european

The Catalan capital competes against 18 other European cites to host the European Medicines Agency

President of EFA group Josep Maria Terricabras says Catalans will react in a "peaceful but forceful way" if denied a referendum

People's Party representative in Brussels accepts “there is a political problem" in Catalonia but warns solution "is not independence"

SMALLE Technologies and Carinsa selected with 64 other small and medium-sized companies from all around Europe

A fortnight after dockworkers call off industrial action, EU Court of Justice calls Spanish government’s failure to liberalize ports ‘serious’

Nicola Danti states that online platforms offering accommodation or transport should not be banned amid dispute between Barcelona and Airbnb

They defend the city as a great headquarters due to its “scientific, technologic, and industrial potential” and the way it faces “big challenges” as it did with the Olympic Games in 1992

During his campaign to become President of the EU Parliament, Tajani promised to promote the use of the Catalan

The Catalan MEPs Jordi Solé and Josep-Maria Terricabras invite the Commissioner for Interior and Immigration to visit the CIEs in person

The CEO of the Port of Barcelona, Sixte Cambra, warned that it may negatively affect the country’s economy

The First Secretary of the Catalan socialists, Miquel Iceta, met with Frans Timmermans in Brussels to discuss Catalan issues

Catalan Minister Josep Rull calls for "excellent rail infrastructure" to boost the productivity of the Mediterranean ports

The Catalan Minister of Economy and Finance, Oriol Junqueras, defended the good health of the Catalan economy on Friday and insisted on the Catalan executive’s commitment to continue within the European Union in case of independence. At the 33th Annual Meeting of the Economy Circle in Sitges, Junqueras confirmed that his executive expects to surpass 2.7% of annual economic growth and highlighted the fact that Catalonia account for 85% of the deficit reduction of all administrations in Spain. The Catalan minister also used the opportunity to communicate a message of calm to the economic sector, guaranteeing that “Catalonia will not leave the EU in case of independence” since there is “absolutely no legal mechanism that foresees this case”. Along this line, Junqueras stressed the “firm pro-European commitment” of the Catalan government and its determination of “strengthening” a common project and creating “excellent relationships” with neighbors, “especially Spain”. In this case, however, like “two states with the same powers”.

The Spanish Minister of Health, Dolors Montserrat, defended on Wednesday that the current political debate in Catalonia, where the government plans to hold an independence referendum in autumn, does not damage Barcelona's candidacy to host the European Medicines Agency. In comments to the press from Brussels, where she held meetings with the Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis and the Secretary-Generals of the Commission and the Council, Montserrat said that “no one” had raised the issue of independence. “We are the government of all Catalans and we want the EMA in Barcelona. I am strongly convinced that (the independence debate) does not affect this at all. No one has asked me about it,” she insisted. Montserrat said that the Catalan capital is already “ready” to host the 900 EMA staff members at the iconic Torre Agbar building and said that Barcelona “fulfills” all the criteria.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) approved on Tuesday a €125 million loan to the Council of Barcelona to build 2,198 affordable houses. The money will help to finance 23 promotions from all over the city and will cover 50% of the projects budget. The rest will be paid through the Council own resources (31%) and other financial sources, including public and private institutions (19%). Gerardo Pisarello, from the Barcelona Council, said that the EIB loan will help the city save up to €45 million in interests, as the financing conditions set by the European Investment Bank are much more favourable than those of other banks. The Council of Barcelona is planning to build 8,800 affordable flats until 2025.