Four Catalan parliamentary groups – Junts, ERC, Comuns and the CUP – have registered a bill to establish a dedicated Civil Protection corps, aiming to strengthen emergency response amid growing climate threats. The proposal was formally submitted to the Catalan Parliament on Tuesday 3rd November 2026, seeking to amend Law 4/1997 on Civil Protection to create a distinct professional body separate from the Generalitat’s general civil service.
Under the current system, Civil Protection professionals are integrated into the broader Generalitat civil service, meaning recruitment occurs through generalist public exams that do not require specific training in emergencies or risk management. Critics argue this undermines operational effectiveness. The new bill would create specialised, dedicated civil service exams for Civil Protection, allowing staff to build careers in the field and retain expertise.
Albert Perramon, head of the territorial service of Civil Protection in Girona, warned that the current administrative framework fails to recognise the specific nature of emergency work. Speaking in a video released by the supporting groups, he stated that 84% of territorial operational staff are temporary and that no permanent staff occupy management roles in the CECAT emergency control room.
If this situation is not rectified by February, seven room managers will lose their jobs.
Perramon stressed the urgency, noting that without reform, experienced personnel will leave the service, risking a loss of critical knowledge ahead of future emergencies. The proposal has been submitted under an extraordinary urgency procedure, reflecting the pressing nature of the issue.
The initiative follows a January 2025 parliamentary plenary on emergencies, where the creation of a dedicated corps was approved with broad support. Despite this, the government of Salvador Illa has not advanced legislative action. The current government spokesperson, Sílvia Paneque, acknowledged awareness of the proposal but said no in-depth analysis had been conducted. She insisted that emergency services are being reinforced through additional resources.
Support from the PSC will be required for the bill to pass, as the four sponsoring groups do not hold a parliamentary majority. The Department of the Interior and Public Security has previously outlined plans to expand the corps and improve working conditions, but no concrete legislative steps have been taken.
The bill seeks to align Civil Protection with other emergency services such as the Mossos d'Esquadra, the Generalitat’s regional police, and the Bombers de la Generalitat, Catalonia’s fire and rescue service, which already operate as distinct, professionalised bodies.
For more information on Civil Protection staffing and temporary employment figures, see the Generalitat’s transparency portal.
Sources: Generalitat de Catalunya, laciutat.cat, El Nacional, Ara (ACN).
