Europe

Spain, Catalonia strike deal to promote Catalan language at EU level

In long-awaited negotiations, Spanish government also vows to ‘dejudicialize’ political questions

Alyssa McMurtry  | 27.07.2022 - Update : 27.07.2022
Spain, Catalonia strike deal to promote Catalan language at EU level FILE PHOTO ( Adria Puig - Anadolu Agency )

MADRID

In a highly anticipated round of talks between the Spanish and Catalan governments on Wednesday, Spain promised to promote the Catalan language and “dejudicialize” political questions. 

After years of clashing over Catalonia’s independence and autonomy, Wednesday’s meeting aimed to be a step forward in mending the relations between Barcelona and Madrid.

The most tangible promise made on Spain’s side was a vow to request that the Catalan language be accepted in the European Parliament.

In a press conference following the talks, Felix Bolanos, minister for the presidency, said that the Spanish government also supported new legislation passed by the Catalan government that goes against a court ruling, which stipulates that 25% of all classes must be taught in Spanish.

In recent years, much of the conflict between Spain and Catalonia was driven by legal rulings.

For instance, one of the major drivers of the independence movement in Catalonia came after Spain’s Constitutional Court nullified a political agreement on the region’s autonomy in 2010.

The crisis reached a boiling point in 2017 after Catalonia held an "illegal" referendum and subsequently said it was splitting from Spain.

As a consequence, several Catalan pro-independence leaders were given long prison sentences on charges like sedition, but were later pardoned by Spain’s left-wing government.

Other Catalan politicians like Carles Puigdemont, a member of the European Parliament, remain in exile abroad.

With that history, Spain also pledged to “dejudicialize” the political questions surrounding Catalan independence.

“We renounce any action that leaves politics out of the democratic game,” said Bolanos, adding that “now we have majority-supported commitments to overcome conflicts.”

Bolanos said the government also committed to continuing discussions over a possible reform of Spain’s sedition law, which could allow exiled politicians to return to Spain.

This round of talks was postponed earlier this year after it emerged that dozens of Catalan pro-independence figures had their phones hacked with Pegasus spyware.

Spain’s intelligence service admitted to just some of the hackings, although it never directly confirmed the use of Pegasus.

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