Catalonia is willing to receive refugees beyond the Spanish quota

Brussels (CNA).- Catalonia wants to be part of the solution on the refugees crisis and is willing to host more refugees than those specified in the Spanish quota. In order to materialize such purpose, Catalan liberal party CDC MEP Ramon Tremosa presented a written question to the European Commission asking for its permission and allowing those regions with fiscal and legislative power to go beyond their Member States refugees' quota. "The pro-independence movement shows with this action it's pro-European and solidarity values" assured Tremosa, whose demand came after the Catalan Parliament's agreed resolution to receive refugees over the Spanish quota. The Catalan MEP also criticised the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy for his '"lack of will" in accelerating the reception of refugees and "implementing as quickly as possible the European agreement on 'distributing the refugees' burden". 

"In a moment when some States are reluctant or even refuse to participate on the distribution of refugees, Catalonia shows its solidarity" stated Tremosa and emphasised Catalonia's will "to share the burden of countries like Germany, Austria, Slovenia or Croatia".

On its written question to the Commission, he also urged the EC to announce the expected amount to help the Spanish State in the refugees' hosting. Following this, he bid for the handling of the refugees' reception through the local administrations, such as Town Halls and the Autonomous Communities.

Tremosa also criticised Rajoy's "lack of will in implementing as quickly as possible the European agreement on distributing the refugee burden, at a moment when the Schengen agreement is at risk". This demand in accordance with the resolution approved by the Catalan Parliament, and supported by its government, that indicated it is willing to receive more refugees than those related to the Spanish quota.