europe

Rafael Ribó meets Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic to discuss political situation and fundamental rights in Catalonia

Catalan president mentions jailed and exiled politicians and says country is in an “open conflict” with Spanish government

None of the eleven recommendations by the Human Rights body in 2013 have been fully completed

In 2017 the airline flew around 2 million passengers to and from Barcelona airport

Luke Ming Flanagan: “You have done well with independence, why stop Catalonia doing the same?”

The international organization says measures recommended in 2013 not yet fully implemented and urges authorities to do so “as soon as possible”

No need to introduce changes asked for by Spanish government, confirms European justice commissioner

The summit, including mayors and representatives from 40 European cities and 18 countries concluded that prevention is key

European politicians spoke out against Spain’s disregard for “democracy and human rights”

Members hold debate on "the need for a political solution" for Catalonia and some suggest "international mediation"

The Commissioner for Human Rights states that Spain’s police use of force was "disproportionate" and "unnecessary"

German Socialist Bernhard von Grünberg says Europe cannot look away while Spain reverts to authoritarianism

Catalan representatives in the European Parliament from all political parties agree that “there are many reasons to celebrate” Europe Day but warned that the EU should push ahead an ambitious agenda of reforms in order to survive. In the wake of Europe Day and the recent victory of Emmanuel Macron in the French Presidential Elections, the CNA spoke to the MEPs of the Republican Catalan Left (ERC), the Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT), the Green Party (ICV), the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC), the People’s Party (PP) and Ciutadans (C’s) as well as to some independent MEPs about how they see the future of the EU.

Catalan Government Spokeswoman, Neus Munté, referred this Tuesday to the Constitutional Court’s decision to ban from public office the political figures responsible for the 9-N symbolic vote on independence, which took place in 2014. According to Munté, sentencing former Catalan President Artur Mas, former Vice President Joana Ortega and former Catalan Minister for Education Irene Rigau for allowing the non-binding consultation “confirm the Spanish State’s absolute lack of willingness to find a political solution” to Catalonia’s aspirations. However, far from “disqualifying” them, Munté assured that the Government “counts on” the three summonsed “to explain” to the world “how weak democracy is in Spain".

The Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia (DIPLOCAT) and the ‘Institut de Ciénces Politiques Louvain-Europe’ (ISPOLE), organised this Tuesday an event entitled “Catalonia: A New State in Europe?” at the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) located about 50 kilometres east of Brussels. The conference included the presence of Amadeu Altafaj, Representative of the Catalan Government to the EU, Michel Liégeois, President of ISPOLE and Michael Keating, Professor of Political Science at the University of Aberdeen and Director of the ESRC Centre on Constitutional Change, amongst other experts. However, all the attention turned to the public when a supposed student claimed to represent Spaniards and Catalans which were absent and questioned the objectivity of the event. Later on, Laura Martínez Bocos admitted to speaking on behalf of the Spanish Embassy in Belgium, where she holds the rank of Counsellor.