Spain 'challenging fundamental rights,' says foreign minister in EU regions meeting
Alfred Bosch asks how Brussels can be "so strict with those applying to enter the Union, and not so strict with member states"
The Catalan foreign minister, Alfred Bosch, has denounced that Spain has crossed "too many red lines" over fundamental rights during a speech in a session of EU's Committee of the Regions.
"Fundamental rights are being challenged all across Europe," he said. "Democracy, human rights, dialogue…they are all being challenged, and yes, also in the Kingdom of Spain."
Bosch asked the EU regions’ body members whether they saw "the police crackdown on peaceful voters on October 1, 2017, in Catalonia."
"Did you see a government, like yours, being suspended, and direct rule being imposed?" he also asked.
The foreign minister also referred to the Catalan political leaders in jail, as well as artists prosecuted in Spain.
Criticism to EU
Bosch also criticized the European institutions over their reaction to the Catalan crisis.