Catalonia must invest €53.8 billion in its public infrastructure over the next two decades or face a systemic collapse, the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce has warned. This stark assessment, from a new study, highlights a chronic deficit in state funding. It also outlines a series of urgent projects required to support the region’s growing population and economic competitiveness.

In a report titled ‘Strategic Projects for Catalonia’, presented on Tuesday, the business organisation calculated the sum required by 2043 to overhaul airports, railways, roads, ports, logistics, and water management. “We need to double the current investment,” summarised Miquel Martí, vice-president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce. Without a dramatic reversal of the current trend, he cautioned, “the system will collapse.”

The Chamber’s new Observatory of Infrastructures produced this study, which urges the Generalitat de Catalunya to lead a “grand pact for the country.” This pact aims to address the crisis by bringing together political and business leaders to forge a consensus on the path forward.

A Chronicle of Underinvestment

The Chamber’s analysis points to decades of underfunding by the Spanish state as a primary cause of the current predicament. According to the report, state investment in Catalonia consistently falls short of what is legally stipulated. The 2006 Statute of Autonomy mandates that state infrastructure investment should be proportional to Catalonia’s contribution to Spain’s GDP, which is approximately 19%.

However, the study found that current investment sits at around 16%, creating an accumulated deficit of €16.2 billion. Compounding the problem is a failure to execute approved funds. “They budget high, but execute low,” Martí lamented, pointing out that between 2021 and 2023, the state executed an average of only 41% of the infrastructure funds allocated to Catalonia in its national budgets.

This funding gap is occurring as Catalonia’s population continues to grow, having expanded from six to eight million people in the last 25 years. Projections show it is on track to reach 10 million by 2050, placing even greater strain on already creaking systems.

Key Projects and Priorities

The Chamber has identified a list of critical projects, with over €14.5 billion needed by 2030 alone. It estimates that 77% of this initial sum should come from the state, with the remaining 23% from the Generalitat. The most urgent projects include:

  • Airports: The long-debated expansion of Barcelona-El Prat Airport is a top priority, alongside upgrades to Girona and Reus airports. The report stresses the need for high-speed rail connections to all three, creating an integrated airport network.
  • Railways: Significant investment is required for the Rodalies de Catalunya commuter rail network. The plan calls for completing the delayed 2020-2025 upgrade phase and doubling the R3 line to Vic. Indeed, the network’s fragility has been frequently exposed. For instance, a recent major fault paralysed parts of Barcelona’s metro for hours, highlighting the vulnerability of the entire public transport system.
  • Roads: The study advocates for completing the B-40 motorway in the Vallès region, expanding lanes on the AP-7 and AP-2 motorways, and upgrading key national roads like the N-340 and N-II.
  • Ports and Logistics: New road and rail access to the major ports of Barcelona and Tarragona requires urgent execution, a step deemed essential.
  • Water Management: Given the region’s severe water stress, the plan includes major investments in desalination plants, water regeneration, and improving distribution networks. The call comes as experts warn that recent rains have not ended the long-term drought.

A Call for Local Control

Beyond securing the necessary funds, the Chamber’s report argues for a fundamental shift in governance. Josep Santacreu, president of the Chamber, insisted that progress is impossible “if wills are not joined,” therefore calling for “local management” of key infrastructure.

Alicia Casart, the Chamber’s director of infrastructure studies, echoed this sentiment, stating that greater efficiency requires reforms that apply “direct management from the territory.” This would involve transferring control of strategic assets like airports and major road networks from the central government in Madrid to regional authorities.

The challenge, however, remains deeply political. Securing a commitment of this scale from the central government will be a significant hurdle, particularly in a climate of political instability which recently saw the Catalan government pull its own budget. As multiple news outlets including La Vanguardia and Ara reported, the Chamber’s proposal is not just an economic blueprint but a renewed call for greater autonomy in managing the region’s future.