La Garrotxa is left out of the new high mountain legal framework in Catalonia after the update of the regulations that the Government presented this Wednesday. The preliminary draft, promoted by the Minister of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, Sílvia Paneque, redefines the territories considered high mountain and excludes the Garrotxa region, which will only retain some benefits from the previous law.
Regulatory Update After Four Decades
The Government has opened a one-month public information period for citizens and entities to submit their objections before the text continues its institutional processing. The new legal framework replaces the legislation in force since 1983, which the executive considers "obsolete after more than four decades of social, economic, and institutional changes".
The new territorial delimitation includes Aran, Alta Ribagorça, Pallars Sobirà, Pallars Jussà, Alt Urgell, Cerdanya, Solsonès, Berguedà, and Ripollès. In total, the law affects 144 municipalities that occupy 28.3% of the Catalan surface area and concentrate 2% of the population.
Reasons for Exclusion and Residual Benefits
La Garrotxa is excluded because, according to the Government, "it does not meet the physical criteria that characterize high mountains." Despite the exclusion, the region will be able to continue accessing some benefits derived from the previous law, especially in calls for grants for municipalities declared mountain areas.
New Bodies and Strategic Planning
The preliminary draft provides for the creation of the High Mountain Technical Office, which will function as a support structure and territorial observatory. In addition, the General Council of High Mountain is being reformed, ceasing to be solely consultative to become a space for participation and decision-making.
The future Strategic Action Plan will be valid for six years and will include projects with supramunicipal impact and multi-year public funding. Once the objections have been resolved, the preliminary draft will go to the Consell Executiu and begin the parliamentary process.