Catalan EU status: Spain presses bloc to act

Spain is pressing the European Union to make Catalan, Basque and Galician official EU languages, but the move still needs every one of the 27 member states to agree. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares urged reluctant partners in Madrid on Monday to drop their objections. The request returns to the General Affairs Council on Tuesday, though no formal debate or vote is planned.

Albares said a majority of EU countries were ready to back Spain and called on those asking for more time to settle the matter quickly. He insisted no national interest was at stake and said there was no legitimate objection left beyond party politics.

Spain first raised the proposal in August 2023. Albares said Madrid would pay the cost and that the plan prevents the three languages becoming a precedent for other minority languages.

The minister also accused the conservative Partido Popular of urging its allies in the European People's Party to block the change. Without that pressure, he said, official status would already have been secured.

He gave no date for an agreement, but said he had no doubt that Catalan, Basque and Galician would eventually become official EU languages.

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Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com