Catalan cabinet laments 'slim and slow progress' after meeting with Spanish government

The meeting between Catalan and Spanish government officials that took place in Barcelona on Friday only saw "slim and slow progress," Catalan vice president Jordi Puigneró said in a press conference shortly thereafter.

Spanish authorities, on the other hand, celebrated what they described as a "historic" event in which deals were reached for the first time "in a decade."

According to Catalan government sources, these agreements on things such as scholarships, the B-23 and B-30 highways, or the ownership of buildings "are insufficient."

Targeted basic income

Despite their disappointment, Puigneró and presidency minister Laura Vilagrà did, however, announce that a "preliminary agreement" had been reached at the so-called Bilateral Commission meeting that would allow Catalonia to oversee targeted basic income benefits.

The targeted basic income, one of the points addressed in recent Esquerra Republicana-Spanish government budget negotiations, is compatible with Catalonia's guaranteed income scheme for low-income households. 

Talks on Catalan independence

Vilagrà called for "more relevant and tangible results" and said a date for the next negotiation table on the issue of Catalan independence could be set in the coming weeks. This comes only days after Catalan president Pere Aragonès urged the Spanish president to reach "agreements" on the matter and warned there would be "no second opportunities for dialogue."