PROJECTE EUROPA EU Investments in Catalonia

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Representation in Barcelona

European Union European Regional Development Fund A way of building Europe

Exhibition This exhibition was organised by the European Union Representation in Barcelona and the Economy and Finance Department of the Generalitat de Catalunya. PROJECTE © images: European Union Representation in Barcelona/Marc Llibre ([email protected]); ICFO/L.Montesdeoca; Hospital de Sant Pau/Robert Ramos and Pere Virgili; EUROPA Parc UPC; Port de Barcelona/Òscar Ferrer; Entitat del Medi Ambient de l'Àrea Metroplitana de Barcelona; PRBB/Ferran Mateo; BioRegió/Raimon Solà; Tabasa; ICRA/Anna Cornella; Lluís Marí i Sala (Albesa). UE Investments Legal deposit: B. 12.094-2010 in Cataonia

Graphic design: [email protected]

Printed by: NOVATESA

Barcelona, February 2010 http://ec.europa.eu/spain/barcelona http://www.gencat.cat/economia/ambits/politica/europa/ PROJECTE EUROPA EU investments in Catalonia

The EU is a long-term political Solidarity is at the heart of the employees. The funding of such The future project that represents common European Project projects is done through the In the current programmes values of democracy, peace and Solidarity is the essence of the regional and cohesion policies running from 2007 to 2013, prosperity. But the EU is also a European Project. In his book and a set of instruments designed ¤1,372m has been allocated, specific and material reality that For Europe, Robert Schuman, specifically for this purpose, such of which ¤763m corresponds to has an impact on the daily life of one of the fathers of the EU, as the Cohesion Fund, the the ERDF (aim: competitiveness its citizens. In Catalonia we have emphasised the need to replace European Regional Development and employment) and the rest benefitted from this reality since the attitudes that in the past had Fund, the European Social Fund to the European Social Fund we joined the EU 24 years ago. caused confrontation between and funds allocated to territorial (ESF), the European territorial Europeans with the idea of the cooperation. cooperation, and to contributions How? What have been the results solidarity. He defined solidarity from the Cohesion Funds. of European policies in our towns as “the conviction that each EUROPEAN FUNDS IN and cities? person's true interests lies in the CATALONIA The current operational recognition and acceptance, in The objective of the European programme, ERDF 2007-2013, The aim of the PROJECTE practice, of the interdependence Union Cohesion Policy is to which comprises most of the EUROPA exhibition is to provide everyone”. reduce the economic and social investment, is structured into answers to these questions, differences amongst the EU four areas: giving examples of projects Policies that promote solidarity regions whilst promoting co-funded with European Over the years, the EU's regional economic growth and INNOVATION, RESEARCH AND investment in Catalonia, more and cohesion policy has been employment. EU aid policies DEVELOPMENT specifically, investment projects that which is most representative in Catalonia began shortly after of the European Regional of this idea of solidarity. The aim Spain's accession in 1986. TRANSPORT Development Fund (ERDF) of this policy is to reduce INFRASTRUCTURES AND and the Cohesion Fund. These economic and social inequalities Achievements to date COMMUNICATION are only a sample of the amongst the different European From 1989 to 2006, Catalonia NETWORKS thousands of projects promoted regions and to enable all EU received aid to the value of all over Catalonia by European citizens to benefit from better ¤8,640m from the European ENVIRONMENT Union aid policies in areas as services and opportunities, Regional Development Fund diverse as transport infrastructure regardless of their location. (ERDF), the Cohesion Fund LOCAL AND URBAN improvement, environment and the European Social Fund. DEVELOPMENT and local and urban research and European funds development. The projects The European Union allocates The principle investments that selected for this exhibition are a third of its annual budget to the were jointly funded with the help a representative example of financing of projects aimed at of the EU structural and cohesion project types, amounts of reducing inequalities, generating policy were in rail transportation, subsidies granted and project wealth in the regions, promoting road construction, urban centre locations. business innovation and urban restoration and renovation, development, creating sewerage treatment, drinking employment and training water supply, waste treatment Unió Europea Fons Europeu and research and development. de Desenvolupament Regional Una manera de fer Europa

*The cost figures for the projects shown in this exhibition refer to the eligible cost, that is, costs that are eligible for EU subsidy according to the criteria established in the European fund regulations. Innovation, research and development

Transport infrastructures and communication networks

Environment

Local and urban development Innovation, research and development

Boost Business Activity Cost: € 150 million EU funding: 50% Status: in progress

OVERALL SUBSIDY Managed by ACC1Ó This subsidy which is managed by the agency for the support of competitiveness ACC1Ó (CIDEM), allows for the allocation of more than €100 million to business innovation projects in Catalonia until 2013. The objective is to promote the competitiveness of companies and their capacity for innovation, both through their own projects and through the strengthening of networks of institutions dedicated to the promotion of research and technological transfer between research centres and companies.

