Governing Council

Composition

What is the Governing Council

The Governing Council also serves as an institutional representation body for the Port Community of Barcelona.

To achieve its objectives of positioning the Port of Barcelona as the main logistics hub in the Mediterranean, it promotes innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness, involving all stakeholders in the port business and aligning their activities with the current Strategic Plan.

The Governing Council is made up of representatives from the various Entities, Organizations, and Associations that form the Port Community of Barcelona, as well as others related to international trade and the logistics and port sectors, which the Council itself agrees to incorporate. 

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is composed of 4 members from the Port Authority of Barcelona (APB) and 4 representatives from the Port Community of Barcelona, appointed by the President of the Governing Council, and structured as follows:

• President: President of the APB
• 1st Vice President: Representative of the Port Community of Barcelona
• 2nd Vice President: General Director of the APB
• Barcelona Customs Agents Association: President
• Barcelona International Freight Forwarders Association. Organization for Logistics, Transport and Customs Representation: President
• Barcelona Stevedoring Companies Association: President
• Barcelona Ship Agents Association: President
• Secretary: Legal advisor from the Legal Services Department, delegated by the Deputy Director of Legal Services and Contracting of the APB
• Director of the Governing Council: Director of Institutional Relations of the APB

Coordination

Responsible for the organizational and administrative management of the Governing Council.

Contact: consell.rector@portdebarcelona.cat

Working Groups 

Organized by areas linked to the current Strategic Plan, they study and/or develop specific topics and promote and implement new projects. They are supervised by the Institutional Relations Department of the APB. Each group is chaired by a representative of the Port Community and coordinated by a member of the APB.

History of the Governing Council

In 1993, with the signing of the Concerted Quality Charter and through the integration of public and private operators with responsibilities and interests within the territorial scope, the Port of Barcelona began to establish itself as a unified port service community, aiming to meet the needs and expectations of its clients.

Its actions were defined within a plenary body called the Governing Council of the Quality Plan.

In 1998, the Strategic Plan of the Port of Barcelona 1998–2010 was formulated, outlining the lines of action for the coming years, and the Council was renamed the Governing Council of the Strategic Plan and the Quality Plan.

From then on, the organizational structure and statutes were revised, and other operators, institutions, and organizations supporting the development of the Strategic Plan were progressively integrated. This led to the adoption of a common strategic framework by the entire Port Community of Barcelona and a new way of operating for the Port of Barcelona.

With the approval of the Strategic Plan 1998–2010 and with the aim of facilitating the activity of the entire business sector, the Port Community of Barcelona defined priority markets and strategic geographic areas to strengthen commercial relations.

As a result, active and ongoing international promotion began in markets with the greatest growth potential, to identify new business opportunities, promote trade exchanges, and introduce or consolidate the presence of the Port Community of Barcelona and importing/exporting companies in the most strategic foreign markets.

In 2025, the name was changed to Governing Council of the Port Community of Barcelona to enhance its identification and improve its positioning within the elements of the Port Authority available to the community.

This Governing Council embodies the spirit of cooperation between the Port Authority of Barcelona and all public and private institutions operating within the port environment, with the aim of contributing to the future development of the Port of Barcelona.

To maintain and enhance the visibility of the Port Community of Barcelona, the Governing Council enables its coordination, management, and promotion, as it is one of the key elements of the Port of Barcelona.

Its specific weight and capacity to generate activity both inside and outside the organization, as well as its involvement and commitment to the comprehensive management of the Port, are essential for the projection and future growth of the Port of Barcelona.