Spanish government steps up efforts to make Catalan official EU language

The Spanish government is stepping up its push to make Catalan, Galician and Basque official languages of the European Union.

After a year of discussions aimed at allowing these languages to be spoken in the EU's highest institutions, progress has been slow and negotiations remain stalled.

However, the process could gain momentum on Wednesday during a meeting between Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares and the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.

The two leaders are expected to discuss the possibility of holding a vote on allowing the use of Catalan in the chamber.

According to parliamentary sources, the working group dealing with the proposal is still awaiting a report from the Parliament's technical services.

Despite the pending technical assessment, Albares has decided to address the matter personally, a move aimed at underscoring the government's commitment to moving forward with the proposal.

Making Catalan an official EU language has been a longstanding demand of pro-independence parties, most prominently championed by Carles Puigdemont's party, Junts, whose support is critical for Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez and his Socialist government.

However, despite efforts by the Spanish government, granting Catalan official status requires a vote in the EU Council, where unanimity among all 27 member states is necessary.

Spain is expected to initiate talks soon with the Polish delegation, which will hold the presidency of the Council during the first half of 2025.