FUNDING FOR COMPANIES JEREMIE initiative, managed by the Institut Català de Finances (Catalan Finance Institute) JEREMIE is a financial engineering tool created by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank with the idea of providing improved access for micro companies and SMEs to credit for investment in innovation. This tool enables improvements with regard to the multiplying effect of funding and lengthens its active life. In Catalonia, the JEREMIE initiative has resources to a value of ¤50m and is implemented using five credit lines: micro-credits, co-funding, guarantees, capital-risk and fronting loans. Innovation, research and development Expansion of the Barcelona Fair New Premises Gran Via - Fira 2 Cost: € 269,3 million EU funding: 35% Status: completed

The creation of the new Gran Via - Fira 2 premises was part of the Barcelona Fair's general expansion project. The work included the construction of six new buildings that were added to the two existing ones. The new infrastructure has enhanced trade promotion in Catalonia and prevented the risk of the fair losing out to its competitors.

The Barcelona Fair expansion project in its entirety provides an indoor surface of 243,000 m2 for trade fairs and more than 5,000 car parking spaces which makes it one of the most important fair venues in Europe.

The new fair premises were designed by the renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito. The architectural design is based on organic shapes and its lighting system exploits natural light for the illumination of interior spaces. Innovation, research and development

Photonic Sciences Institute - ICFO (Institut de Ciències Fotòniques) Cost: € 15,8 million EU funding: 50% Status: In progress

The ICFO (Photonic Sciences Institute) is a benchmark research centre working in the field of optics and lighting technology. The project comprises the construction and installation of equipment for the centre, located in the Parc Mediterrani de la Tecnologia, Castelldefels. It is a 9,000m2 building with 45 specialist research laboratories and several general laboratories. The centre, which was created by the Generalitat and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), will be fully operational in 2013 with a research staff of 300.

Photonics is the scientific discipline dedicated to the generation, transmission, detection, control and handling of photons, the elemental particles of light. It is considered one of the key technologies of the 21st century and can be applied to a wide variety of fields, from information and communication to nanotechnologies, energy and environment, security and biomedicine.

Other projects: For the period 2000-2013, 41 projects to the value € 206.8 million have been approved, including the Biomedical Research Park in Barcelona, the Chemical Investigation Institute in Tarragona, the University of Barcelona Science Park, the University of Lleida Biomedicine Centre and the Aquaculture Platform in Sant

Carles de la Ràpita. ©ICFO/L.Montesdeoca ©ICFO/L.Montesdeoca ©ICFO/L.Montesdeoca Innovation, research and development Research Centre for Advanced Systems based on TIC - Building K2M at the UPC Cost: € 4,8 million EU funding: 50% Status: Completed

Construction of the Research Centre for Advance Systems based on Communication and Information Technologies (CISA-TIC), for the Polytechnic University of Barcelona (UPC). The centre, which has been in operation since 2009, was set up for the development of integrated research projects which combine the knowledge of different research groups that already exist at UPC, in the field of TIC (communication and information technologies).

This project is part of the K2M (Knowledge To Market) initiative, based upon the transfer of knowledge from universities to society. As such, one of the objectives is that the CISA-TIC projects enables is the development of advanced science and technology systems that can subsequently be applied to industry.

© Images: Parc UPC Other projects The construction of the CISA-TIC is one of the projects with European funding managed by the state government in Catalonia. For the 2007-2013 period, € 86.88 million has been allocated to aid research projects and € 126.49 million to scientific construction and equipment projects, managed by the state's general administration. Transport infrastructures and communication networks

Expansion of the Barcelona Port Cost: € 523 million EU funding: 53% Status: Completed

Construction of Barcelona Port's south and east breakwaters which are major parts of a larger expansion project for this infrastructure. These projects doubled the availability of sheltered water, which increased from 374 to 793 Ha and expanded the terrestrial area available for the installation of new piers and terminals. To provide a more graphic comparison, the area taken from the sea is equivalent to that occupied by 380 residential blocks in the Eixample.

