Promoted by Barcelona City Council, Catalonia International is one of the 25 member organisations

The Barcelona Europe Advisory Committee was formally established today as a permanent forum for participation, dialogue and strategic deliberation. Promoted by Barcelona City Council, the Committee brings together 25 institutions and organisations, including Catalonia International. The new body is part of the Barcelona Europe Plan, the City's roadmap for its work in Brussels through 2029.

The inaugural meeting, held in the Saló de Cent at Barcelona City Hall, was chaired by the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni. Among those attending was Laura Foraster i Lloret, Director-General of Catalonia International, who thanked the City Council for the invitation to join the Committee and expressed her hope that it would become "a forum that brings together different perspectives, knowledge and experience to strengthen our impact in Europe."

The Committee's main objective is to strengthen the City's European policy and connect it with other Barcelona-based organisations that are also active in European affairs. It includes representatives of the European institutions in Barcelona, the academic and scientific communities, the business and economic sectors, trade unions, social organisations, and a range of foundations and organisations committed to the European project. Mayor Collboni stressed that this broad representation reflects the strength of Barcelona's civil society and the city's capacity to influence the future development of the European Union. The Committee is structured around a Plenary, a Presidency, thematic committees and working groups.

The Barcelona Europe Plan is built around four strategic priorities: strengthening Barcelona's political influence in Europe, increasing the uptake and impact of European funding, consolidating the city's international profile, and ensuring that European engagement translates into tangible improvements in municipal policies. Through this strategy, Barcelona aims to reinforce its role as a European, Mediterranean and global city, while actively contributing to the construction of a Europe based on democracy, social cohesion, sustainability and rights.

The 25 organisations that make up the Barcelona Europe Advisory Committee are: Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST); Barcelona Knowledge Alliance (University of Barcelona - UB, Autonomous University of Barcelona - UAB, Pompeu Fabra University - UPF, and Polytechnic University of Catalonia - UPC); Barcelona Chamber of Commerce; CCOO; Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB); Cercle d'Economia; CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs); Catalan Council of the European Movement; Barcelona Supercomputing Centre Consortium; Catalonia International Consortium; Zona Franca Consortium; Fira de Barcelona; Foment del Treball; Fundació Catalunya Europa; Fundació Mies van der Rohe; Mobile World Capital Barcelona Foundation; European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed); Barcelona Metropolitan Housing Observatory (O-HB); European Parliament Office in Barcelona; PIMEC; Port of Barcelona; PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area); European Commission Representation in Barcelona; Third Social Sector Platform of Catalonia; and UGT.