In a response during a Senate control session, the Minister of Transport, Oscar Puente, disclosed that the department allocated investments in Catalonia totaling 1.85 billion euros in 2023. This figure represents about 83 percent of the investments planned for 2023 by the Ministry of Transport and the related public entities under its umbrella, which tallied roughly 2.21 billion euros for Catalonia.
Puente emphasized to Senator Sara Bailac of ERC that Catalonia received the most funding from the ministry he leads through the year. Bailac had challenged the minister over what she described as the low execution rate of state investments in Catalonia. The minister’s response framed the issue as a broader government pattern of delivering more projects in Catalonia than in other regions, citing a need for collective reflection on why launching projects in Catalonia—benefiting citizens across the region—often faces delays and regulatory frictions. He noted that this is not limited to the airport expansion project, but that even the smallest decisions such as a variant road or a roundabout can encounter conflict at the planning stage, causing investments slated for a given year to slide by months or even years.
Bailac criticized the central government for lacking political will to transfer execution authority to the Generalitat, which she said manages to execute about 86 percent of its investments. She also urged the government to create a 5,000 million euro fund, arguing that the accumulated unexecuted amounts in Catalonia since 2015 justify such a measure.
According to data from the General State Intervention, the 2023 state budget included territorial investments in Catalonia totaling close to 2.3 billion euros. Of this amount, the majority, around 2.21 billion euros, fell under the Transport Ministry’s remit, including its public companies and autonomous bodies. The minister’s provisional execution figure of 1.85 billion euros accounts for approximately 83 percent of the investments planned within the Transport portfolio.
These figures illustrate a recurring debate about how national funds are allocated and spent in Catalonia, raising questions about delivery timelines, regional autonomy, and how to balance nationwide priorities with local needs. Proponents argue that the government is directing substantial resources to the region, while critics push for faster execution and greater catalytic impact on local communities. The conversation continues as policymakers weigh structural reforms, project prioritization, and governance mechanisms that could reduce delays and improve accountability across all levels of government.
In discussions that touch on infrastructure, governance, and fiscal responsibility, the central issue remains: how to ensure that large-scale investments deliver tangible benefits promptly without sacrificing due process. The ongoing dialogue highlights the importance of transparent reporting, clear responsibilities, and mechanisms to monitor progress that can be trusted by citizens in Catalonia and beyond. This is especially relevant for projects that shape regional connectivity and economic development, such as road networks, airport expansions, and other pivotal transportation initiatives. The path forward will likely involve ongoing evaluation, collaborative decision-making, and a willingness to adapt plans in response to on-the-ground realities and stakeholder input, all in the service of improving the quality of life for residents and supporting sustainable growth across the region.