The south breakwater is 4.8km long and 22m deep whilst the extension of the east breakwater is 2km long and 25m deep. These projects were also complemented with a series of interventions to improve the Llobregat delta, such as the new beach on the south shore.

With this expansion, the new port has © Images: 29,709 linear metres of piers and this Port de Barcelona/Òscar Ferrer capacity allows the accommodation of new shipping lines, the offering of more services and the establishment of the port as both the South European gateway for Far Eastern products and as the centre of the Llobregat delta's logistics platform, one of the hubs of the European communication network. Transport infrastructures and communication networks Madrid-Barcelona-French Border High Speed Railway Cost: € 4.724,5 million EU funding: 72% Status: In progress

This high speed railway is one of the most important transport infrastructure projects given to Catalonia in recent years. The current focus of work is on the section between Barcelona and the French border. The Madrid, Lleida, Tarragona and Barcelona section is already in operation.

The inauguration of the high speed railway between Barcelona and Madrid, which was completed in February 2008, halved the time required to cover this distance. In 2009 5.8m passengers used this line, a figure almost seven times higher than that of the conventional railway. With regard to travel within Catalonia, the journeys between Barcelona and Camp de Tarragona station, and between the latter and Lleida, can now be completed in just over thirty minutes.

The work that is currently in progress towards the French border will allow the line to be linked to the future Trans-European high speed network.

The total length planned for this high speed project is 804km of double railways, prepared for the transport of passengers and goods. Transport infrastructures and communication networks Radiocom Project Internet, TDT and phone coverage in rural areas Cost: € 20,36 million EU funding: 50% Status: In progress

The Radiocom project involves the construction of infrastructure that will enable the provision of telecommunication services (broadband internet, mobile phone coverage and terrestrial digital television) in areas where private operators cannot reach, mainly in rural areas. The project is included in the Catalunya Connecta programme which is promoted by the Generalitat and aims at providing these communication services to population centres with a minimum of 50 people and to business parks in Catalonia by the end of 2010.

Specifically, the Radiocom project funds the construction of communication towers in areas where there is no coverage and where this lack of service cannot be resolved by adapting existing infrastructure. Environment Desalination plants in the greater Barcelona and Tordera river areas Cost: € 221,87 million EU funding: 80% Status: In progress

The construction of desalination plants at El Prat de Llobregat and on the Tordera River are two of the large projects implemented in recent years in Catalonia to guarantee water supply and to promote its efficient management.

The desalination plant at EL Prat is the largest for urban supply in Europe. Its production capacity is 60hm3/year (200m litres per day) and it supplies the needs of 20% of greater Barcelona. The new plant produces better tasting and better quality water for the Penedès, Baix Llobregat, Anoia, Garraf, Barcelonès, the two Vallesos and the Maresme regions.

The Tordera plant, with a capacity of 10hm3/year, was build in 2002 in order to address the overexploitation problem of the Baixa Tordera aquifer. Expansion and improvement works are currently taking place and they will allow a doubling of capacity. The water will help to supply the needs of the Alt Maresme, Tossa-Lloret and Blanes regions. Environment Construction of the Besós and Baix Llobregat water treatment plants Cost: € 235,68 million EU funding: 85% Status: Completed

The aim of these two plants is to improve sea water quality on the shores surrounding the Barcelona city area, thereby helping to comply with European wastewater norms.

The construction of the Baix Llobregat plant has improved the water in the last section of the Llobregat River and in the area of the beaches between Barcelona port and the Garraf mountain range. This installation, one of the biggest and most modern water treatment plants in Europe, can process 420m litres of water per day. It serves more than 2m people in the municipalities of Barcelona, Cornellà de Llobregat, Prat de Llobregat, Esplugues de Llobregat, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí, Sant Just Desver0n and Santa Coloma de Cervelló.

On the other hand, the expansion of the Besós treatment plant has provided it with biological water treatment. Located under the Fòrum de Barcelona square, the plant is one of the biggest indoor treatment plants incorporated into an urban environment in the world and is the plant with the largest capacity in Catalonia. The plant can serve a population of 2.8m people and treats wastewater from Badalona, Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Montgat, Tiana and 65% of Barcelona's wastewater. Local and urban development

Cerdanya hospital - Cross-border cooperation Cost: € 31 million EU funding: 60% Status: In progress

The Cerdanya Cross-Border Hospital Project is a pioneer in Europe because for the first time a centre will be built to treat populations from both sides of a border. The hospital will serve the border area in the regions of Cerdanya and Capcir.

