The new law provides the Chambers with an updated legal framework, reinforces their institutional, consultative, and participatory role, and promotes public-private collaboration, improving the current financing model to continue supporting the Catalan business fabric. This approval ends more than a decade without regional regulations adapted to the reality of the Catalan chamber system.
The Chambers Law will allow the adaptation of Catalan regulations to the state's basic Law on Chambers of Commerce of 2014, as Catalonia was one of the few autonomous communities without an updated chambers law, operating under obsolete regulations.
The regulation culminates a process initiated by the Chambers with the drafting of a Bill and extensive dialogue with social agents, the Government of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and parliamentary groups. The text has passed all stages thanks to the unanimous endorsement of the Consell de Garanties Estatutàries.
The law recognizes four main areas of action: representation of the general interests of commerce, industry, services, and navigation; collaboration with administrations; provision of services to businesses; and promotion of the Catalan language. It also consolidates a governance model based on plurality and the participation of different economic sectors.
One of the most relevant aspects is the improvement of the financing model. The Government and the Chambers will sign a three-year multi-year agreement, and the Generalitat will allocate a specific budget: 3 million euros in the first year, 5 million in the second, and 7 million in the third.
The law introduces Chamber Plans to articulate collaboration between Chambers and administrations, identifying priority needs and proposing economic development objectives. It also precisely defines the participation of Chambers in economic studies, business surveys, and economic promotion.
The provision of services to businesses remains an essential function, ensuring respect for free competition principles. The regulation incorporates advances in transparency, governance, information on subsidies, agreements, contracting, equality policies, and remuneration.
With this law, Catalonia has a modern legal framework that strengthens the role of Chambers as institutions for economic representation and support for the business fabric, consolidating mechanisms of transparency and efficiency.
