The race for European funds is already underway. The Generalitat has rushed to present its candidacy with a first list of projects, created by a commission of experts. All the regional governments aspire to place their bets at the forefront of the State's preferences. Their voice will be heard, but the final decision is in the hands of the Spanish government, which has to take its proposal to the European Commission before April 30. In big issues and big moments, centralism always rears its head. The race, in fact, consists of convincing Madrid and Brussels, in that order. It will be one and the other, in first and second instance, who will decide where the money allocated to the Spanish state will go, a maximum of €140bn, between direct aid and loans.