When he was the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell described Europe as "a garden," in contrast to the "jungle" that is much of the rest of the world. On paper, this supposed garden is based on the security and capacity for citizens to progress economically and materially, guaranteed by a strong state that redistributes wealth through taxes, but above all through basic services. In other words, the defining element of European progress is the so-called welfare state. Despite Borrell's positive words, the viability of this welfare state is being questioned across the continent, doubts that also affect Catalonia and Spain. What future, then, does the welfare state system, on which the Catalan economy is based and on which millions of people depend to a greater or lesser extent, have?

Catalonia is experiencing a rail and road collapse unbecoming of an advanced economy. When commuter trains stop running, freight traffic to Europe grinds to a halt and the AP-7 motorway is closed; when the AVE high-speed train fails to provide effective and reliable service, the country grinds to a halt and the credibility of the government—which has repeatedly promised investments that never materialize—is seriously damaged. Public outrage at this debacle is more than understandable: no one should be held hostage by a failing public transport system without accountability. Every day of logistical chaos inflicts damage on the productive economy and erodes public trust. Catalan infrastructure has long been operating at its limit, and every serious incident has a direct impact on the credibility of institutions and the economy. The five-day closure of the AP-7—a key artery carrying most of the country's freight traffic—has triggered a chain reaction across the entire road network: paralyzing the AP-7 is tantamount to strangling one of Catalonia's main economic arteries. Similarly, the constant breakdowns on the commuter rail network not only frustrate users but also reduce working hours and productivity across the country. This situation is typical of an underdeveloped environment, not the competitive economic engine that Catalonia aspires to be. Companies face increased logistics costs, and workers are not in control of their time. Inadequate infrastructure acts as a drag on economic growth and the quality of life for citizens.