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
flemish
Flanders' main party wants Spain's ambassador to explain Catalan situation in parliament
N-VA party turns down "informal meeting" with Spanish representative in Belgium and demands "transparent" debate in Flemish chamber
Relationship between Catalonia and Flanders won’t be affected, officials agree in meeting
Madrid has “opportunity to rectify” in upcoming meeting between Flemish head and Spanish ambassador, says Catalan foreign minister
Flemish parliament calls withdrawal of delegate's diplomatic status 'disproportionate'
Chamber defends its speaker's "freedom of expression," while Catalan president calls Madrid's decision 'inconceivable'
Spanish government withdraws diplomatic status to Flanders delegate in Spain
Foreign ministry in Madrid argues criticism by Flemish parliament speaker over Catalan “political prisoners” is “unacceptable”
Party proposes inviting Puigdemont to speak in Flemish Parliament
Pro-independence N-VA wants to hear the deposed Catalan president speak about the political situation in Catalonia
Catalonia and Flanders cancel joint trip to Morocco due to Spanish pressure
The Catalan and Flemish governments have decided to suspend a joint commercial mission to Morocco they were due to start on May 7. The trip, which was to be led by Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, and Flemish Minister-President, Geert Bourgeois, was cancelled after the Moroccan government “unilaterally” decided that no political leader from the country would meet with the two presidents. Sources from the Catalan Government said to the CNA that Spanish diplomats urged Rabat to avoid political meetings with the Catalan government during the trip. Pugidemont and Bourgeois regretted the decision in a joint press release, warning that it will negatively affect “more than 30 Catalan and Flemish companies” that aimed to improve their commercial relationship with Morocco.
Juncker urges Spain to form "stable government" amid Catalan independence crisis
The European Commission’s President, Jean-Claude Juncker, urged Spain to form a “stable government” and do it “as quick as possible, as it belongs to the Eurozone”. Juncker refused to “give an opinion on the movements in some regions and provinces”, referring to Catalonia’s push for independence, but called for “Spain to rise to” the circumstances. In a similar vein, the Euro Parliament’s President, Martin Schulz, assured that the Catalan case would have to be “dealt with within the framework of the Constitution”. The Vice President of Flemish Nationalist party N-VA, Sander Loones, commented that the EC “missed a great opportunity” by not taking up a role as mediator and noted that “saying that it is a Spanish issue only is a way of making sure that nothing will move”.