Politics
what to do in catalonia
Politics
Catalan Parliament unanimously nullifies Francoist sentences
64,000 victims of fascist repression get justice more than 40 years since the end of the dictatorship, including executed president Lluís Companys
Business
More than 25% of Catalan companies invest in R&D
Catalonia Trade and Investment’s Innovation Barometer presented on Wednesday shows innovation in Catalonia is growing
Culture
Dalí and Picasso celebrated in Northern Catalonia
Life & Style
World’s top chefs meet in Barcelona to celebrate ‘The World's 50 Best Restaurants’ ranking’s 15th anniversary
Society
200 social and economic entities join forces to bring the European Medicines Agency to Barcelona
They defend the city as a great headquarters due to its “scientific, technologic, and industrial potential” and the way it faces “big challenges” as it did with the Olympic Games in 1992
Politics
Former Spanish police inspector admits that “politicians have tried to use the police for political aims”
Politics
'New York Times' defends independence referendum in Catalonia
"The best outcome for Spain would be to permit the referendum, and for Catalan voters to reject independence" says newspaper NYT editorial
Society
Spanish government challenges call for 500 new Catalan police officers
The Government affirms that they will add the personnel as planned this June
Society
International experts urge political leaders to help solve refugee crisis
Barcelona hosts a conference with international experts on refugee integration
Society
Hospital in Barcelona avoids liver transplants in four children with innovative operation
The Abernethy deformity affects one out of 30,000 children and causes severe complications
Politics
Andorra to investigate Spanish “coercion” to frame Catalan officials
The Human Rights Institute of Andorra (IHDA) and the Catalan rights association ‘Drets’, have filed a joint complaint before the courts in Andorra against four Spanish police officers who were part of the alleged smear campaign of the Spanish Ministry of Interior against Catalan officials, the so-called “Operation Catalonia”. The highly ranked police officers shall be investigated for crimes such as threatening, coercion and extortion of citizens of Andorra with the objective of “obtaining information” on “supposedly existing bank accounts” of Catalan pro-independence politicians in order “to destroy their public image”. Representatives of the private accusation explained to the press on Tuesday that the alleged pressures of the Spanish National Police forces on citizens of another country violate international treaties, and represent a “state crime”. The complaint has already been accepted by the Instruction Court (Batllia) number 2 of Andorra.
Society
Catalonia, pioneer in the struggle for transsexuals rights
Catalan transsexuals do not need a psychiatric diagnosis of gender dysphoria to carry out a sex change operation through the public healthcare system. The Health Department implemented this pioneering system in Europe in October. LGTBI groups are satisfied with this new Catalan model in contrast with the last one, which treated transsexuality as an illness. Transsexual groups in Catalonia welcomed the decision for three main reasons. The first one is obvious: doing the sex change would be easier. The second one is related to the old Catalan model, mainly carried out in the Hospital Clínic, one of the most important public hospitals in Barcelona. “Doctors judged you in that hospital. They wanted you to be a standard transsexual, otherwise they said you had no gender dysphoria,” explains Carla Agulló, who went there to receive hormonal treatment and psychological attention. The third reason has symbolic importance. “We think transsexuality is a condition, not a problem,” explains Cristina Nadal, who is in charge of the health area of the Catalan Health Service.
Politics
Catalan Minister for Foreign Affairs: “Everything is impossible until it happens”
The Catalan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Institutional Relations and Transparency, Raül Romeva, has defended on Monday that “everything is impossible until it happens” and that “when it happens, it is irreversible”. At the opening of the conference, ‘Sovereignty and self-determination in times of Brexit’, organized by the Catalan Public Diplomacy Council (DIPLOCAT) and the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, the Minister of Foreign Affairs noted the “capacity for adaptation” shown by the European Union “throughout history” in order to respond to “the will of the citizens”. Romeva insisted that the birth of “new and smaller” States like a possible independent Catalonia or Scotland should not “frighten anyone”, but rather should be seen as an “opportunity”.
Business
Bouygues: Catalan independence “won't be a problem” for investing
The independence process “won't be a problem” for investing in Catalonia, said Paul Cartuyvels, Director for European Affairs of the French multinational Bouygues, a company with more than 125,000 employees and delegations in 19 countries. Cartuyvels participated in a meeting on foreign investment with entrepreneurs and companies from Europe, the U.S. and Asia, organized by the Catalan government during the “European Business Summit”. Bouygues is interested in Catalonia’s Global 3D Priniting Hub and considers the country “a natural partner for high level innovation”. The Catalan Minister for Business and Knowledge, Jordi Baiget, who explained Catalonia’s business assets during the meeting, said that the political debate is not negatively affecting foreign investment: in fact, in the last 5 years Catalonia has seen a 36% increase in foreign investment.