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The Ways of Federalism in Western Countries and the Horizons of Territorial Autonomy in Spain pp 83–109Cite as

Intergovernmental Relations in Spain and the Constitutional Court Ruling on the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia: What’s Next?

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Abstract

The Spanish Constitution (SC) of 1978 represents the advent of democracy in Spain after a long dictatorship and also the construction of a politically decentralised state, the so-called State of Autonomies, formed by the central government, 17 autonomous communities (ACs), and 2 autonomous cities. The territorial decentralisation process in Spain has dismantled a traditionally centralist state, has occurred in parallel with the consolidation of democracy, and moreover has coincided with the integration of Spain in 1986 in the European Union.

This work is part of the research project of the R+D+I National Plan funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation: “Statutory Reforms and New Instruments of Relationship between the State and the Autonomous Communities” (DER 2008-04108/JURI).

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In this text, the terms ‘intergovernmental relations’ and ‘cooperation relations’ are used interchangeably. It should be noted that, in the State of Autonomies, the expression ‘intergovernmental relations’ is used in academic circles. In laws, in institutional documents, and between the practitioners themselves, reference is made to ‘cooperation relations’.

  2. 2.

    Cruz Villalón (1990), pp. 119–134.

  3. 3.

    STC 76/1982, FJ 13.

  4. 4.

    Central government law (ley del poder central o ley estatal) in this paper is used to refer to any law governing the country of Spain as a whole.

  5. 5.

    Ley 12/1983 (Art. 4).

  6. 6.

    Ley 30/1992 (arts. 4–10). Alberti Rovira (1993), pp. 41–70.

  7. 7.

    Specifically, on dependence, Sáez Royo (2010), pp. 361–386.

  8. 8.

    Valencian Community (2006), Catalonia (2006), Balearic Islands (2007), Andalusia (2007), Aragon (2007), Castilla y León (2007), Navarra (2010), Extremadura (2011). The new Statutes are available on the web page of the Ministry of Territorial Policy: http://www.mpt.gob.es/es/areas/politica_autonomica/Estatutos_Autonomia.html.

  9. 9.

    García Morales (2009a).

  10. 10.

    The Statute of Andalusia is the most similar. The Statute of Catalonia was contested in the High Court by 50 MPs from the Popular Party parliamentary group in the Spanish Parliament, the Defensor del Pueblo (the Spanish Ombudsman), and the government of the Autonomous Community of La Rioja.

  11. 11.

    Aja (2003), pp. 169–199. Viver Pi-Sunyer (2010), pp. 213–234.

  12. 12.

    The creation of the Conference of Presidents became one of the items on the regional agenda of the president of the government, Mr Rodríguez Zapatero. Further details, Tajadura Tejada (2010), pp. 134–172.

  13. 13.

    STC 76/1983, FJ 13.

  14. 14.

    In Spain, vertical agreements are usually referred to as agreements (convenios) if they are legally binding and simply as accords (acuerdos) if they are political commitments that are not legally binding. To underline this difference, in this text I have used accord as a translation for acuerdo (agreements that are not legally binding) and agreement as a translation for convenio (agreements that are legally binding).

  15. 15.

    Multilateralism appears in the Statute of Catalonia as a principle (Art. 3), a means of cooperation with the central government (Art. 175), and a means of participation in European affairs (Art. 186) and in funding issues (Art. 210).

  16. 16.

    Art. 176 of the Statute of Catalonia.

  17. 17.

    STC 31/2010, FJ 112.

  18. 18.

    García Morales and Arbós Marín (2012). Institutional information about existing conferences, available on the web page of the Ministry of Territorial Policy (Autonomous Policy): http://www.mpt.gob.es/es/areas/politica_autonomica/coop_multilateral_ccaa_ue/cooperacion_multilateral/Conf_Sectoriales.html.

  19. 19.

    Pérez Medina (2009), p. 350. The existence of diverse interests hinders cooperation even in countries that are a model of cooperative federalism, Jeffery (1999), pp. 50–63.

  20. 20.

    The Bilateral Commissions were established in this order: with Navarra (1983); with Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia (1987); with Murcia and La Rioja (1988); with the Balearic Islands (1989); with the Canary Islands and Aragon (1990); with Cantabria (1991); with Castilla y León and Extremadura (1992); with Asturias (1993); with Castilla-La Mancha (1996); and with the Valencian Community and the Community of Madrid (2000). The Bilateral Commissions with the Autonomous Cities of Ceuta and Melilla (1995).

  21. 21.

