Catalonia received 66% of allocated public spending between 2015-2018

Figure falls below Spanish average, while Madrid received 114% of planned budget

The inauguration of a national road in northern Catalonia, opened ten years later than planned. (Photo: Marina López)
The inauguration of a national road in northern Catalonia, opened ten years later than planned. (Photo: Marina López) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

July 30, 2019 04:41 PM

A mere 65.9% of the budgeted public spending in Catalonia was delivered upon in the period between 2015 and 2018, falling below the Spanish average of 75.3%.

This figure contrasts with the amount of public spending Madrid received from the state, totaling 114% of what was planned. 

Catalonia accounts for 19% of the total of Spanish GDP, however in the documented years, between 10-16% of the state budget was allocated to Catalonia, of which only 65.9% was received.

In addition, in the period between 2013 and 2018, a third of planned budget has been executed, that is, €2.2 billion, according to a report collected by the Department of Economy and published this Tuesday in ‘La Vanguardia'. 

The vice president of Catalonia and economy minister, Pere Aragonès, lamented that the lack of budget execution would be accompanied by a "financial downturn." 

"All the competitivity we don't get from public spending and infrastructures will be at the expense of wages," he told the Catalan News Agency.

“Among many other factors, we need Spain to increase their spending so that the commitments of their own budgets can be met, which is currently not the case,” Aragonès added.