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# Barcelona Hosts European Commerce Forum Friday
- URL: https://barna.news/barcelona-hosts-european-commerce-forum/
- Published: 2026-09-14T17:46:08.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T17:46:08.000Z
- Description: Barcelona will host a major European forum on local commerce this Friday at Palau de Pedralbes, bringing together urban leaders and experts.
- Author: Laia Serra
- Tags: Economy & Finance

## European Leaders to Gather for Local Commerce Talks

On Friday 18 September 2026, Barcelona will host the European Forum of Cities and Proximity Commerce at the Palau de Pedralbes, a key event within its designation as the European Capital of Local Commerce 2026\. The forum, organised by the Catalan government's Department of Business and Labour, will bring together institutional representatives, urban development experts, commercial policymakers, and merchant associations from across Europe.

## High-Level Speakers and Expert Panels

The opening session will feature speeches from the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa; the Vice-President of the European Commission, Stéphane Séjourné; and Barcelona's Mayor, Jaume Collboni. Following the inauguration, designer Martí Guixé and urban geographer Francesc Muñoz, a professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, will hold a dialogue on the relationship between commerce, public space, and urban transformation.

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### Policy and Practice in Urban Commerce

Morning sessions will focus on public policies supporting proximity commerce, with representatives from Baden-Württemberg (Germany), Vienna (Austria), and Emilia-Romagna (Italy) sharing regional models. The afternoon will highlight practical urban initiatives, including case studies from Vienna, the Paris metropolitan area, and London's Borough Market, moderated by an expert panel. A dedicated session will also examine cross-border models of merchant associationism from the UK, Italy, and Germany. The closing remarks will be delivered by Miquel Sàmper, Minister of Business and Labour for the Generalitat.

### Focus on Sustainable Urban Development

The forum aims to strengthen the role of local commerce in building cohesive, sustainable, and people-centred cities. Discussions will address challenges including urban transformation, digitalisation, sustainability, and shifting consumer habits, with an emphasis on public-private collaboration. Barcelona’s status as the first European Capital of Local Commerce 2026 reflects its alignment with EU priorities on green and digital transitions, as noted in official communications from the Generalitat. More information on the event agenda is available via the [Barcelona City Council's official page](https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/dretsidiversitat/es/detail/forum-europeu-de-les-ciutats-i-del-comerc-de-proximitat%5F99400785938?ref=barna.news).

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*Primary sources:* [*Generatat de Catalunya*](https://exteriors.gencat.cat/web/.content/saeue/mediterrania/medcatdays/2022/programa-medcat-dialogues-en.pdf?ref=barna.news)*,* [*eb.gencat.cat*](https://web.gencat.cat/en/generalitat/com-ens-organitzem/departaments/empresa?ref=barna.news)*,* [*Barcelona City Council*](https://www.barcelona.cat/infobarcelona/en/barcelona-becomes-the-first-european-capital-for-local-commerce%5F1596625.html?ref=barna.news)*,* [*ajuntament.barcelona.cat*](https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/comerc/en/european-capital-of-small-retail/agenda-capital?ref=barna.news)*. Reported by metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, elperiodico.com, catalangovernment.eu, ddd.uab.cat, thenewbarcelonapost.com, amicsdelarambla.cat, Pau de la Calle, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.*