It is time for solutions, proclaim the authors ofA new Governance for Metropolitan Barcelona, the second book by the Barcelona Distrito Federal (BDF) association, chaired byJosé María Cardellach, whose purpose is to rethink this conurbation. Representatives from different social sectors participate in this project, convinced that the global city dreamed of by the former mayorPasqual Maragallit is possible.
The promoters of Barcelona DF, at the presentation of their first book at the Barcelona History Museum / CG
In fact, both the socialist politician and the former Metropolitan Corporation thatJordi Pujoleliminated in 1987, considering it a counterpower to the convergent Generalitat, are very present in this work thatIt is presented on Thursday, January 16 at the Barcelona History Museum.
Avoid parallel structures
AfterA project for Metropolitan Barcelona,presented in February 2019, the promoters of BDF now offer eight proposals for a new metropolitan governance. They are committed to a multi-level administration that includes a deliberative body and an executive administration. However, they specify thatto avoid parallel structures, it is necessary to review the existing ones.
Aerial image of the Barcelona coastline / CG
The Barcelonès Regional Council has been suppressed, the authors urge to redefine the councils of theBaix Llobregat and the Western Vallès, as well as increasing the skills of theBarcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB). They believe that the Barcelona Provincial Council should then begin to exercise its powers beyond the territory of the AMB.
What is the metropolitan area?
BDF defines this conurbation as an area of 636 square kilometers, where 3.2 million people live, whichIt represents more than 50% of the GDP of Cataloniaand which includes36 municipalities. It manages the third public budget of Catalonia, after the Generalitat and Barcelona City Council. Hence its importance and potential.
The headquarters of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB), located in the industrial area around the Catalan capital / CG
But, in the authors' opinion,The law that regulates the AMB is unambitious and very stagnant, since it does not facilitate full development in social matters such as housing, transportation, water or energy. And, above all, it depends too much on political interests.
open borders
Likewise, this governance must be flexible and plural, with open borders. Likewise, the Barcelona metropolis must beopen to the world and, to do so, it must participate in international forums.
Governance, they affirm, must be inclusive, that is, fight against globalization and the challenges posed by rapid technological changes, which generate wealth,but also inequalities.
A metropolis, they say, that citizens feel like their own. They consider that the debate on the direct election of governing bodies should not be reduced to the appointment of the metropolitan mayor: it should be expanded to the possible existence ofmetropolitan districtsso that each neighborhood elects its representatives. In this sense, they defend the strengthening of links between voters and elected officials, through the use of information and communications technologies (ICT).
London, Paris, Vienna…
Governance, according to BDF, must be federative, with a council of metropolitan mayors, inspired by the historic Consell de Cent, which the professor of Medieval History,José Enrique Ruiz-Domènecclaimed in the book.
This work also addresses comparative law, that is, the regulation of the large metropolises ofLondon, Paris, Lisbon or Berlin, as well as other conurbations where there are no metropolitan administrative bodies, but they do plan their territory, such asVienna, Brussels or Madrid.
Maria Jesus Canizares