Optimism surrounding Catalan's EU official status without set deadlines

Monday 21 April 2025 - 15:37

The Catalan government remains cautiously optimistic about the eventual recognition of Catalan as an official language within European Union institutions. Jaume Duch, the Minister for European Union and External Action, described the move as a matter of "linguistic justice." However, he refrained from specifying any timeline.

Duch explained that the decision to grant Catalan official status in the EU lies within the hands of the European Council, which requires unanimous approval. This means securing the support of all 26 member states, a task that is far from straightforward. He emphasized that setting a specific date would be unreasonable, as the backing of all member countries is essential. "23, 24, or 25 votes are not enough," he noted.

Despite the challenges, Duch expressed confidence that the issue would eventually be addressed, though he acknowledged that convincing 26 countries could prove difficult. Not everyone views the matter the same way, and many might not fully understand the importance of Catalan as the official language of Catalonia, as enshrined in the region's Statute.

Securing the official status of Catalan in the EU is a key aspect of the agreement between the PSOE and Junts made during the 2023 investiture of Pedro Sánchez. Last week, Jordi Turull, the general secretary of the independence party, raised concerns, warning that the lack of progress on Catalan in the EU and amnesty could lead to increasing distrust with the government.

Duch emphasized that this issue primarily lies in the hands of the Spanish government, highlighting the Generalitat's willingness to cooperate with Pedro Sánchez's administration. The issue frequently comes up in Duch's meetings with European leaders.

In recent weeks, significant progress has been made in advancing the recognition of Catalan within the EU. Notably, an agreement was reached with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) to allow Catalan to be used in plenary sessions. This follows earlier developments, such as the language being allowed in the European Committee of the Regions and in the EU Council of Ministers, where Spanish Industry Minister Jordi Hereu has already spoken in Catalan.