    According to the Organic Law on the Constitutional Court (Art. 33.2), if the parties choose to resolve a dispute through negotiation, the deadline for lodging an appeal in the Constitutional Court is extended by 6 months with regard to the three initially provided. In terms of efficiency, results vary between Bilateral Commissions. In general, it may be said that these instruments have helped to reduce the number of disputes in the Constitutional Court.

  22. 22.

    The statutes of the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands are the only ones that do not provide for a Bilateral Commission. The Statute of Andalusia follows the Catalan regulation in almost identical terms. Ridaura Martínez (2010), pp. 256–274.

  23. 23.

    The Bilateral Commission may deliberate, make proposals, and pass resolutions with regard to the following areas: draft laws, economic policy agendas, promotion of measures to improve cooperation, assessment of such measures, power disputes and subsequent resolution, monitoring of European policy, monitoring of overseas activity, and any issue of common interest (Art. 183).

  24. 24.

    STC 31/2010, FFJJ 115, 116. Along with the general Bilateral Commission, the Statute of Catalonia provides for two specific Bilateral Commissions: the Joint Economic and Fiscal Affairs Commission (Art. 210) and a Bilateral Commission on Investments in Infrastructures (third additional provision). The Constitutional Court has also upheld their constitutionality.

  25. 25.

    The Bilateral Commission with Catalonia: eight meetings; the Bilateral Commission with Andalusia: seven meetings; the Commission with Aragon: three meetings; the Commission with Castilla y León (two meetings) (source: prepared by the author).

  26. 26.

    García Morales (2009b), pp. 383–394. Institutional Information about the Bilateral Commissions: http://www.mpt.gob.es/es/areas/politica_autonomica/coop_bilateral_CCAA/comisiones_bilaterales.html.

  27. 27.

    In particular, the Statute of Andalusia and partially the Statute of Aragon.

  28. 28.

    STC 31/2010, FJ 111.

  29. 29.

    Corretja et al. (2011), pp. 403–446; Montilla Martos (2011), pp.184–195.

  30. 30.

    The official number of agreements between ACs is calculated on the basis of agreements communicated to the Spanish Parliament, which may be viewed on the Senate web page: http://www.senado.es. See also, García Morales (annual).

  31. 31.

    García Morales (2009b), pp. 116.

  32. 32.

    Rubio Llorente and Álvarez Junco (2006), pp. 163–165.

  33. 33.

    Only one cooperation agreement has been signed: the so-called Mediterranean Arc Agreement signed in 1994 by Andalusia, Murcia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community.

  34. 34.

    Art. 115 Catalan Statute. The equivalent in the Statute of Andalusia: Art. 43.

  35. 35.

    STC 329/1993, FJ 3; STC 194/2004, FJ 8.

  36. 36.

    The Valencian Community, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Andalusia, Aragon, and Castilla y León.

  37. 37.

    The ACs have created a website to make the work of these Meetings more visible: http://www.comunidadesautonomas.org.

  38. 38.

    De Pedro Bonet (2011), pp. 94–113.

  39. 39.

    Central government Law 4/1997, of 13 March, creating the Conference for European Union Affairs.

  40. 40.

    On direct participation, one may consult the web page of the Ministry of Territorial Policy (ACs and European Union): http://www.mpt.gob.es/es/areas/politica_autonomica/coop_multilateral_ccaa_ue/ccaa_y_ue.html.

  41. 41.

    Art. 186 and additional provision 2 of the Statute of Catalonia. In almost identical terms, the Statute of Andalusia (Art. 231).

  42. 42.

    Pérez Medina (2009), pp. 353–354. Börzel (2000), pp. 17–42.

  43. 43.

    STC 31/2010, FJ 210.

  44. 44.

    Roig Molés (1999), pp. 203–207. Cordal Rodríguez (2010), pp. 293–301.

  45. 45.

    Art. 189 of the Statute of Catalonia.

  46. 46.

    García Morales (2011), pp. 42–45.

  47. 47.

    Benz (2007), pp. 421–436.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Derecho, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Campus de la UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain

    María Jesús García Morales

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  1. María Jesús García Morales
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Correspondence to María Jesús García Morales .

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  1. , Fac. Social Sciences and Communication, University of the Basque Country, Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa - Bizkaia, 48940, Spain

    Alberto López - Basaguren

  2. , Fac. Social Sciences and Communication, University of the Basque Country, Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa - Bizkaia, 48940, Spain

    Leire Escajedo San Epifanio

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Morales, M.J.G. (2013). Intergovernmental Relations in Spain and the Constitutional Court Ruling on the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia: What’s Next?. In: López - Basaguren, A., Escajedo San Epifanio, L. (eds) The Ways of Federalism in Western Countries and the Horizons of Territorial Autonomy in Spain. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27717-7_6

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