The representative of the Generalitat in Andorra will charge more than Pedro Sánchez
The Generalitat has opened a selection process to choose the person who will lead the future delegation of the Catalan administration in Andorra. The employment relationship It will be in the form of a senior management employment contract and a remuneration of 90,000 euros. The salary of ambassador Catalan will be superior to the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez (86,000 euros), and the same Prime Minister of the Principality, Xavier Espot (71,200 euros).
The main functions of the delegate are the institutional representation of the Government of the Generalitat, as well as defending the Catalan position in those matters of interest or competence. Under this premise, the senior official will also have to coordinate the collaboration spaces between the Generalitat and the entire power structure of the Andorran executive. Beyond economic ties, Catalonia wants to rely on Andorra to make the potential of Catalan visible.
A budget of €65 million for foreign action
During this year 2022, the Generalitat has a budget of 65.4 million euros to carry out its foreign action. A figure that represents an increase of 17.1 million compared to the year 2021. Of the department’s overall figure, 36.9 million correspond to development cooperation projects and 28.5 million are strictly for foreign action.
Without leaving the field of cooperation, the Generalitat intends to create a wide network of aid to social entities and multilateral organizations of the countries of the so-called global south. “We want to reaffirm our commitment to sustainable development, the promotion of human rights and peace,” says Victoria Alsina, the Government’s Minister for Foreign Action. The counselor assures that the resources allocated to foreign action represent 0.25% of the overall budget of the Generalitat.
At the same time, the Catalan government wants to use public resources to strengthen Catalonia’s presence in the world and its influence in international organisations, as well as to consolidate the autonomous community as an example in the “European integration process”. Within the Department of Foreign Affairs, Alsina projects an investment of 4.1 million euros to convert the Catalan territory “into the country of data”. To reach the goal, the Generalitat is working on the creation of a new open data portal, with the intention of grouping all public and civic information in one place to “empower citizens”.
A network of 15 delegations
Currently, the Generalitat has a network of 15 delegations spread all over the world: United States, Italy, Switzerland, France, Southeast Europe, Central Europe, Nordic and Baltic countries, Portugal, Southern Cone, Mexico and Central America, Tunisia and Senegal. In the 2022 budget, the Department of Foreign Action has recorded an expense of 7.7 million for the maintenance of these offices.
Broken down, the highest investment is taken by the representation of Catalonia in Brussels with 1.7 million. This delegation is in charge of pivoting the relationship with the European Union and the rest of the international organizations with a presence in the community capital. In contrast, the territorial area that the Generalitat allocates the least amount of money to is the delegation of Portugal (290,800 euros).
Looking to the future, the Generalitat is already working on opening new delegations in South Africa, South Korea and Japan. From Pretoria they want to cover Catalan interests in South Africa, Angola or Mozambique with the main mission of promoting democracy, human rights and cooperation. Seoul and Tokyo will be the central axes of the Pere Aragonès administration to sign alliances in research and technological innovation.