Catalonia submits reports to influence EU priorities on migration and water management

The Catalan government has submitted a series of reports to the European Commission and other "influential actors of EU institutions" outlining the executive's priorities.

The aim of these reports, according to acting Catalan foreign minister Meritxell Serret, is to "influence" the priorities of the cabinet yet to be formed, led by recently re-elected Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

"We are trying to improve our advocacy capacity, so these days we are sending different position papers on the main assets, opportunities and strategies that we think are crucial not only for Catalonia but also for a stronger European Union," Serret said.

Among the priorities of the Catalan government is the recognition of Catalan as an official EU language, a measure that has been attempted several times in recent months but has not yet succeeded.

The Catalan government has also criticized the current European pact on migration and asylum. In its report to the Commission, the executive called for a migration policy that "respects human rights" and "goes beyond a purely security-oriented perspective."

The Catalan executive has also called on the Commission to create a Mediterranean macro-region to address climate challenges.

They advocate coordinated water management in Mediterranean basins to "maximize initiatives" in the face of common challenges, especially drought.

The Catalan executive called for an "integrated approach" to water management and stressed the need for increased investment in research and innovation, with the aim of "respecting the diversity of ecosystems and biodiversity."