The new centre will considerably improve the health services in this border area, which is a region of difficult access due to its mountainous location. The hospital will serve a permanent population of 30,000 residents and a seasonal peak population of up to 150,000 people. As things stand, the populations of the Cerdanya and Capcir regions cannot even stay in hospital for short periods nor receive surgical assistance. Obstetric consultations are also lacking. This will change with the opening of this new centre which is planned for 2012. The hospital will have 68 beds and the capacity to treat 35,000 people per year. Local and urban development Renovation of the Mina de Sant Adrià de Besòs neighbourhood Urban II Initiative Cost: € 24,68 million EU funding: 50% Status: Completed

This was an overall programme for the social and urban renovation and transformation of the Mina de Sant Adrià de Besòs neighbourhood. The project enabled a comprehensive approach to different aspects of the configuration of this neighbourhood of some 13,000 people (housing, urban planning, services, social and economic systems).

The programme included projects such as the urban transformation of the sea front, recuperation of the banks of the Besós, the creation of services and infrastructures, the construction of new facilities such as a sports zone, the expansion of the civic centre and the Font de la Mina cultural area and the development of social and work integration programmes.

The project was developed as an URBAN II initiative, a programme aimed at the social and economic regeneration of urban areas in crisis within the European Union.

Other projects: For the period 2007-2013, URBAN projects to the value of € 61 million have been approved. Projects have been planned for Barcelona (Trinitat Nova: €16.2 million), Cerdanyola del Vallès (5 projects: € 16.2 million), l'Hospitalet de Llobregat (El Gornal: € 14 million) and Santa Coloma de Gramenet (5 projects: € 14.6 million). Local and urban development

Renovation of the Sant Pau hospital Cost: € 22,54 million EU funding: 50% Status: In progress

The redesign of the Sant Pau Hospital, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, represents one of the most important investments in heritage that will take place in Barcelona in the coming years.

The project involves the renovation, restoration and refurbishment of the old hospital buildings which will be transformed into an area housing the headquarters of international organizations and networks that focus their work around the Mediterranean in areas related to health and nutrition, cooperation, culture and education, the environment and the economy.

The first stage of this large project, co-funded with ERDF funds, includes the renovation of two edifices, the administration block and Sant Jordi building, and the creation of a network for advanced services. © Images: Robert Ramos i Pere Virgili Innovation, research and development

Equipping of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park Cost: € 11,89 million EU funding: 50% Status: Completed

The Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) is a large scientific infrastructure that houses public research centres dedicated to different aspects of biomedicine. Its objective is research and new knowledge creation in health and life sciences, as well as the transfer of knowledge and technology to the business world.

This project, co-funded with European funds, included the fitting out of spaces and the purchasing of some of the equipment, which allows it to compete with the best European centres. One of the most complex services that the PRBB offers is the animal research facility, which has a total surface of 4,000m2 that includes specialist installations, free from pathogenic germs, dedicated to research with mice and other animal species.

With innovative scientific equipment © Ferran Mateo (PRBB) and highly qualified investigators, the PRBB has become a location with an intensive production of knowledge related to biomedicine and health sciences, as well as one of the biggest biomedical research hubs in Southern Europe.

© Ferran Mateo © Raimon Solà © Ferran Mateo (PRBB) (BioRegió/PRBB) (PRBB) Transport infrastructures and communication networks Bus and high occupancy vehicle lane (BUS-HOV) on the C-58 motorway Cost: € 115,45 million EU funding: 40% Status: In progress

This project includes the construction of a bus-HOV (high occupancy vehicles) lane at the junction providing access to Barcelona on the C-58 motorway, between Ripollet and the Meridiana Avenue. The aim is to improve transportation between Barcelona and El Vallés, increase the smoothness of traffic flow and promote public transport.

The lane will have a total length of 6.8km, with two dual lanes for the exclusive use of buses and vehicles with three or more passengers. It will be placed in the middle of the C-58 road. To achieve this, an elevated section will be built above the central lane. A second section will run at ground level and the motorway will be widened.

