Procedures Initiated for Security Transfer

Catalan Interior Minister Núria Parlon has confirmed that the regional government has "initiated the procedures" to transfer security responsibilities at ports and airports to the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police force). Speaking in response to a parliamentary question from Junts deputy Salvador Vergés on Friday 13th November 2026, Parlon stated that the government has formally requested the inclusion of the matter on the agenda of the next Security Council of Catalonia. The move marks a reversal from her previous position in July 2026, when she declined to set a timeline and postponed the transfer of powers indefinitely. Now, she says the Generalitat has resumed efforts and is seeking to discuss not only the legal transfer but also the economic and operational resources required.

The Government has already initiated the procedures.

2030 Expansion Plan Key to Rollout

The proposed transfer is tied to the long-term plan to expand the Mossos d'Esquadra to 25,000 officers by 2030. Parlon emphasised that this expansion will allow for greater police presence per capita, enabling a more effective model of community policing and improved capacity for both basic and advanced criminal investigations. She described the staffing increase as an "ambitious resizing project" that will ensure the force can efficiently assume new responsibilities, including those at airports and ports.

History of Delays and Political Uncertainty

Efforts to transfer security powers have faced repeated setbacks. A 2024 agreement, initially scheduled for formalisation at a Security Council meeting, was removed from the agenda after the December 2024 session was reconvened post-elections. At the time, the initiative had been advanced under former Interior Minister Joan Ignasi Elena. In early 2025, President Salvador Illa pledged to reconvene the Security Council to finalise the plan, but no date was set. A subsequent parliamentary response in July 2026 from Illa again failed to provide a timeline. Negotiations are further complicated by the national political landscape. The transfer stalled under a PSOE-Sumar government with ERC, Junts, and PNB support, despite favourable conditions. Should the far-right gain power in upcoming elections, as polls suggest, the transfer could be halted entirely. The next Security Council has not yet been convened, and no date has been announced for when the issue will be debated.

Sources: El Món, Generalitat de Catalunya.

The Generalitat de Catalunya published its own press note on this.