The Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB; English: Metropolitan Area of Barcelona) is a public body operating on the principle of metropolitan authority. It is composed of representatives of Barcelona and 36 adjacent municipalities accounting for a population of 3,239,337 (Idescat, 2014) within an area of 636 km2. Its jurisdiction constitutes the main core of the unofficial Barcelona metropolitan area, with a population over 5 million.

Precursor bodies

The three historic executive bodies, which existed until the 2011 restructuring, were:

Powers

Territorial

The AMB is responsible for three areas: territorial planning, urban planning and infrastructures of metropolitan interest.

Territorial planning

Urban planning

Metropolitan infrastructure

Transport and mobility

The AMB plans and manages bus networks and other public transport, except for trams. Its powers, apart from planning and management, are:

Environment and sustainability

Environmental and sustainability powers include the water supply and treatment, waste management and management of the environment.

Water cycle

Waste Other powers

Housing

The AMB exercises its powers in land and housing policies established by the urban legislation. It does so by delegation of metropolitan municipalities and to ensure intermunicipal solidarity in these actions.

Economic development

The AMB aims to promote economic activity, employment and entrepreneurship in the areas of industry, trade, services and tourism resources.

Social cohesion

Social cohesion is one of the objectives of the creation of the AMB and is the principle by which all policies concerning urban planning, transport, environment, infrastructures and assistance to metropolitan municipalities are defined. The aim is to achieve a cohesive and united metropolitan development, in which the benefits and costs of living in the metropolitan area are equally distributed among its inhabitants, regardless of the municipality in which they live. To fulfil this aim, the powers of the AMB also include the following:

Geography

The Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona is set on the central Catalan Coast and around the capital. The metropolitan area can be divided into two zones:

Municipalities

Metropolitan government

Metropolitan Council

The Metropolitan Council is the highest governing body of the AMB. Its responsibilities include the appointment and dismissal of the AMB presidency; the approval of the Metropolitan Action Plan, which includes projects and services developed by the AMB during the term; the approval of laws and regulations, as well as the establishment of the metropolitan services fees. The Metropolitan Council currently comprises 90 metropolitan councillors. Each of the 36 municipalities has a number of members in proportion to their demographic weight. The mayors of the municipalities are ex officio members of the Council, in addition to the councillors appointed by the Town Councils whose number increases until covering the one stipulated for each municipality.

Results to the Metropolitan Council

Governing Board

The Governing Board is the body that assists the president in the everyday work of the metropolitan administration. Tasks are delegated by the Metropolitan Council and the president, with the aim of facilitating the decision making and the work of the metropolitan administration. The Governing Board comprises the AMB president and the metropolitan councillors appointed by the president at the proposal of the Metropolitan Council, and it meets at least twice a month.

Members of the Governing Board 2023–2027