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Discover how the EU supports your local area
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View of Barcelona from Park Güell

City of Barcelona, Spain

View of Barcelona from Park Güell
© Feel good studio | Adobe Stock

Barcelona is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia. It is the second most populous city in Spain, with over 1 636 100 people living in the city and five million in its metropolitan area. While the services sector dominates its economy, the city is also well-known for its industry, particularly when it comes to the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and automotive sectors. The port of Barcelona is the leading cruise port in Europe and the city’s airport is the second in Spain in terms of passenger numbers. The city is home to the Union for the Mediterranean, the EU agency Fusion for Energy and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.

Examples of projects and initiatives supported by the EU

Urban renewal in Bon Pastor: neighborhood transformation and enhancement.

Old buildings have been demolished in the Bon Pastor neighbourhood to make the urban area more accessible and attractive. Up to 2024, the EU will contribute almost EUR 6 million towards a number of initiatives in Bon Pastor, including installing new street lighting, renovating the sewerage system and promoting the neighbourhood’s cultural heritage. 

New equipment for the Supercomputing Center

The ERDF provided EUR 8 000 000 (half of the project funding) to the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre to build new spaces and purchase and install new research equipment. In addition, NextGenerationEU will also finance a new quantum computer, which will join the one already in place at the centre. 

Fostering employment and training in Barcelona's port

The Port of Barcelona is taking part in the EU YEP MED (Youth Employment in Ports of the Mediterranean) programme. The programme’s aim is to promote vocational training tailored to the needs of the port sector. YEP MED provides technical and vocational education and training (TVET) courses for young people in order to improve and broaden their job opportunities. 

New escalators for the Montjuïc Parc

Barcelona’s Sustainable Tourism Plan will include installing a new safer and more efficient model of escalator to increase accessibility at the Parc de Montjuïc. In addition, the spaces open to visitors at the Montjuïc Castle will be extended. The EU will provide EUR 7 million in NextGenerationEU funds towards these initiatives. 

Expansion and modernization of the healthcare infrastructure

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) provided half of the funding for renovation works at the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona. The focus of the works is to build six inpatient units and a new 4 000 m2 emergency department. 

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