collboni

European Medicine Agency employees prefer relocation to Barcelona

May 2, 2017 09:51 PM | ACN

Barcelona is one of the cities which has presented a proposal to host the European Medicines Agency, which will have to relocate from London due to Brexit. Moreover, it is the preferred option of its nearly 900 employees, who say they will be happy to relocate here. “This makes our candidature the only one which could guarantee that the essence of the EMA will remain the same, since its employees and therefore the talent will maintain,” explained Catalan Minister for Health, Toni Comín. He was one of the main speakers this Tuesday in London at the presentation of Barcelona’s candidacy to host the EMA. He was accompanied by Spanish Minister for Health, Dolors Montserrat and Barcelona’s deputy mayor, Jaume Collboni, who emphasized that the three levels of administration are “working together” to bring the EMA to the Catalan capital.

Barcelona drops bid to host 2026 Winter Olympics

March 16, 2017 06:43 PM | ACN

Barcelona – The Pyrenees-based candidacy to host the 2026 Winter Olympics has been rescinded by its own promoters. According to Barcelona’s deputy mayor, Jordi Collboni, the decision responded “to the current social and economic circumstances not only in Barcelona but in the whole country”. Collboni also emphasized Barcelona’s image as an Olympic city, won in 1992, and rejected any eventual “false move” which might affect its good reputation. “If we submit an application, we want it to be the winning option,” he said and admitted that in order for that to be true the candidacy “must have full political and social support”. The conclusions emerged from the committee responsible for analysing the candidacy, backed by the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC), Spanish Unionist ‘Ciutadans’, Left wing pro-independence ERC and the Democratic Group.

 

Barcelona opens space to promote intercultural exchange with the United States

November 14, 2016 06:32 PM | ACN

Since this Monday Barcelona forms part of the global network of cities that boast an American Space, a place to promote cultural exchange with the United Sates. The Ignasi Iglésias-Can Fabra library inaugurated this morning a centre called American Space Barcelona that will offer free activities, programmes and workshops to citizens. The programme of activities of the centre aims at providing information on the US, teaching the English language and giving academic advice to study in the North American country.Barcelona’s Deputy Mayor for Business, Innovation and Culture, James Collboni, stated that the centre will allow “to overcome stereotypes, prejudices and preconceived ideas” about the United States, especially among young people. 

‘Brexit’ will "strengthen collaboration between London and Barcelona", Barcelona’s second Deputy Mayor says

October 3, 2016 06:47 PM | ACN / Sara Prim

Barcelona’s Deputy Mayor for Business, Innovation and Culture, Jaume Collboni, visited London this Monday to explain the so-called ‘Brexit Plan’. This initiative aims to establish a unique window to support British investors and entrepreneurs that want to come to Barcelona to launch a business. The plan also seeks to convince companies currently based in the UK, which may be considering relocation after ‘Brexit’, that Barcelona is a “business-friendly city”, Collboni stated. The main goal is not to compete with London but to establish a relationship “based on collaboration and cooperation between these and other global capital cities such as Berlin or Amsterdam”, he added. The politician met with London’s Deputy Mayor for Business, Rjaesh Agrawal, and the economic promotion agency of the metropolitan area of ??London, London & Partners. “The meetings have gone very well", Collboni said and acknowledged that Barcelona "already has a very good international image". 

Catalan Socialist Party heavyweights maintain their 'no’ to Rajoy’s investiture

October 3, 2016 11:06 AM | ACN / Sara Prim

The PSC, the Catalan branch of the Spanish Socialist Party have insisted on their ‘no’ to reinstating current Spanish President, Mariano Rajoy. “We can’t betray our principles”, stated this Monday one of the candidates to lead PSC in the upcoming primary elections, Núria Parlon. In a clear move to differentiate themselves from the overall Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) position, which is to abstain in the upcoming investiture debate and allow the formation of a government in Spain, the PSC emphasised their “commitment to the citizens’ mandate” and their predisposition to offer “an alternative government to that of the Conservative People’s Party (PP)”. The Catalan Socialists expressed their position after the resignation of PSOE’s leader, Pedro Sánchez, who stepped down on Saturday after a week of turmoil within the Spanish Socialist Party.

 

Barcelona offers to host British start-ups after Brexit

August 3, 2016 06:32 PM | ACN

The Catalan Government and Barcelona’s City Hall will join efforts to house those companies which want to leave the UK due to Brexit. “We will specifically address entrepreneurs, start-ups and ICT companies”, explained Catalan Ministry for Business and Knowledge Jordi Baiget.“We to want tell British entrepreneurs and multinational companies that Barcelona and Catalonia are a great destination”, added Barcelona’s deputy Mayor, Jaume Collboni. More than 2,000 Catalan companies regularly export to the UK and 22.4% of Spanish exports to the state are from Catalonia. Regarding imports, the Barcelona area received 2.2 billion euros from UK-based companies in 2015, 5.8% more than the previous year. In June the Catalan Government also offered to host the headquarters of the European Medicines Agency, which is currently in London.