Ecoparc 3 on the Besós River is a waste selection and bio-treatment plant that processes the waste from the towns of Badalona, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Barcelona.

The plant treats waste that is not separated at collection points and enables the recovery of part of the organic matter (between 30% and 40%), that is then used to produce biogas. Half of the resulting energy is used for the plant's own needs and the rest is transferred to the electrical grid. At the same time, the bio-treatment process allows the recovery, and later recycling, of other products such as paper, cardboard, plastics and tetra brick. The Ecoparc can treat up to 400,000 tonnes of waste per year.

Urban and economic renovation of Barcelona's 22@ zone Manlleu Municipal Market Cost: € 18,13 million Status: Period 2000-2006: Completed Cost: € 1,82 million EU funding: 50% Period 2007-2013: In progress EU funding: 50% Status: In progress Development of a new infrastructure plan for the 22@ district in The redesign work of the Manlleu Municipal Market and surrounding Barcelona, including road resurfacing and installation of advanced areas incorporates both architectural and commercial aspects. services and infrastructures to provide the area with modern energy, The new municipal market will have two floors that will accommodate telecommunications, centralised climate control and pneumatic approximately twenty-five stalls, restaurants and a training room waste collection networks. for gastronomy related activities.

Mataró-Maresme congress and meeting centre Hostalets de Pierola Paleontological Interpretation Centre Cost: € 1,88 million Cost: € 1,3 million EU funding: 50% Status: In progress EU funding: 50% Status: In progress

The Mataró-Maresme Congress and Meeting Centre will be This project includes the renovation of the rooms of the old a three-storey building with a surface area of 3,550m2 located at Can Roviralta cellars, as a public area for the discovery of the Miocene the TecnoCampus Technology and Innovation Park, currently under epoch and the remains of the Pau (Pierolapitecus catalaunicus) construction. It will include an area for congresses and meetings, and other primates. This centre will become a fundamental reference an auditorium for 350 people and a trade show area. point for paleontological tourism in Catalonia. Innovation, research and development Scientific equipment for the Catalan Institute for Water Research at Girona Cost: € 3,36 million EU funding: 50% Status: In progress

The Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), created in 2006, aims mainly at developing projects dedicated to research, knowledge transfer and innovation in all aspects related to the integral water cycle and its management, as well as the training of highly specialised researchers and technicians in the field of water studies.

The project, co-funded with European Community funds, includes the provision of the laboratory equipment and scientific instruments necessary to set up the centre.

The projects planned include the construction of a testing platform for water experimentation and new technologies (PLANTEA), providing equipment to research and transfer laboratories and the purchase of scientific instruments.

CIM La Selva - Girona airport and logistic park Cost: € 8,9 million EU funding: 50% Status: Completed

La Selva Integrated Merchandise Centre (CIM, Central Integrada de Mercaderies) is a hub for logistic activities (transport, packaging, distribution and storage) with a surface of 22.5 Ha located between Vilobí d'Onyar and Riudellots de La Selva, beside Girona airport.

An airport and logistic park was developed at La Selva CIM to house restaurants and hotel services, in addition to over 6,000 m2 dedicated to offices, a shopping area and a car park. The park, under construction at the moment, will signify the implementation of a new airport city model in regional airports in order to create new activity areas. When it operates at full capacity, it is estimated that the Airport and Logistics Park will generate 400 new jobs. Environment

Natural risk prevention in the Garrotxa region Cost: € 0,9 million EU funding: 50% Status: In progress

This project involves a group of coordinated activities across the entire Garrotxa region to prevent natural disasters, especially flooding (cleaning river beds) and forest fires (preparation of a regional fire prevention plan, road repairs, base construction and combustible vegetation control).

The objective of this project, managed by the Garrotxa Regional Council, is to enhance prevention, which is one of the EU's priorities to alleviate, reduce or avoid damages caused by the most common natural threats: snow, flooding and forest fires.

