128 million euros from the EU to boost the Barcelona metropolitan area
| Subject: Internacionalització
The European Union has co-funded 73 metropolitan projects during the current term, including the Low Emission Zone, the housing energy rehabilitation plan, the Bicibox scheme, and the improvement of waste management and river areas. The European investment covers 66% of the total cost of the programmes, which is almost 200 million euros
The Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) has mobilised 128.52 million euros in the form of European subsidies in the current term, which it has allocated to 73 projects, either through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Next Generation EU funds, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, or through other European and international programmes.
The European investment covers 66 % of the total cost of the projects carried out, amounting to 194 million euros. With this investment, the AMB is improving services and infrastructures in the Barcelona metropolis, and aims to encourage the move towards a low-carbon economy, transform mobility towards a more sustainable model, digitalise the territory, protect the environment and improve cultural heritage, and refurbish obsolete housing in the Barcelona metropolis, among other objectives.
Between 2019 and 2023, the AMB managed a total of 73 projects subsidised by the EU, involving all areas of the metropolitan institution. Fifteen of these received funds from the ERDF, four received Next Generation EU funds, and 54 were funded through other European calls. The AMB has led 25 of the 73 projects, and participated as a partner in 48 others. All the metropolitan municipalities have been either directly or indirectly involved in the AMB projects.
Through a collaboration agreement with the Generalitat de Catalunya, the AMB receives funds from the ERDF for 10 projects with a total budget of 70.45 million euros and an expenditure eligible for grants of 56.93 million euros, of which the AMB will be able to recover a maximum of 50 %. The projects receiving grants are:
| Project | Total budget (including VAT) | Expenditure eligible for subsidy (excluding VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Smart Cities platform | 5.200.000 € | 4.297.520,66 € |
| 2. River areas | 16.843.419,76 € | 13.920.181,62 € |
| 3. LEDs in ring roads | 13.800.234,65 € | 11.405.152,60 € |
| 4. Low emissions zone | 3.725.833,50 € | 3.084.928,52 € |
| 5. EV charging stations | 2.305.050,00 € | 1.905.000,00 € |
| 6. Photovoltaic facilities | 7.169.711,01 € | 5.923.443,19 € |
| 7. Bicibox | 1.873.566,09 € | 734.509,82 € |
| 8. Bicivia | 5.842.041,00 € | 4.345.400,00 € |
| 9. Metropolitan parks | 2.850.000,00 € | 2.355.371,89 € |
| 10. Industrial and cultural heritage | 10.845.675,20 € | 8.963.367,94 € |
| TOTAL | 70.455.531,21 € | 56.934.876,24 € |
The AMB has also received ERDF funding for energy efficiency and sustainable mobility projects, in calls administered by the Spanish Government and the Generalitat de Catalunya. This involved five projects with a budget of 2.75 million euros, and a grant of 1.10 million euros.
A new type of project that has begun are those funded by means of the Next Generation EU funds, launched by the European Union in response to the economic and social crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This instrument primarily consists of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which in Spain is channelled through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
The metropolitan projects that have so far received Next Generation EU funding are:
| Project | Total budget (not including VAT) | Grant |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Expansion of the low emissions zone | 60.397.517,14 € | 40.000.000,00 € |
| 2. Improvements to metropolitan waste management infrastructures | 2.856.403,70 € | 2.035.869,50 € |
| 3. Ecoparc 3 conversion project for the treatment of the organic fraction of municipal waste | 9.978.315,32 € | 9.978.315,32 € |
| 4. Programme of grants for refurbishments of housing in the metropolitan area | 37.796.684,00 € | 37.796.684,00 € |
| TOTAL | 111.028.920,16 € | 89.810.868,82 € |
There are also 54 projects that have been funded through other European calls. The AMB is involved in these projects through partnerships with other metropolitan areas, other levels of government, universities, research centres and businesses. These projects are highly innovative, and enable pilot tests to be carried out in the metropolitan area.
They had a budget of 10.36 million euros, from which the AMB received 9.14 million euros in grants. This is an average contribution of 88.21 %. These projects include:
- ESPON METRO, a comparative research study on the management of cohesion policy in eight European metropolitan areas.
- The RiConnect – URBACT network, a partnership of European metropolises working on the impact of mobility infrastructures, which has led to the formulation of a comprehensive action plan for the integration of the N-150 road through Montcada i Reixac, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Ripollet and Barberà del Vallès.
- NanoSen-AQM, which has enabled the AMB to measure air quality with mobile nanosensors. Tests have been carried out in Sant Adrià de Besòs, Sant Cugat and L'Hospitalet de Llobregat.
- Metro Resilience, a project in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara (Mexico) to promote metropolitan resilience strategies, which will showcase the AMB's waste management model..