Government to create expert committee focused on foreign affairs and EU policies

The Catalan government will create an expert committee specialized in foreign affairs and the European Union policies to improve the professionalization of the cabinet's staff, as was announced on Friday.

The initiative is still in its early stages, but the executive's goal is to "take a step forward" with Catalonia's projection abroad and to improve ties with international governments and organizations.

This group will "set the professional standards of the staff in charge of foreign affairs and will be differentiated from other employees with a specialized status," the government said before adding that the committee will also assist other ministries.

Currently, there are no government workers that are required to be specialized in foreign affairs, which is why the cabinet plans to create this body s to "guarantee that Catalan foreign affairs policies are planned and  executed effectively and efficiently."

Staff will have to be chosen via a civil service entrance examination process, but the project will need to be greenlighted in the Catalan parliament first. Authorities expect the body to be in motion from next year.