The Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, which was revised in 2006, now includes a text that legally authorises a reality that has in fact existed for many years: the fact that both the Generalitat and the local governments of Catalonia carry out major projects overseas. These projects, which have sprung from the initiative of each of their respective protagonists, have grown and gained in size both within government structures (including budgets) and in the sphere of international relations in Europe and the rest of the world.

The CIDOB Foundation is to hold a one-day seminar for reflection and discussion of the reality of the international action carried out by Catalonia's local governments and their deployment in tandem with the large-scale national projects led by the Generalitat of Catalonia. Catalonia's participation in the European Union in accordance with its own powers, in addition to its openness to Asia, large-scale projects such as the Euroregion and the Eurodistrict and its work in the Mediterranean ─ in all these major international initiatives, Catalonia has received support from local governments. As a consequence, we will be holding a joint reflection on the subject that will feature the participation of leading figures in local international action and specialists from the Generalitat of Catalonia.