Spain Demands EU Recognition of Basque, Catalan, and Galician as European Languages
The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has recently called on the European Union to recognize Basque, Catalan, and Galician as official languages of the EU, as reported by Politico.
His proposal was outlined in a letter sent by Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, to the leadership of the European Council and the Secretary-General of the EU, Thérèse Blanchet. The letter emphasized that "Spanish languages, aside from Castilian, hold official status in Spain" and should be added to the 24 official languages of the EU.
Manuel Albares suggested that the General Affairs Council of the European Union consider this matter when it convenes in September.
However, the introduction of an additional official language in the EU could lead to significant costs for Union institutions.
In response, European media speculate that Pedro Sánchez, the acting Prime Minister of Spain, is seeking to secure the support of separatist parties to remain in power by making this demand.
Relying on the support of smaller regional parties is not new for Sánchez. He came to power in 2018 following the first-ever vote of no confidence against the former Prime Minister. Two years later, he formed the first coalition in Spain after the country's return to democracy, facilitated through agreements with Catalan separatist parties, which sparked controversy among right-wing politicians.
The contentious independence referendum in Catalonia and Madrid's subsequent direct governance over the region occurred just months before the 2020 coalition vote. Tensions and distrust between Madrid and the autonomous region reached levels unprecedented in decades.
After inconclusive national elections last month, the Spanish Parliament is in a state of technical deadlock. The left and right political blocs of the country each control 171 seats in the 350-seat chamber. This makes it a key priority for Sánchez to secure the support of seven lawmakers affiliated with the Catalan separatist party Junta.
In exchange for Junts' support of Francesc Aragonès, the socialist candidate for the presidency of the Spanish Parliament, Sánchez agreed to give the green light to the use of the Catalan language in Madrid sessions and to advocate for its recognition as an official language of the EU.