Catalan president meets with EU commissioners in restart of relations

Pere Aragonès was in Brussels this week to fulfill with EU commissioners, a primary for a member of the Catalan authorities in a number of years.

The relations between Catalonia and the European Fee deteriorated because the Catalan authorities fought for independence.

“We had come from a time of a sure freeze (in relations), I believe additionally on account of the angle, additionally on the a part of the Spanish authorities,” Aragonès informed Euronews.

“In any case, we’ve got labored from the outset to generate areas of belief with the EU establishments to have the ability to present that Catalonia is right here to take part within the options to European challenges.”

Since Aragonès took workplace final 12 months the connection between his authorities and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s has been slowly bettering.

The final time a Catalan president met a European Commissioner was again in 2015. Catalonia then held a referendum that led to a “declaration of independence”. Some members of the federal government, together with former president Carles Puigdemont, fled to Belgium.

A number of different separatists, who remained in Spain, went to jail however have been later pardoned by the federal government. 

Pegasus adware scandal

Aragonès mentioned he was grateful that the Fee listened to Catalan issues in regards to the current Pegasus adware scandal of which he was a sufferer.

A report from Citizen lab in April revealed that the adware had been used in opposition to Catalans, together with MEPs, legislators and presidents.

The pinnacle of Spain’s intelligence service was sacked amid the allegations that the company used the software program.

“Clearly, a difficulty like that is advanced, it can’t be solved with a gathering, however with quite a lot of work,” Aragonès informed Euronews.

“Many people have gone to the courts, however it’s a gradual course of. However past these points, there has not been an energetic coverage of safety of the correct to privateness and intimacy on the a part of the [Spanish] state authorities,” he mentioned.

In Brussels, he met with the EU’s justice commissioner Didier Reynders to discuss cyber espionage.

On Friday, he’ll meet with inside market commissioner Thierry Breton on the “contribution that Catalonia could make within the framework of European digital sovereignty.”

Aragonès additionally spoke about proposals to make use of Catalan within the European Parliament, saying that he was satisfied that they’d get assist.

“Our hope and our work can be aimed not a lot on the MEPs representing these Spanish events who’re actively in opposition to using Catalan within the EU establishments, however at lots of the members of their parliamentary teams who don’t have any downside with using Catalan,” he mentioned.

“I’m satisfied that we’re going to get this assist.”