In Cornellà de Llobregat representatives of major Spanish metropolitan areas discussed a shared approach to future policy areas on 21 October 2026. The host was the Área Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), which had invited them to the conference “Una agenda metropolitana para las ciudades españolas” Museu de les Aigües Local government and association representatives from Barcelona, Zaragoza, Bilbao and Málaga came together to bring their positions on housing, climate adaptation, digital infrastructure and metropolitan governance into alignment.
The opening speakers were the mayor of Cornellà and AMB vice-president, Antonio Balmónas well as the mayor of Barcelona and AMB president, Jaume CollboniSpecialists in housing and territorial policy from government ministries also took part. Several panels discussed the governance of metropolitan areas, tools for affordable housing, protection against heatwaves and flooding, and the digital transformation of urban services.
Participants from civil society and professional networks emphasised the role of strategic planning. From the Pla Estratègic Metropolità de Barcelona Oriol Estela Barnet took part in a discussion on “Civil society and strategic thinking”. Contributions also came from Bilbao Metrópoli 30, the Fundación CIEDES from Málaga and Ebrópolis from Zaragoza. These stakeholders believe that metropolitan administrations should in future play a stronger role as a source of public policy, because they work close to everyday issues such as commuting, rents and energy poverty, and coordinate different municipalities.
According to the organisers, the proposed measures aim to strengthen coordination between the state, regions and metropolitan areas. These included clear responsibilities for housing subsidies and land policy, shared data standards for mobility and public services, and regional climate pacts with funding for adaptation and resilience. Interoperability, cybersecurity and accessible services were identified as priorities for the digital transformation.
The context is particularly visible for Barcelona : this year, the AMB marks 15 years in its current form. The hosts believe that experience shows that coordinated responses across municipal boundaries can have an impact more quickly – from social rental programmes and heat action plans to integrated transport and data services. It is now up to the administrations and departments involved to decide whether and how the ideas from Cornellà feed into national programmes. Participants said they would work together over the coming months to refine their proposals.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).