Project type   Strategic planning, Internationalization

Partnership   

The strategic lines are deployed in collaboration with the following partners:

Coordination with metropolitan councils

Working with metropolitan councils is an integral part of AMB’s character, both internally and internationally. A significant portion of the strategic lines outlined in this Plan are implemented in collaboration with municipalities.

Bilateral relations with other metropolitan areas

In recent years, AMB has established strong bilateral connections with other European metropolises and regions around the world, allowing for the sharing of specific strategies and initiatives.

International networks of cities and metropolitan areas

International networks of cities are one of the main instruments of international action. The AMB maintains a very active presence in some international networks that operate on a European and global scale. Specifically, this Plan aims to focus the institution’s presence in the following networks: Metropolis (and through it, with United Cities and Local Governments); European Metropolitan Authorities (EMA); MedCities; EIT-Urban Mobility; ICLEI; UITP and ACR+. At the same time, the adhesion to new networks will be analyzed.

Alliances with strategic partners

Promoting the strategic lines foreseen in this Plan also requires the construction of alliances with other public and private operators. From multilateral organizations such as UN-Habitat, the OECD, or the European Union, through research centers, think tanks, universities, companies, and business organizations, to civil society organizations.

Funding              The plan itself does not have an associated budget

Start date           2021-2025

Website             

• Barcelona Metropolitan Area publication about its internationalisation plan

The Plan pivots on the institution’s competences, assigned by the Act 31/2010 of the Parliament of Catalonia: territory, sustainable transport and mobility, ecology, housing, and economic and social development, as well as other areas not included within the legal framework, but still having a strong metropolitan component: digital and technological transition, tourism, culture and creation, sustainable food policies and the promotion of health as a cross-cutting policy, among others.

The plan sets five strategic lines  At the same time, these lines are structured into actions and specific expected results.

1. Impact the EU’s political agenda and the system of the United Nations. This task is developed through the following networks: European Metropolitan Authorities (EMA), Metropolis, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), MedCities, etc.
2. Attract European and international funds with the desire to continue boosting transformational strategies in the AMB and metropolitan councils. The AMB has presented a very significant portfolio of metropolitan projects through the Next Generation EU.
3. Innovation and knowledge management. The aim is to extend, capitalise and transfer knowledge in the metropolitan area, developed bidirectionally by both the AMB and other local and metropolitan governments from around the world.
4. International economic projectionof the metropolitan territory as a whole. The goal is to define an international projection strategy, promoting elements of added value in strategic sectors in order to attract opportunities for the territory’s socio-economic development. This line of work is driven by the Economic Development Agency of the AMB.
5. International cooperationthrough the International Cooperation Master Plan (2020-2023) approved by the AMB.

Geographical deployment around the world

Even thoughthe AMB’s international action has a global scope, different priorities and intensities are defined depending on the geographical area:

A) Europe. It continues to represent the central area for the institution and is the only geographical area where actions will be developed in each one of the Plan’s five strategic lines. The Plan places priority on alliances with Greater Manchester, Grand Lyon, Città Metropolitana di Milano, Città Metropolitana di Torino, Área Metropolitana do Porto, Metropolis GZM-Katowice. In addition, relationships with the metropolises of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Grand Pariswill be intensified.

B) Mediterranean and Latin America. They hold a place of importance and the Plan will work to strengthen ties with these territories. As regards the Mediterranean, the Plan targets priority relationships with Tunis, Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence, Città Metropolitana di Roma, Tangier-Tetouan and Sfax. Furthermore, ties with the metropolises of Naples, Algiers, or Thessaloniki will be encouraged. With Latin America, priority is given to San Salvador, the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley, Montevideo, Mexico City, Guadalajara metropolitan area, Bogotá, and Santiago de Chile.

C) Asia, the United States, and Canada. The Plan intends to broaden relationships in these regions as they offer significant potential for the future, especially in the technology, scientific, and commercial fields. In relation to Asia, the Plan maintains priority relationships with Seoul and Guangzhou. With Canada, the Plan aims to consolidate relationships with Montreal and establish new ones with metropolises in the United States.

D) Africa. Relationships will mainly focus on the area of decentralized cooperation and bidirectional knowledge exchange. The Plan seeks to create strategic cooperation with Gauteng, Maputo, and Dakar.

To measure the results achieved and learn from them to enhance future public policies, the Plan is using a follow-up methodology to monitor and evaluate the implementation of its strategic directions and actions. The Plan’s progress will be periodically evaluated, with an interim assessment and a final one in 2025. However, the results of these evaluations have not been published yet.