Foreign minister calls on EU to recognize Catalonia's 'democratic demands'

Catalan foreign minister Victòria Alsina called on the European Union to recognize what she described as Catalonia's three "democratic demands" in a Conference on the Future of Europe talk called 'Listen Europe. More Catalonia, better Europe' that took place at the University of Barcelona on Monday evening.

According to her, Catalan, which is spoken by around 10 million people, should become one of the EU's official languages.

  

In addition to this, Alsina of pro-independence Junts per Catalunya said there should be "clear mechanisms allowing a member state's territory to remain in the Union if it decides to become an independent country" and that decisions should not have to be made by unanimity among council members.

Former presidents Jordi Pujol, Artur Mas, and Quim Torra, as well as Carles Puigdemont via videoconference from Belgium and José Montilla with a taped speech, participated in the debate, as did current and ex-MEPs Oriol Junqueras, Toni Comín (also from Belgium), Joan Colom and Concepció Ferrer.

Alsina called Puigdemont and Comín's participation from afar "an anomaly" – the pair left Catalonia in late 2017 to avoid prosecution for organizing the independence vote deemed illegal by Spain. 

Europe is under pressure "on three fronts," Pujol said referring to "Russia, China, and the United States" during the debate, which was the last in a series of talks on Catalonia and the EU.

"The social security system is Europe's strength," Pujol, Catalonia's longest-standing president who is currently under investigation alongside his family for money laundering, said at the first government-sponsored event he has attended in seven years. His presence drew criticism from pro-independence and unionist parties alike, with En Comú Podem's David Cid blasting the foreign minister for inviting "an avowed fraudster."

Montilla, the Socialist who presided over the Catalan government from 2006 to 2010, said, however, that "further integration" is key to Europe being a strong player in the international arena down the line.

Former president Artur Mas, meanwhile, lamented the "indifference" with which member states viewed the Catalan push for independence, but said it did not frustrate his "European ideals," while Puigdemont highlighted the strength of Catalonia's "historic Europhile movement."

"Despite our disappointment, we only have one way forward as a small nation: to go to the heart of Europe," Puigdemont said.

Torra, Puigdemont's successor who was barred from public office, also said he would "love to join the club of member states."