It is important to emphasise that the Garrotxa region is primarily a forested area (81% of its surface), with a considerable diversity of forests and a large diversity of species. This means that most of the rural land is under one type of protection or another, such as the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, the Wild Animal Natural Reserve in Illa del Fluvià or the Areas of Natural Interest in Catalonia Plan (PEIN), that affect an area of 38,060.96 ha. Local and urban development I Girona area Number of projects: 51 I Cost: € 34,5 million I EU funding: 50%

Castellfollit de la Roca, gateway to the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park Ecomuseum-Castelló d'Empúries flour factory - Phase III Cost: € 1,18 million Cost: € 1,3 million EU funding: 50% Status: In Progress EU funding: 50% Status: In Progress

Urban renovation and improvement work at one of the main access The third phase of the project to convert this old flour factory into points for visitors to the Natural Park. This project involves a museum showing the industrial production process in the 19th the urbanization of Sant Roc square, renovation of the pavements century. The project involves work to reinforce and repair the exhibition and street furniture and the refurbishment of spaces in the town hall area, the manoeuvring courtyard and the workshop, in order to and the old church. provide the museum with training facilities.

Palafrugell Cork Museum - Phase V Ripoll Ethnographic Museum Cost: € 1,6 million Cost: € 1,06 million EU funding: 50% Status: In Progress EU funding: 50% Status: In Progress

The Palafrugell Cork Museum enters a new stage with the renovation Renovation and architectural refurbishment of the Can Budallés of the Can Mario modernist factory to convert it into the new building to house the new Ripoll Ethnographic Museum, a centre headquarters. The project includes the urbanization of the surrounding for the conservation, interpretation and diffusion of the historical areas, the completion of installations and the equipping of the and cultural heritage of Ripoll town, the Ripollés region and the temporary exhibitions salon and the auditorium. Girona Pyrenees. Innovation, research and development

Lleida agrifood industry R+D centre Cost: € 3,94 million EU funding: 50% Status: Completed

This project involved the construction and provision of equipment for an R+D centre for the agrifood industry in the city of Lleida. The centre is a consortium between Lleida University (UdL) and the Institute for Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) and it belongs to the network of work centres that IRTA has across Catalonia in collaboration with other universities and public and private organisations.

IRTA´s objective is to contribute to the modernisation, competitiveness and development of the agricultural, food, agro-forestry, aquatic and fishing sectors, as well as those related to the provision of healthy and quality foods. In this context, the R+D centre in Lleida focuses research in five broad areas: cereal improvement, irrigation technology, crop protection, animal genetics and enhancement and post- harvest activities.

Other projects: For the period 2007-2013, two more projects have been approved in the area of R+D in the Lleida region to a value of € 2.3 million: the Agrifood Science and Technology Park building and a network of innovative companies at Borges Blanques. Transport infrastructures and communication networks

A-2 motorway. Cervera - Santa Maria del Camí section Cost: € 159,09 million EU funding: 85% Status: Completed

The construction and inauguration of the A-2 section between Cervera and Santa Maria del Camí meant the completion of a motorway that links Lleida and Barcelona.

It is a section of 21km of dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction (and a third for heavy vehicles in some parts), that runs parallel to the old N-II, now reserved for local traffic. The work, completed by the Ministry of Development, was finally opened in July 2004. With the opening of this section, the first free, fast road between Barcelona and Madrid was also completed.

Currently this road has an average traffic of more than 30,000 vehicles per day. Environment Fire prevention and the creation of environmental awareness centres Cost: € 0,56 million EU funding: 50% Status: In progress

This project, managed by the Lleida Council, includes projects to prevent forest fire risks (cleaning forests, treating biomass, road repairs, etc.) and to protect the biodiversity of the Devesa estate in the Maials and Llardecans (Segrià) municipalities and the Bon Repós estate in Gavet de la Conca (Pallars Jussà), both property of the council. The project includes the creation, in each estate, of an environmental information and awareness centre dedicated to sustainable forest management and natural risk prevention. Local and urban development I Lleida area Number of projects: 50 I Cost: € 30 million I EU funding: 50%

“Cal Trepat” Farming Museum at Tàrrega - Phase I Renovation of Albesa's architectural heritage Cost: € 1,47 million Cost: € 0,86 million EU funding: 50% Status: In progress EU funding: 50% Status: In progress

The transformation of Cal Trepat in Tàrega, an old agricultural Comprehensive projects in the old centre of Albesa to increase machinery factory, into a museum of agricultural mechanization. the historical, cultural and natural value of its heritage, as part The first phase includes adapting six buildings to become part of the 'Viure al poble' (Living in the Village) programme. Renovation of the museum and to display the production process that was of the Roman villa in Romera and Torre Sula and hill repairs in in operation when the factory was active. the Moros Castle and the Tossal de Cal Montblanc.

