This message is on behalf of the Government of the Generalitat, which, together with the Vice President and the Ministers, we would like to deliver in these difficult and tragic hours.

 

Firstly, I would like to express our support and our condolences to the victims and their families and to those who have lost their lives in the terrorist attacks that took place this morning in the city of Brussels.

 

I would also like to express the Catalan Government’s utmost condemnation of these attacks in the heart of Europe, moreover, in a city that receives so many people from around the world, especially from the European community and, therefore, many people from Catalonia as well.

 

This morning I called the Belgian Consul General in Catalonia to express my condolences and to offer all the help they believe the Government of Catalonia is capable of providing. This morning, I also spoke to the Permanent Representative of the Generalitat to the EU, Amadeu Altafaj, with whom Minister Romeva is also in permanent contact, not only to coordinate information but also to update all those who are contacting the Permanent Representative of the Generalitat with all the available information. 

 

We presently do not know of any Catalan citizen affected, more specifically, we know that all the employees of the Delegation, including their families, are well.

 

I have called for a meeting at 5.00pm this afternoon with the Minister of Home Affairs, a meeting of the Counterterrorism Coordination Bureau, in which, aside from the Minister, the commanders and the department officials, will include the attendance of the high commands of Catalonia’s police force in order to exchange information and decide what to do in order to ensure the continued public safety of our citizens.

 

Lastly, on behalf of the country’s government, I want to reaffirm our commitment to the founding values of the European Union. I want to make it clear that terrorism, in any form, will not change the democratic will to build a Europe based on the values of peace and harmony, which are values that Catalonia has a very special affection for.