Context
The international projection plan of Sant Boi de Llobregat (2021–2027) serves as a strategic planning and management tool designed to transform the municipality’s international actions into a structured and proactive public policy. The rationale for this initiative is rooted in the recognition that modern challenges – e.g. climate change, health, migration crises, and the digital transition – have an undeniably urban dimension that requires local governments to act as key global players.
Before the plan, Sant Boi’s international activity was characterised as reactive, responding to opportunities as they arose without a unified strategy. The initiative seeks to innovate governance by establishing a strategic framework that aligns international actions with local and EU political priorities.
A core component of the initiative is the professionalisation of municipal governance with the creation of the Office of European Projects (Oficina de Proyectos Europeos – OPE) in 2024. Currently, the OPE consists of two staff members, who coordinate with other municipal departments acting as an internal reference point to optimise resources and avoid duplication. While other municipal employees participate in specific European initiatives, they are supported by and coordinated through the core OPE team. Through the plan, governance is innovated, counting on local stakeholders to address urban challenges jointly.
Objectives
In line with the 2030 City Strategy, the vision is to position Sant Boi as a metropolitan leader by leveraging its local values and assets to attract opportunities that benefit its citizens.
The diagnosis identified several gaps:
- uncoordinated international activities, rather than a cohesive strategy;
- a lack of personnel with expertise in European project management;
- struggling to effectively communicate unique assets and success stories to an external audience;
- no established mechanism for internal coordination between municipal departments or external coordination with local businesses and agents.
Main goals were to:
- publicise the city’s main assets and value proposition internationally;
- boost the city’s reputation to capture local development opportunities, investments, and talent;
- project Sant Boi as a leader in mental health, a pioneer in urban sustainability, and a laboratory for social innovation;
- establish formal governance mechanisms to drive and coordinate international action;
- plan and coordinate applications for European funding effectively;
- promote active citizen participation in the international strategy.
The project provides concrete solutions through four strategic axes, such as applying for the European Green Leaf Award, organising international health events, strengthening Coboi lab as a public innovation laboratory or creating the Office of European Projects.
Implementation
The plan’s implementation is centred on the OPE, created in 2024 within the Department of Planning and Evaluation to coordinate international actions. This governance structure centralises management. The staff includes a technician of European projects, a technician of international relations, and a temporary intern, supplemented by external consultancies for drafting complex proposals and technical aspects when required.
While a specific initial municipal budget was lacking, the city proactively captures resources via European funding, having already obtained over EUR 22 million. Stakeholder consultation follows a quadruple helix model, involving academia, businesses, and the public through working sessions, interviews, and online surveys. To address communication deficits, the city developed a narrative in English, supported by a dedicated international website and audiovisual materials. Institutional capacity is further reinforced through technical training for staff and the creation of interdepartmental coordination spaces.