Government implements 86% of 2022 spending plan, excluding EU funds 

The Catalan government spent 85.6% of the investments detailed in the 2022 budget, according to figures published by the economy department on Monday. 

The executive invested a total of €1.5552bn out of the €1.8169bn in the spending plan. This amounts to €199.57 per person, almost €30 more than in 2021 (€169.89). 

The end-of-year figures, however, do not take into account European Union funding because they can be applied until 2026. 

The department highlighted in particular investments to extend the L9 metro line (€65.8m), purchase rolling stock for FGC railways (€51.3) and renovate Hospital Clínic in Barcelona (€26.8m). 

Some of the spending which has not been implemented includes money for the expansion and improvement of Viladecans Hospital, investments in education, the purchase of housing for social use on behalf of the Catalan Housing Agency, and investment linked to the Segarra – Garrigues irrigation system and canal. 

Spending doubles in 5 years 

The economy ministry, headed by Natàlia Mas Guix, said spending data for 2022 "cements the progressive restoration of investments" that began after the 2008 crisis. 

In fact, according to the department, the figure of €1.5552bn is the highest in the last decade in absolute terms and almost double the amount recorded five years ago (€809.8m in 2018). Some 17.9% more was invested in 2022 compared to the previous year. 

According to the government's data, the percentage of spending in 2022 was "in line" with recent years – between 2015 and 2021, 81.6% of money in the budget was spent.  

The department contrasted Catalonia's "good rate" of budgetary spending with that of Spain, which stands at an average of 62.3% for the period 2015 – 2021, singling out the 2021 budget, when only 35.8% of the spending plan was implemented. 

The Spanish government has not yet published its data for 2022, despite it being due on May 30, a delay Mas Guix described as "inexplicable." 

"It compromises a fundamental pillar of public resources i.e. transparency," she said. 

Mas Guix also highlighted the fact that since 2015, spending from the Spanish government in Catalonia stands at 62% of the amount budgeted, 20 percentage points below the Catalan government's average over the same period. 

Between 60% and 70% of unrealized spending in Catalonia was meant for the rail network – Renfe and Adif – a lack of investment that "penalizes the day-to-day life of citizens and puts a brake on Catalonia's potential for growth," Mas Guix said. 

Since 2015, some €3.7bn of Spanish investment for Catalonia has not been executed, while spending in the Autonomous Community of Madrid by Spain amounted to 122% of the total stipulated in the budgets.