EQUAL SEMINAR. GREECE, September 2002 THE COUNTY OF VALLÈS OCCIDENTAL TERRITORY MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION SOCIOECONOMIC SITUATION CONSELL COMARCAL

GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION: State Member : SPAIN Community: Catalonia Province: Barcelona County: Vallès Occidental (Integrated in the Metropolitan area of the city of Barcelona - 23 km far away -) POPULATION : 731,844 inhabitants (2 nd county in Catalonia) SURFACE AREA: 580 Km 2 (2% of the total of Catalonia) POPULATION DENSITY: 1,264 inhab/Km 2 THE COUNTY OF VALLÈS OCCIDENTAL TERRITORY

Made up of 23 Municipalities of heterogeneous character a) in relation to the number of inhabitants 2 big capital cities, over 160,000 inhabitants each Most of the municipalities between 10,000 and 60,000 inhabitants Small villages, between 200 and 1,000 inhabitants b) in relation to their extension Smallest town: less than 1 Km 2 Biggest city: more than 70 Km 2 THE COUNTY OF VALLÈS OCCIDENTAL MUNICIPALITIES

General Characteristics: Important demographic growth during last 10 years: 11% Younger population than that of the whole of Catalonia 2,8 % Foreign population (estimated to reach 8% within 10 years) Population and employment: Active population 318,204 people Employed population centred between 25 & 39 years old Clear differences by sex: Activity rate: 81% men and 55% women Unemployment rate (7,98%): 40% men and 60% women THE COUNTY OF VALLÈS OCCIDENTAL POPULATION

General Characteristics Important role with regards to socio-economic dynamics in Catalonia Industrial land represents 17% of the total of Catalonia Vallès Occidental GNP similar than the average of Catalonia Economic Area Traditionally industrial county Step from textile specialization to industrial diversification Important activities: metallurgical, chemical and food industries Important process of economic tertiarization: commerce THE COUNTY OF VALLÈS OCCIDENTAL SOCIOECONOMIC SITUATION

Organization Public Administration on a supra-local basis Plenary session composed of Councillors (town representatives not directly elected) Competences: those delegated by Catalonian Government or Town councils belonging to the territory Territory and Environment Socio-economic promotion Social services Tourism THE COUNTY OF VALLÈS OCCIDENTAL CONSELL COMARCAL