14/09/2018 (Agence Europe) – At a reception on Wednesday 12 September, the new representative of the Catalan government, Meritxell Serret, spoke of her confidence that the European Union ‘will contribute to finding a solution to this conflict’ between the Spanish central government and the Catalan government, ‘by rejecting any kind of violence, by enforcing pacific and democratic means, and, last but not least, by demanding dialogue, respect for all parties and political negotiation.’ The representative took on board the concept of ‘enlightened’ patriotism developed by the president of the European Commission in his State of the Union speech (EUROPE 12094), noting that as a nation, Catalonia defended the EU's values. The Commission has always refused to get involved in an affair that it sees as above all a matter for Spain (EUROPE 12073). (PH)