Catalan Government plans to have 17 offices abroad within a year

Barcelona (CNA).- Catalonia wants to enhance its network of delegations abroad. Before summer 2017, the Catalan Ministry for Foreign Affairs plans to open new offices in Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, Croatia, Vatican City, Portugal, Morocco, South Korea, Mexico and Argentina; a total of 10 new delegations which will be added to those currently existing in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Austria and the United States. However, the deployment of the plan depends on pro-independence radical left CUP’s support for the draft budget for 2016 presented by the Catalan Government. So far, the anti-capitalists have kept their veto on the bill on account of it being “too autonomic” and “not reflecting” the pro-independence proposal approved by the Parliament on the 9^th of November. The draft budget allocated 34.1 million euros to foreign action, nearly double that of last year’s bill. 

Portugal is one foreign country with a major presence of Catalan companies and thus the Catalan Government plans to be present in the capital, Lisbon. By opening a delegation in Rabat the Government also aims to start covering Africa, bearing in mind that Moroccans form the main foreign community in Catalonia.

The Catalan Government has had a delegation in New York since 2008 and last year a new office was opened in Washington. Now the aim is to enhance their presence on the American continent by opening new delegations in Mexico City and Buenos Aires. Moreover, the Argentinian office aims to become a connection point with other countries in South America.

Asia is another region which generates much interest in the Catalan Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The delegation to be opened in Seoul, South Korea, is a response to the growing level of commercial relations Catalonia has with this country. 

The expansion in Europe includes a new office in Copenhagen, in order to connect with the Scandinavian countries and a delegation in Zagreb to start building relationships in the south-eastern part of the continent.

The delegation in Vatican City and Geneva have strategic goals related to diplomatic relations with the Holy See and the headquarters of international institutions, such as the UN, located in Switzerland. 

A plan dependent on the budget for 2016

The Government’s plan to enhance Catalonia’s foreign action is however subject to the budget for 2016. The bill allocates 31.4 million euros to this plan, far more than the 19.7 million euros allocated in 2015. If CUP keep their veto on the current draft, then the deployment of the plan will be, at the least, on standby. 

Although the Catalan executive considers that there is no legal base for the Spanish Government to veto the foreign action strategy, it has been admitted that the plan could be a new chapter in the diplomatic war between the administrations.