Bilateral Spain-Catalonia committee meets for the first time in three years

On Monday, Catalonia’s president Salvador Illa met Spain’s minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, to reactivate negotiations between the Spanish and the Catalan governments with two commissions within the Spain-Catalonia Committee.

The first item on the agenda of the Bilateral Commission was to reach agreements on security, justice, and, investment in Catalonia. 

Although meetings should be held twice yearly, the commission has not met since February 2022. 

This meeting was followed by one with the Transfers Commission, where Torres met with Catalonia's Minister of the Presidency, Albert Dalmau.

During the meeting, the two governments discussed the transfers of power but did not discuss Catalonia’s new singular financing system from September 2024.

Spain’s minister of Territorial Policy  noted that "strengthening the statute of autonomy is to defend the constitution," adding "We are pleased."

The last meeting between the Transfers Commission took place in November 2010.

20 agreements “arm in arm”

Following the meetings, Dalmau celebrated the meeting and the over 20 new agreements, saying during a press conference that they “certify the arm-in-arm dynamic” of the new collaborative efforts, which is “a more fruitful political strategy than that of confrontation.“

Other issues that were approved were the increase in the number of Mossos d’Esquadra police officers to 25,000 by 2030, as well as the increase of the number of judges in Catalonia to 60 to match the Spanish national average, among others.

The Committee also agreed to create a consortium to manage the state’s investments in Catalonia, one of Salvador Illa’s electoral promises.

Reaction from industry:  "very positive”

Before the committee meetings, Albert Dalmau met with various social and economic organizations in Catalonia on Monday, including Foment del Treball, the Catalan industry federation. 

According to the president of the federation, Josep Sánchez Llibre, the “new stage” of relations between Catalonia and Spain is “very positive."

Llibre particularly highlighted the agreement to “substantially” increase the number of Mossos d’Esquadra and judges, saying it “moves us in a more physical and judicial secure direction.”