The Catalan Minister for Foreign Action and European Union, Meritxell Serret i Aleu, travelled to Madrid to hold a new round of meetings with ambassadors from European Union countries, and to convey to them the arguments in favour of official status for Catalan in European institutions. Her aim was to clear up any doubts, and for the proposal to be implemented in the near future. The minister was accompanied by the delegate of the Government of Catalonia to Madrid, Joan Capdevila i Esteve, and by the Catalan Government’s Director General for European Union Affairs, Gerard Vives Fernández.

Minister Serret recalled that “it is up to the Spanish government to engage with the Council of the European Union and with the various states as necessary to ensure a unanimous approval of the official status of Catalan”.

“Now that progress in the talks for Pedro Sánchez’s investiture has been confirmed, the Spanish government must not reduce its demands in any way – quite the contrary,” stressed Serret, who said “we will continue to exert the utmost pressure to achieve official status for Catalan, and as soon as possible, and so that there are no unnecessary delays in the proposal’s progress within the Council.”

During the round of contacts at all levels, Minister Serret explained that “we are providing all the arguments required.” She said, “we believe that it is essential to achieve this recognition of the official status of Catalan in the European institutions as soon as possible.” “The investiture is a situation which is positive for the discussion of the issue, but the ultimate objective is its approval,” she insisted.

The Catalan Government’s strategy for official status for Catalan

The Catalan Government has been working for months at three different levels to intensify political contacts with European governments. First, in Barcelona and Madrid with contacts with the consular corps and embassies. Second, through the Government of Catalonia’s delegations abroad located in member states, which are establishing contacts in the capitals of the various countries. And third, through the Delegation of the Government to the European Union, which is coordinating a large part of the strategy, and is making contacts with the permanent delegations of the member states to the European Union.

The Government of Catalonia has also launched an advertising campaign in the 27 EU member states advocating official status for Catalan in the European institutions. The campaign is being rolled out on public highways and in the media in all the Member States. This initiative to influence European public opinion began with the publication of an opinion piece by President Aragonès in a number of international newspapers.