The Espai Catalunya Europa of the Government's Delegation to the European Union was the setting for the celebration of Sant Jordi's Day in Brussels. The event, which gathered more than two hundred people, was inaugurated by the RepresentativeIgnasi Centelles,who emphasized the importance of the festival as a demonstration of the plurality and diversity of Catalan society."Sant Jordi has deep cultural significance for us. It is a celebration of which we are proud, and we are honored to share it with everyone. It is a privilege to do so in Brussels, a place where so many cultures meet,"the Representative stressed.

In this sense, Centelles highlighted Catalonia's willingness to contribute to the European project, also from the perspective of culture and linguistic richness:"We are and want to continue being a proactive actor in Europe, and Sant Jordi is part of this cultural contribution"that Catalonia wants to bring to the world.

Regarding the official status of Catalan in the EU, the delegate reaffirmed the strength of Catalan in Europe, where it has more than 10 million speakers. In this regard, he acknowledged the work done by the Delegation and the Government in recent months, with contacts at the highest levels in the European sphere, to make this request a reality. A claim that remains a priority for the executive, he says, and that"is not only the Government's, but a historical demand of Catalan society."

On the other hand,Ignasi Centellesthanked the Catalan community abroad for its involvement in the internationalization of Catalonia, as well as for making Sant Jordi celebrations increasingly prominent worldwide. In this sense, he highlighted the work of the Generalitat Government for Catalans living abroad, such as the new "Catalonia Abroad" website, with a compilation of all the services to support Catalans in all stages of the migratory process.

Sant Jordi, Day of the Book and the Rose

The General Representative of Flanders to the EU, Mathias De Moor, was in charge of delivering a speech on the occasion of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU. Flanders leads the work of the Council in the field of culture during its presidency.

In his speech, De Moorreminded that Sant Jordi is a double celebration,"as it is also International Book Day."In this sense, he invited everyone to "embrace the joy of reading."

Additionally, he pointed out the symbolism that Sant Jordi holds for Catalan culture, which also serves as a vindication of global culture. Thus, he highlighted"the importance of the rose as a symbol of love and affection, and the book as a symbol of knowledge and learning."

A day that the Flemish representative described as"a day of courage, love, and the values that represent Catalonia. A day to celebrate the richness of Catalan culture."

Sant Jordi Worldwide

Catalonia has celebrated 325 Sant Jordi events worldwide, in 192 cities across 29 different countries. Among all these, the Government's delegations abroad will bring the Sant Jordi festivities to 90 cities in 21 different countries.