The 37th Pyrenean Business Meeting concluded this Friday in La Seu d’Urgell. The event featured the participation of the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, who emphasized planned investments in the region, such as the fiber optic rollout, the new Alt Urgell hospital, and the elderly care residence in La Seu d’Urgell.
Regarding future projects, such as the Organyà special economic zone, Illa confirmed that work is underway to make it a reality, while stressing the importance of not harming Catalonia's interests. "We will look to provide it with the necessary instruments, in terms of taxation, to make it a development hub. Now, we must reach an understanding with Andorra; the will for understanding is paramount, and I say this with complete clarity: a will for understanding that involves considering our interests, those of Catalonia and the Pyrenees," he stated.
The president highlighted that collaboration between the Pyrenees and Andorra is beneficial for both parties, particularly in areas like housing and communications, framing this cooperation within a project for a stronger and more integrated Europe. Illa insisted that cross-border relations should address shared challenges and create economic and social development opportunities for the entire Pyrenean territory.
On a European level, Illa advocated for strengthening the continent in the face of global geopolitical, economic, and technological changes, describing current society as part of an "authentic epochal shift" with a technological impact comparable to the industrial revolution.
For his part, former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called on Europe to regain its political, economic, and technological ambition, warning of the risk of falling behind. He reaffirmed his belief in the "United States of Europe" project but criticized the loss of leadership in innovation, summarizing the current situation by stating: "The United States creates, China copies, and Europe regulates."
The meeting, which attracted over nine hundred attendees, included talks on youth, business strategies, and geopolitics. Montse Pujol, president of the Pyrenean Business Meeting, positively assessed the event, although she admitted that the edition's central question about changes in the global economy remains open. She emphasized the growing influence of geopolitics in business decision-making.
