Antoni Bassas' analysis: "The agreement for El Prat is moving faster than the financing."

The President of the Generalitat (Catalan government) personally presents the proposal for the expansion of El Prat Airport. It's consistent: Illa is a president aligned with conventional economic growth, he shares the same political affiliation as the Spanish government and the CEO of Aena, and The expansion of El Prat was included in the electoral programme and have more international connections.

Do we need it? Illa argues that the expansion connects Barcelona with more economic centers around the world, facilitates the recruitment of talent for research, business, and conferences, and provides a truly intercontinental airport, avoiding having to travel to Madrid to catch planes that go further afield or making the world think twice about working in Catalonia because we don't have direct flights. Because tourists will continue to arrive via Girona and Reus. Meanwhile, Aena doesn't say so, but rubs its hands in anticipation that El Prat Airport, which already generates huge profits (important, because this translates into gains on the stock market), will generate even more.

Is it possible to increase connectivity without seriously affecting the environment? It doesn't seem so. And this is important, because President Illa's willingness isn't enough. With whom will he approve this expansion? Among his usual partners, certainly not with the Comuns party, which is against it for environmental reasons. With the Left? It's against extending the third runway, but if the Generalitat also governed El Prat, perhaps it would reconsider. It seems impossible; Aena, like Renfe, is one of those state-owned companies that thinks from Madrid. With Juntos? Perhaps yes, but... in exchange for what?

The debate over airport expansion is a debate about how we grow economically and how we connect with the world. Therefore, we're discussing whether it's in our interest. Now, let's be clear: if we're talking about expanding El Prat this morning, if the two governments have agreed, it's because the State is interested, have no doubt about it.

Compare the speed of this initial agreement with the Spanish government's request for more time to agree on the specific financing. The agreed term is about to end between the PSC and Esquerra in Illa's investiture, on June 30, in which the model between the Generalitat and the State should have been agreed upon. Well, it seems that the income from El Prat will no longer be agreed upon.

Good morning.