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Barcelona and its metropolitan area receive 47 million European funds to transform neighbourhoods
Ten cities in the Barcelona area receive historic European funding. Housing, culture and digitalisation will be the key pillars. Find out how these millions will change life in the neighbourhoods. The future of social cohesion is at stake.
The Área Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB) has secured an injection of 47 million euros from European funds, aimed at boosting social cohesion in neighbourhoods across ten metropolitan cities. This unprecedented funding for the AMB adds to other supra-municipal allocations and will help improve urban spaces in municipalities such as Barcelona, Badalona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Esplugues de Llobregat, Gavà, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Sant Joan Despí, Viladecans and Sant Feliu de Llobregat.
The vice-president for Internacional del AMB, Jordi Castellana, points out that the new European budget framework prioritises security and digitalisation, relegating social cohesion and the environment. In this context, securing FEDER funds is a relief for the most vulnerable neighbourhoods, as each council will receive between 4.5 and 6 million euros, contributing the remaining 60% to complete the projects. In total, investment will reach 118.6 million euros in the Barcelonès, Baix Llobregat and Vallès.
The AMB seeks to influence future European policies through the European Metropolitan Authorities, defending the role of metropolitan areas in the distribution of funds. The Associació Catalana de Municipis has also expressed concern about the new EU financial design, which could reduce the participation of local authorities and put territorial cohesion at risk.
The funded projects focus on housing, education and cultural facilities. Santa Coloma de Gramenet plans to improve educational infrastructure, create social rental housing and promote digital innovation. Sant Boi de Llobregat will renovate a community laboratory, open a new library and improve the green connection in the Marianao neighbourhood. Esplugues de Llobregat will allocate the funds to social housing, a new police station, an auditorium-theatre and a school of music and performing arts.
In Gavà, the council will invest in regenerating the historic centre, with a new cultural centre and the Rambla as the main axis. Viladecans will revitalise the Sant Climent road, Rambla Modolell and Plaça Europa, while Cerdanyola del Vallès will use the funds both to justify actions already carried out and to promote new strategic projects in the Les Fontetes neighbourhood.
Sant Feliu de Llobregat, for its part, is focusing on urban and environmental renewal after the burial of the railway tracks, with the creation of an eco-district, the transformation of Passeig Onze de Setembre and the modernisation of the Piscines-Sayrach sports complex.
The AMB stresses that its priority is to bring digital transformation to all municipalities and guarantee equal opportunities in a conurbation marked by social diversity. The arrival of these European funds marks a turning point in the fight for social cohesion in the Barcelona area.