catalan way

The Chairman of the Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Group in the Catalan Parliament Oriol Pujol stated this morning that the Catalan Government could “practically not pay the salaries” of public workers. However the Catalan Government from the same party calmed public opinion saying that although the situation was difficult, civil servants would not need to worry. The Catalan Government needs new credits to get liquidity and is expecting authorisation from the Spanish Government.

The Catalan bank Banc Sabadell reaches the 8% milestone by issuing 126.4 million new shares, which represent 10% of its capital. The movement is part of the bank’s strategy to strengthen its capital, foreseeing the future stress tests and the Basel III rules.

The Catalan radio station Pakcelona made the most of the closure of it’s local FM broadcast to strengthen it’s presence on the World Wide Web.

Valls experienced one of the most spectacular and unique Catalan events. Over 57 groups came together to build traditional human towers

Barça midfielder Sergio Busquets this morning signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2015. The deal also includes the chance to extend the contract based on games played in its final season.

In reaction to the latest announcement from the Spanish Government, the savings bank Unnim is studying ways of becoming a bank. The financial institutions is waiting for the Spanish Government’s new rules for the financial entities regarding their solvency and their “core capital”.

Catalan Police assisted the investigation of an international criminal ring this week. The criminals were involved in money laundering and the financing of cannabis plantations. It is estimated that the group could have spent about 3 million buying properties in Catalonia’s Costa Brava.

Despite the financial crisis, six well-known Catalan brands showcased their products at the most important urban fashion fair of the year, the Bread & Butter trade fair in Berlin.

The most popular video site on the internet is finally navigable in Catalan. The head of the popular campaign tells CNA how he achieved this goal.

The former president of Catalonia Jordi Pujol, the scientific Jordi Camí, the macroeconomist Jordi Galí, the entrepreneur Ferran Soriano and the architect Benedetta Tagliabue will discuss priorities for internationalising Catalonia. The panel debate will take place on Tuesday 25 January, at 19.30, at the MACBA Auditorium in Barcelona.

The chairman of BAA Angela Knight urged savings banks to reconsider their strategy and find diverse ways to finance themselves. The insisted that narrowing the market to a single territory is increasing their exposure to the economic context.

The Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona will have 2 new buildings in 2014 dedicated to biomedical research. The new space will be of 17,000 square metres. The new buildings will be integrated into the daily activities of the university health centre. Then, at a second phase, the space for research will reach 28,000 square meters.

A Spanish police trade union has complained to the government for not teaching Catalan to police agents. While money is being invested in simultaneous translation in the Senate, there is no way to help police stationed in Catalonia integrate socially, claims the police union CEP.

The President of the Catalan Parliament Núria de Gispert presented the Chamber’s austerity plan today. Staff will be reduced by 10% within the next 4 years, official duty cars by 50% and the scheduled enlargement plan will be put on stand by.

Since the Spanish Deputy Minister for Budget threatened to intervene in Catalan budgetary affairs and in response to the recentralisation debate, the Catalan President, Artur Mas, sent a public warning to the Spanish Government and politicians in Madrid. Mas emphasised that “a point of no return” might be reached if the Spanish State puts obstacles on the Catalan Government’s financing. He also threatened that, if Spain takes action, Catalonia will react.