At a time of accelerated global transformation, where technological innovation, the ecological transition, and new economic models are redefining relationships between citizens, the legal architecture that underpins our societies often becomes a hindrance rather than a useful tool. In Catalonia, the debate is growing about the need to review, update, or even eliminate laws that have become obsolete or that impede productive development and the utilization of talent. This is a question of legal rationality, but also of social justice, administrative efficiency, and economic competitiveness.
Some regulations, designed for a very different economy than today's, continue to negatively impact the reality of thousands of citizens and businesses. The modular system for self-employed workers, for example, remains in place even though basic accounting knowledge is now available to everyone. This system, inherited from a bygone era, can foster opaque practices, generate tax inequalities, and hinder tax equity, in addition to penalizing innovation and professionalization among this group. It also fails to reflect real-life activity.
Another paradigmatic case is the legal treatment of so-called accidents in transit, those that occur during the commute between home and work. Does it make sense to maintain this regulation as it is today? It made sense at a time when public transportation was necessary to get to work, but today, when we all take the car, even to get a cup of coffee, this type of accident shouldn't be considered work-related. It needs to be rethought to adapt to the new realities of today's society.
Current legislation allows electricity companies to pass on to consumer companies all the costs necessary to adapt or expand the electricity grid in order to guarantee supply. So far, this practice can be considered reasonable. However, the problem arises when these costs are recorded by the electricity company as its own investment. This creates an accounting distortion: while the consumer company records the expense as a cost, the distributor records it as an investment, which artificially increases its investment volume and gives an inflated image of its contribution to the development of the electricity infrastructure. This can have significant implications, especially in the context of regulations, tariffs, and public aid linked to grid investment.
There are also situations that highlight the system's dysfunctions. Many people with a partial disability pension would like to return to the workforce, at least partially, but current regulations often penalize this initiative. The risk of losing the benefit deters any attempt at employment. This is a clear example of how legislative rigidity can block labor inclusion and condemn people perfectly capable of contributing value to the social margins.
The role of AI
An effective way to review the legal system is through technology. Artificial intelligence can help systematically analyze large volumes of regulations to identify contradictions, duplicate or outdated provisions, and proposals for simplification. Furthermore, AI can compare legal frameworks in other European countries to identify best practices and adapt them to our context. This harmonizing approach with the EU is essential to gaining efficiency and legal certainty in an increasingly integrated market.
In this sense, initiatives such as the Forum of Entities for the Reform of the Administration (Fera) take on special relevance. Created with the aim of rethinking the functioning of the public sector and the regulatory framework surrounding it, Fera can become a key space for promoting this legislative renewal. With the participation of social stakeholders, businesses, experts, and administrations, this forum has the opportunity to promote an agenda for legal transformation based on criteria of agility, sustainability, innovation, and efficiency.
Companies, victims and protagonists of change
For businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones, the current regulatory maze often hinders their activity. Excessive regulation, contradictory rules, and bureaucracy drain resources that could be allocated to innovation, internationalization, or training. But companies suffering from this environment can also be active agents of change. Through public-private collaboration, they can help identify the weak points of the regulatory system and propose practical solutions that allow us to move toward a more competitive environment aligned with European objectives.
It's not about deregulation and just enough. Quite the opposite. Legal security is an essential asset for businesses and economic development. But this security depends not so much on the quantity of regulations as on their quality, consistency, and adaptation to reality. Overregulation, even the smallest details, can end up becoming a hindrance to creativity and initiative.
Now that Europe is regaining weight on the geopolitical stage and seeking to strengthen its strategic autonomy, the best way to preserve our welfare state, so precious and yet so fragile, is by improving productivity. This means a decisive commitment to innovative ecosystems, fostering talent, and modern, clear regulations aligned with global challenges. Catalonia must be part of this new European legal architecture, and that is why political courage, technical intelligence, and a shared vision are needed.
Reviewing and updating laws is not just a technical issue; it's an essential condition for building a more dynamic, inclusive economy that's prepared for the challenges ahead.
