27/09/2017 (Agence Europe) – The Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament wrote to Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans on Wednesday 27 September to call on the Commission to facilitate dialogue between the Spanish and Catalan authorities to help resolve the political situation around the proposed referendum on Catalan independence planned for 1 October. In the letter, the group expresses its concern at the measures taken by the central government against Catalan officials and politicians and calls on the Commission to initiate a dialogue between the two sides and ensure that the fundamental right of freedom of expression is respected. The call echoes that of the representative of Catalonia to the European institutions, Amadeu Altafaj (see EUROPE 11867). On 20 September, 48 MEPs from all parties called on the head of government, Mariano Rajoy, to end the “repressive action” (see EUROPE 11870). (PH)