CENTRE FOR EUROPEAN INITIATIVES AND RESEARCH IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

This law was conceived as a way of approaching the complex social (and, therefore, economic and environmental as well) situation of a series of neighbourhoods in Catalonia. Its application has currently been extended to neighbourhoods whose problems may not be acute at the moment, but are nevertheless likely to become so in the mid-to-long term.

While in the context of the current crisis the indicators studied show only timid changes, it is evident that this law has provided an important impetus to all these neighbourhoods and that their situation is better now than it would have been without the application of the law.

But beyond the concrete socioeconomic results, which can (and assuredly must) only be evaluated in the long term, the implementation of the Neighbourhood Improvement Law has presented for the city councils involved an opportunity to innovate and, at the same time, an exciting challenge.

First, an opportunity to innovate because it has provided the city council with resources with which to deal with the complex problems of a territory in a flexible and rigorous way, with actions both in the town planning and the socioeconomic and environmental areas. This has occurred internally as well, as the law has made it possible for each organisation to experience a new way of working, of relating to others, of thinking and of creating-- a new perspective that offers a broader perception of reality and leads to greater creativity in finding solutions.

Second, it has also turned into a challenge with respect to the community at large, as it requires a strong component of participation, of communication and, ultimately, of transmitting to the community a new vision and new values for the neighbourhood. Without this change in self-perception, and without the involvement of the community, a real transformation of the neighbourhood is impossible.

Finally, it also presents a challenge within the organisation, as it is difficult to find the kind of professional who is able to take so complex a view of the neighbourhood's realities and who can mobilise and coordinate people, resources and compartmentalised municipal structures, uniting them all in the same direction.

 

I think, then, that beyond the measurable impact of each of the Neighbourhood Plans, the Neighbourhood Improvement Law has served as a test for a new way of managing public resources, a new way of understanding politics, a new way of approaching work for and with the community. Although it will take some reflection to further refine the objectives, procedures and resources in accordance with each reality, I hope that the government that emerges from the forthcoming Catalan elections will continue working in this direction so that neighbourhoods and politics will continue to progress.