On Wednesday 29 November, MEPs from several political groups presented the EU-Catalonia dialogue platform with a view to fostering settlement of the political crisis between Madrid and Barcelona.
The MEPs state in their manifesto that the European leaders have always taken a position against violence, and that violence can never be an instrument in politics. The 26 MEPs have several objectives: - the release of political and social leaders currently in prison (see EUROPE 11897); - the end of Catalonia being put under supervision through Article 155 of the Spanish constitution (see EUROPE 11893); - the involvement of the EU institutions to try and resolve this conflict; - and the signature of a negotiated agreement between Catalonia and the Spanish central government.
Ivo Vaigl (ALDE, Slovenia) and Barbara Spinelli (GUE/NGL, Italy) thus criticised the police violence in Catalonia (see EUROPE 11874) and particularly regretted the imprisonment of two former MEPs, Raül Romeva and Oriol Junqueras.
The platform was launched at a time when the situation in Catalonia is still uncertain. Elections are due to take place there on 21 December and the fate of the former president of the Generalitat, Carles Puigdemont, is still in suspense, while awaiting the decision of the Belgian courts on whether or not to execute the mandate of the European arrest warranted that has been issued against him (see EUROPE 11907). (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)