About: Catalonia
Madrid toasts lockdown easing as outdoor terraces partially reopen
Four friends sat around a table in Madrid’s central La Latina neighbourhood and enjoyed a round of beers in the late Monday morning sun, a toast to rediscovered freedoms. A year ago, it would have seemed like a perfectly ordinary spring day, but for most Madrid residents today, it was almost a landmark event.
Coronavirus waste: Burn it or dump it?
Masks, gloves, and other contaminated garbage from hospitals and households, which have been piling up by the thousands of tons as Spain battled through the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, have undermined recycling chains and overwhelmed processing plants.
Catalan separatists pave the way for Spain’s future ‘progressive’ budget
The Spanish left-wing coalition government on Thursday (27 February) scored its first major political success, after the Parliament in Madrid approved the expenditure ceiling, a preliminary step for approving the new budget for the four-year legislature, EURACTIV's partner EuroEFE reports.
Spanish, Catalan leaders agree to start ‘constructive dialogue’ this month
Spain’s socialist prime minister Pedro Sánchez and Catalonia's regional president Quim Torra agreed on Thursday (6 February) to start a "constructive dialogue" in order to break the country's political impasse and solve the "political conflict" in Catalonia, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Spain’s lawmakers likely to back Sanchez coalition in tight vote
Spanish lawmakers are expected to vote by the narrowest of margins on Tuesday (7 January) to confirm Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez as head of a left-wing coalition government.
Brussels court suspends extradition of ex-Catalan leader Puigdemont
A Brussels court has suspended the extradition of former Catalan pro-independence leader Carles Puigdemont, his lawyer said on Thursday (2 January).
Spain’s socialists and Catalan separatists inch closer to deal, despite tensions
An agreement between the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and caretaker socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is "within reach", paving the way for broader government coalition talks. EURACTIV’s partner EuroEFE reports.
Catalan president insists on ‘right to self-determination’ to unlock political stalemate
Quim Torra, the president of Catalonia, insisted on Tuesday (17 December) on the “right to self-determination” for the prosperous Spanish region, before giving his support – and that of Catalan separatist political forces - to the investiture of acting socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Spanish media reported.
Socialists and Podemos reach deal for a ‘progressive’ government in Spain
Spain's ruling Socialists and leftist Unidas Podemos have reached an agreement for a “progressive” government after Sunday's general elections, acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the leader of Unidas Podemos, Pablo Iglesias, announced on Tuesday (12 November).
EU advocate general: jailed Catalan leader has right to immunity as MEP-elect
The jailed Catalan pro-independence leader Oriol Junqueras has the right to immunity as a result of being elected member of the European Parliament in May, the EU Advocate General Maciej Szpunar said in his conclusions on Tuesday (12 November).
Ahead of election, Spain braces for weeks of violent protests after ‘historic’ sentence
Less than a month before a fresh general election, Spain enters one of the most complex and volatile periods in its recent democratic history, after the Supreme Court sentenced on Monday nine Catalan independence leaders for their involvement in the banned 2017 independence referendum. EURACTIV's partner EFE reports.
Spain’s Supreme Court jails Catalan leaders amid protests
Nine Catalan politicians and activists have on Monday been sentenced to up to 13 years in prison by Spain's Supreme Court for their involvement in a banned referendum in 2017, amid strong reactions from separatists.
Catalan separatists march for independence amid splits on tactics
Tens of thousands of Catalans waving pro-independence flags and chanting "Independence now!" gathered in Barcelona on Wednesday (11 September) to call for a break from Spain, but turnout was far less than at past such rallies amid divisions among separatist parties.
Spain’s Socialists win EU ballot, local vote fragmented
Spain's Socialists won most votes in European and local elections on Sunday (26 May) in a series of ballots that boosted their ambitions to target a top EU job in Brussels but highlighted how deeply fragmented the political landscape is at home.
Spain’s top court says Catalonia’s Puigdemont can run for EU elections
Spain's Supreme Court on Sunday (5 May) said Catalonia's former president Carles Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium in 2017 after a secession attempt, could contest EU polls this month.
Catalonia’s ex-leader Puigdemont banned from EU polls
Spanish election authorities on Monday (29 April) banned Catalonia’s former president Carles Puigdemont, who fled the country in 2017 after a secession attempt, from running in upcoming EU polls. Puigdemont slammed the move in a tweet as a “legal scandal...
Spanish general election candidates clash over Catalonia
The main candidates in Spain's general election on Monday (22 April) clashed over how to handle Catalonia's independence drive, accusing each other of lying in a tense television debate that left questions open on what coalition deals could be struck.
Spanish far-right joins Orban in his defence of the Europe of nations
The Secretary-General of Spanish far-right party Vox defended the need to safeguard Europe by defending its nations face to “Merkel, Macron and Soros’ globalism” during an event in the European Parliament on Wednesday (6 March).
Spain to hold early elections on 28 April
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on Friday (15 February) for snap elections on 28 April, only nine months after he took office, after failing to secure the Parliament’s support for his 2019 budget.
Catalan republicanism and European federalism
Republicanism in Catalonia is inseparable from both Catalanism and European federalism, writes Oriol Junqueras, who argues that Europe faces a crucial crossroads: on the one hand, an increasingly extreme right, and on the other, a modern European federalist left.
Spanish PM hardens Catalonia stance with eye on election
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Wednesday (12 December) he would stand firm against what he called "inflammatory" Catalan separatist rhetoric, hardening his stance towards the region and upping the stakes in a broader political game.
Diplomatic tensions flare between Spain and Belgium over Catalan crisis
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel sought to defuse bilateral tensions at an EU summit yesterday (17 October) after Flemish and Spanish authorities traded accusations over Spain's handling of Catalonia's illegal declaration of independence and imprisonment of separatists.
Private sector ‘hasn’t done enough’ to stop extreme parties, says business leader
Businesses in Europe did not stand up to defend the system against the attacks of extreme parties and populist forces, says the president of Spain's Chamber of Commerce, José Luis Bonet.