Castellers: 'Minyons de Terrassa' build human tower in Balkans
Catalan traditional show takes place in Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, and Mostar
croatia
Puigdemont asks EU for dialogue and self-determination in plenary session
Greens see accepting him and MEP Comín in group as "illogical" due to their links to Flemish N-VA
Foreign minister pays tribute to slain Catalan photojournalist on Balkans trip
Alfred Bosch was in Sarajevo on Thursday, where Jordi Pujol Puente became the first journalist killed in Bosnian War
German-born Eric Hauck becomes Catalan government delegate in Croatia
The new head of Croatia delegation will be charged with acting as a business hub and representing Catalonia to Balkan countries
Catalan Government wants to have a network of “about 50 delegations” abroad in “a few years”
The Catalan Government’s Deputy Minister for External Affairs, Roger Albinyana, announced the Executive’s aim to have a network of “about 50 delegations” throughout the world, representing Catalonia’s political, business and cultural interests abroad. The Catalan Government currently has 7 delegations abroad, after the new representations in Rome and Vienna start to work on Monday, when the representatives were appointed. The 5 others are located in Brussels, London, Paris, Berlin and Washington. In the coming “months and years”, the Catalan Government will continue to open new delegations. Regardless of the hypothetical independence from Spain, the Catalan Executive already has the powers to have its own External Action policy, recognised by the Catalan Statute of Autonomy from 2006, although with many limitations.
Amadeu Altafaj to represent Catalan Government in the European Union
The former European Commission’s Spokesperson for Economic Affairs during the Eurozone crisis, Amadeu Altafaj, is to become Catalonia’s Permanent Representative to the EU institutions. This position has been created as a way to increase the political weight of the already existing Catalan Government Delegation in Brussels in the middle of the debate about independence from Spain. Altafaj, who has also worked as Deputy Chief of Cabinet of the Commission’s Vice President for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Olli Rehn, since 2012, will now direct this delegation and become Catalonia’s voice in the EU institutions’ offices. On many occasions, Altafaj has been vocal about Catalonia’s self-determination, supporting it and emphasising that an independent Catalan State would be economically viable.
Agreement for Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic to join FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of Ivan Rakitic. The Croatian midfielder will sign a contract with FC Barcelona for the next five seasons. Both clubs have also agreed for Barça B player Denis Suárez to be loaned to the Andalusian club for the next two seasons. 26-year-old Ivan Rakitic arrives at the Camp Nou after impressing for three seasons with Sevilla. He has done nothing but improve in his time at the Sánchez Pizjuán, becoming the team’s main central playmaker and captain, leading them to the Europa League title in the 2013/14 season. Rakitic is also one of the stars of the Croatian national team that is currently in Brazil playing at the World Cup.
Spain and Denmark, finalists in World Handball Championship at Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi
Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi played host on Friday evening to two riveting semi-finals in the World Handball Championship as Spain beat surprise package Slovenia 26-22 thanks largely to a strong defence while Denmark made it through to tomorrow’s final after defeating Croatia by a wider margin: 30-24.