Resolution Passed in Catalan Parliament
The Catalan Parliament has approved a resolution today calling on the Generalitat government to create an extraordinary fund for the Baix Penedès comarca. The initiative, led by the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) parliamentary group, received majority support during Thursday's chamber debate.
Funding Tied to Idiada Contract Revenues
The proposed fund will be financed by a share of the revenues from the new management contract for Idiada Automotive Technology Centre. This includes a fixed annual royalty of €4 million and a variable component equivalent to 2% of the company’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation). These funds are intended to provide additional, structural economic support to Baix Penedès, supplementing regular budget allocations to address long-standing infrastructure and development challenges.
Local Leaders Push for Regional Investment
ERC MP Raquel Sans stated that the move presents "a key opportunity to reverse a historical deficit in investment in one of the country’s fastest-growing regions." She stressed the need to stop treating Baix Penedès as merely a transit area and instead make a firm, consensus-based commitment to its development. A local delegation from ERC’s Baix Penedès branch attended the session, including councillors Marta Ventura from Sant Jaume dels Domenys, and Oscar Albaiceta and Albert Beltran from Calafell. They also held working meetings to discuss regional initiatives.
Next Steps: Government Action Required
While the parliamentary resolution is non-binding, it formally urges the Generalitat executive to implement the fund. ERC has pledged to monitor the government’s response and ensure follow-through on the commitment. The resolution builds on earlier motions passed in several Baix Penedès municipalities advocating similar measures. It aligns with broader regional investment plans, including the Generalitat’s allocation of €84.8 million for the wider Penedès region in 2024.
Primary sources: Govern de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Generalitat de Catalunya. Reported by el3devuit.cat, El 3 de Vuit.
