Positive development

Terrassa is a prime example of how Spain’s smaller cities have developed strongly thanks to EU funding, claims Marie Ranty

One of the most dynamic medium-sized cities of Catalonia, Terrassa hosted the meeting of Eurocities’ economic development forum (EDF) on 14-15 April. Since 2003, Terrassa has been actively involved in the activities of the Eurocities network, which brings together 135 major European cities and provides a platform for its member cities to share knowledge, analyse common problems and develop innovative solutions. For Terrassa, hosting such an important event as a meeting of the EDF was the best way to demonstrate its economic dynamism, and beyond that, to illustrate the positive transformation experienced by Spanish cities in recent years.

Part of the Terrassa meeting was devoted to a discussion on the future of EU cohesion policy. Eurocities is both a network and a lobbying platform which gives cities a voice in Europe, by engaging in dialogue with the European institutions on all aspects of EU legislation, policies and programmes that have an impact on cities and their citizens. Cohesion policy is definitely one of those policies that matter for European cities, and the example of Spain’s urban areas shows that a sensible allocation of EU structural funds can deliver huge benefits in terms of upgraded infrastructure, better economic environment, and so on.

According to Ivan Tosics, advisor to the mayor of Budapest and chair of the EDF, Terrassa provided an ideal setting for a discussion on EU cohesion policy. “Here we can see how structural funds have been used in a Spanish city, and how their function has evolved over the years. We can also witness the overall progress that has been made by Spain’s cities since they started benefiting from these funds,” he said. Participants in the Terrassa meeting discussed how EU cohesion policy can be adapted to new challenges linked to globalisation, climate change and demography, and how its delivery can be improved. They worked on Eurocities’ contribution to the mid-term review of the current structural funds period, as well as its input for the next programming period (2014-2020).  During their discussions, they highlighted that cities are now at the heart of the cohesion policy agenda, and that they should be given the means to better contribute to economic growth and job creation in the EU. The mayor of Terrassa, Pere Navarro, underlined that “it is in the European urban system that the foundations of the EU’s economic development lie”.

The second main item on the meeting’s agenda was entrepreneurship, and the policies cities can implement to support local entrepreneurs. Terrassa also presented its policy to support entrepreneurs. In 1989 the city council of Terrassa set up a company, Foment de Terrassa, to manage services and activities for local economic development, including support for business creation and trainings for local entrepreneurs. As part of this initiative, the business incubator service was developed to foster the creation and consolidation of new business projects. Its main objective is to facilitate the creation of small and medium-sized companies, to which services such as fiscal advice and technical assistance are provided.

The Terrassa meeting was a enriching and stimulating experience for all participants – more than 50 city representatives coming from all over Europe. It was particularly interesting to see how a city like Terrassa, so close to a major economic and demographic centre (Barcelona), has been able to grow and develop itself, through an intelligent mixture of competition and cooperation with its powerful neighbour.