The 2023 budget agreements and the B-40 pact between Sabadell and Terrassa were expected to be signed before March 31. With two elections in the mix, the process stretched to nine months and counting, unless a last‑minute resolution arises. The government is already weighing a legal change aimed at allowing the signing to occur before year’s end, following discussions between the central government and the PSC on technical funding details and current political timing. A government photo suggests that one of these pending pacts could be resolved with Salvador Illa, as plans for the 2024 accounts take shape.
The Transport Ministry told Prensa Ibérica and El Periódico de Cataluña that signing the agreement remains on track. It aligns with the protocol agreed last July and would enable the current arrangement to be implemented through a special legal route. Under this approach, the Generalitat of Catalonia would oversee the construction work, while the necessary regulation would be issued via a royal decree at an upcoming Council of Ministers session. This route mirrors earlier actions on the AP2 and AP7, where the ministry approves the programs and the Generalitat handles tendering and execution.
In the hands of the new minister
Government sources say the situation demonstrates that, despite the PSC’s push, the B-40 project—controversial within the Republican ranks because of opposition from Sabadell and Terrassa federations—remains under government control. After the change in ministers, the legal remedy was reviewed and extended, with Óscar Puente now heading the ministry. The message from officials is that the commitment endures and that signing will move quickly once the Council of Ministers approves the royal decree. The remaining question is whether the road will be a high‑capacity corridor. Details on the number of lanes are not yet settled. While the government and ERC maintain that it is not a high‑capacity route and that the concept is not written into the plan, the Socialists argue that the project would extend B‑40, effectively adding four lanes—two in each direction—to ease traffic around Sabadell and Terrassa.
The study has a projected cost of about 200 million. Ultimately, these funds are expected to come from regular budget allocations rather than the Government’s third additional provision as initially proposed. What the ministry has not yet unveiled is how the route will be opened to traffic. The Olesa-Viladecavalls segment was anticipated by former Minister Sánchez to open before December 15, but the current minister suggested that timing would slip due to remaining B‑40 safety measures, with the tunnel and roundabout needing completion.
Pending deals
Alongside the Northern Round, two major points remain to facilitate budget negotiations with the Socialists. They demand an evaluation of what has been achieved before a new agreement is reached. One line of thought includes a future study of Al Prat Airport. The PSC, aiming to be operational before the end of 2023, urges the government to finalize appointments to its commissions, while accusing the administration of uncertainty about expansion plans. As one regional official noted, the commission was waiting to be constituted so it could clarify its stance on capacity and expansion. Ester Capella, a member of the regional council for intercontinental flights, conveyed to the new minister that the commission is awaiting establishment. A November 21 letter, accessed by El Periódico, mentions ongoing transfers of Rodalies, the agreed commissions, and the objective of finding a working solution for El Prat through this commission. The executive insists that the authority lies with the ministry, but observers say the ball is in the government’s court.
Meanwhile, the urban master plan for the entertainment complex known as Hard Rock faces scrutiny. Environmental reports and the approval process were slated for the first half of the year, and municipalities have signaled that support for 2024 budgets should not be expected if the project proceeds without their buy‑in. This stance stands in opposition to Illa’s position. Some Aragonese representatives have been adamant that a single euro should not be spent on casinos, pointing out that neither the budget law nor the fiscal measure framework justifies the project for municipal support. Barcelona’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, faces pressure as the debate intensifies.
Inside Palau, officials believe the best path to securing broad support lies in advancing the general budgets that PSOE and Sumar must approve in Congress. Yet this will require a positive vote from ERC’s seven MPs, a hurdle that could shape the pace and content of negotiations as the year closes.