor to the Catalan capital where the only thing you spend is…energy. Going to the CCCB art centre, walking across the Boqueria Market, or discover Barcelona's Cathedral are some of the suggested activities.
During four intense days, the ceremonial hall of the old Palau del Rei (King’s Palace) of Barcelona, the Saló del Tinell, became a catwalk full of glitter, aromas and, above all, glamour.
The Catalan airline has a debt of €474 million; €260 million of which is with its shareholders and the remaining €214 millions with providers, airports and social security. The Catalan Government has invested €140 million in the airline, split in loans given to the company and in Spanair’s capital. Spanair stopped all its activity on Friday evening because it could not find any additional funding. All the more than 12,000 Spanair passengers passing through Catalonia over the weekend found an alternative flight using other airlines.