Catalan and Spanish governments resume bilateral commission meetings three years on
What’s at stake as both cabinets meet on Monday? Lack of investment, transfer of powers, and protection of Catalan language on the agenda
bilateral summit
Catalan-Spanish summit: no to referendum, maybe to recovering social laws
Spanish government rules out independence vote in meeting marked by "great discrepancies"
Catalan-Spanish summit: what to expect
Opposition skeptical as governments are set to meet on Wednesday after 7-year break
Merkel says it is necessary to “respect EU treaties” regarding Catalonia’s independence process
The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has assured that her position on the process of sovereignty in Catalonia is "very similar" to that of the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, addressing the issue at a bilateral summit held on Monday and Tuesday. In a joint press conference, Merkel emphasised the necessity to "respect" EU treaties that "guarantee the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each state". "It is very important that international law is respected. Here there is no difference", she said in response to journalists' questions. For his part, Rajoy guaranteed that whilst he is Prime Minister, there will be "no split" between Catalonia and Spain.