Ermengol centre at Seu d'Urgell Albi Castle and old quarter Cost: € 1,3 millions Cost: € 1,15 million EU funding: 50% Status: In progress EU funding: 50% Status: In progress

This project involves the creation of a centre for knowledge, Renovation and refurbishment of the Albi Castle to turn it into information and the spreading of both in Seu d'Urgell. a socio-cultural installation and a centre for the interpretation The Ermengol Centre focuses on three permanent exhibitions about and spreading of archaeological information. The project is part of the city, Bishop Ermengol and the world of cheese. the 'Viure al poble' programme and involves other projects in the historical centre to make it more dynamic. Innovation, research and development

Catalan Institute for chemical research at Tarragona Cost: € 41,37 million EU funding: 50% Status: Completed

This project involved the construction and supply of scientific equipment for the premises of the Catalan Institute for Chemical Research (ICIQ), in order to turn it into a first class centre for chemical sciences research within the European Research Space.

The ICIQ focuses on three areas: catalysis of the chemical process that enables the development of processes and products involving more efficient use of resources and waste minimisation, supra-molecular chemistry and renewable energies. The ICIQ initiated different research lines in these areas in order to generate practical applications, such as sensor and probe design for the identification of target molecules, inhibitors or target molecule stabilisers relevant to health and vectors for pharmaceutical transportation through cellular membranes.

The centre is currently being expanded, also with European funding, in order to allow the enhancement of the young researchers programme and to increase its productivity and response capacity to better tackle the sector's challenges. Transport infrastructures and communication networks

Recovery of a waterway on the Ebro river Cost: € 2,82 million EU funding: 50% Status: Completed

Expansion of the navigable section of the Ebro River, between Ascó and Móra d'Ebre. The project made 15km more of the river navigable and is now suitable for tourist boats.

The objective of the project is to promote river tourism on the Ebro by increasing its navigability. At the same time, the project also wants to restore the importance of the river as a backbone of the territory and as a natural and cultural space.

The work to open the new waterway included an analysis of the river bed and the river banks, followed by drainage of the appropriate sections to achieve a minimum depth of 1.5 metres and a width of 20 metres.

The environment and water quality were also improved to increase the tourist attraction of the area. Environment

Flash flood prevention at Torredembarra Cost: € 1,25 million EU funding: 50% Status: In progress

One of the principle natural risks affecting the town of Torredembara is flash flooding caused by torrential rain. These rains usually occur two or three times a year and they completely flood certain areas of the town. These areas get cut off from the rest of the town, especially the maritime quarter and access to it.

The project managed to receive funding from the EU and it will enable the prevention of flash floods and ensuring the safety and access of the maritime quarter in Torredembarra in situations of torrential rain. The project includes the construction of a rain water collection tank with a capacity of 2,000m3, with an internal partition of 500m3. In addition to flash flood prevention, this double tank will allow the reutilisation of the rain water for irrigation purposes. Local and urban development I Tarragona area Number of projects: 42 I Cost: 23,4 milions d’euros I EU funding: 50%

Riudoms Gaudí Centre Repair of the Casal Riudomenc Auditorium Josepets convent at Alcanar Cost: € 0,95 million Cost: € 0,99 million EU funding: 50% Status: In progress EU funding: 50% Status: In progress

Repair of the Casal Riudomenc building, recently purchased Renovation of the Josepets Convent building in Cases d'Alcanar. by the town hall, to convert it into an auditorium to complement This 19th century style building will be converted into a municipal the Gaudí Centre, a cultural installation dedicated to the hostel and business hotel, in addition to having multi-purpose interpretation and diffusion of knowledge about the work spaces for different social and cultural uses. and figure of Antoni Gaudí.

Renovation of the Àngel Guimerà House Museum at El Vendrell Renovation of the Deltebre Shopping Area Cost: € 0,97 million Cost: € 1,75 million EU funding: 50% Status: In progress EU funding: 50% Status: In progress

Renovation of the Àngel Guimerà House Museum located Street renovation and improvement of the urbanisation in Cal Ximet, the family home of the Guimeras. This works will of the town centre and access to it, an area where approximately address the building's conservation and access problems in order a hundred shops and the town market are located. The objective to convert it into the main centre for research and transmission is to make this shopping area more dynamic and to create of information about this playwright. a point of attraction in DeltEbro.