Catalan and Spanish governments consider opening new spaces for dialogue

Spanish and Catalan governments agreed to "consider" creating two "spaces of dialogue" over the independence conflict in a meeting between senior ministers on Thursday.

Both executives are resuming efforts to reach a compromise that could help Spanish president Pedro Sánchez get the votes he needs to pass the general budget for 2019—the most crucial vote since he came to power last spring.

Although pro-independence parties helped Sánchez oust his predecessor Mariano Rajoy from power, tensions between governments in Spain and Catalonia are still running high, thus hindering prospects for a political solution to the independence bid.

Senior ministers from both executives will study the creation of two separate "spaces for dialogue": one for governments, and another one for pro-independence parties and Spain’s ruling Socialist party.

Madrid’s willingness to open new spaces for dialogue can be seen as a positive step for pro-independence parties, but it is yet to be seen what kind of agreement comes about. Another meeting is planned for next week.