Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) will hold an extraordinary national council meeting on Monday at 18:30. The party aims to validate a budget agreement for the Generalitat government. This crucial political deal, which requires the support of the Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya (PSC), hinges on a commitment to develop a new orbital railway line.
This project, known as the 'fourth railway belt', will connect key Catalan cities without passing through Barcelona. The agreement allows the Generalitat government to move forward with its financial plans. This marks a significant step towards approving the first budget of the current legislature.
Orbital Railway Project Revived
The orbital railway line is designed to link Vilanova i la Geltrú and Mataró. It will pass through several cities in the second metropolitan ring, including Vilafranca del Penedès, Martorell, Terrassa, Sabadell, and Granollers. This project aims to create a non-radial transport network, reducing the current system's heavy reliance on Barcelona as a central hub for all connections. The Secretary of Mobility and Infrastructure for the Generalitat government, Manel Nadal, will provide further details on this project on Monday.
Sources from Esquerra estimate the orbital line will cost 5.2 billion euros. Construction is projected to take place over the next 15 years, with completion expected by 2040. The project was initially conceived by a previous tripartite government but remained dormant since 2010. ERC has now prioritised this infrastructure initiative to unblock budget negotiations with the PSC.
Budget Approval and Political Commitments
ERC's decision to support the budget comes after the party dropped its demand for the transfer of income tax (IRPF) collection to the Catalan Tax Agency (ATC). This IRPF transfer had been ERC's primary condition for negotiations until March. The party now states it will pursue this transfer through amendments in the Spanish Congress in the coming months. This will occur when the PSOE begins processing a new financing model law.
With the support of ERC's 20 deputies and the 6 deputies from Comuns, the Generalitat government can approve the budget project in its executive council. The government plans to set a date for budget approval next week. This will allow for parliamentary processing to start as soon as possible, with the goal of having the budget approved before the summer holidays.
Funding and Future Phases
In 2023, the government led by Pere Aragonès attempted to revive this project. It commissioned work with the Spanish State to build interchanges for the R8 Rodalies line. These interchanges would connect with the S1 Terrassa and S2 Sabadell lines of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC). The reinforcement of the R8 line is considered the first phase for the orbital line's materialisation.
Subsequent phases include sections between Santa Perpètua and Sabadell, Mataró and Granollers, Terrassa and Martorell, and Vilafranca with Vilanova i la Geltrú. The Spanish State is expected to finance a significant portion of this work. Additionally, some funding will be channelled through the European Investment Bank, according to republican sources.
Beyond the Budget: Fiscal Oversight
Beyond the orbital railway, ERC and the PSC have also agreed to establish a mercantile society. This entity will oversee the Spanish State's investments in Catalonia. This company will be jointly owned by the Spanish and Catalan administrations. Its purpose is to ensure the materialisation of State-projected investments within Catalan territory. A similar initiative, intended to operate under the umbrella of the Investment Consortium, previously failed after Junts voted against the republican legislation that would have legally supported it.
Furthermore, a bilateral State-Generalitat commission will convene to validate these commitments. This meeting will address the orbital railway line, which largely depends on State funding. It will also cover the new mercantile society and other transfers that both parties still need to specify. The commission is also expected to approve more resources for scaling up the Catalan Tax Agency (ATC). ERC continues to seek another unspecified transfer from the Spanish State to finalise the budget agreement.
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Originally published by Ara Cat. Read original article.
