Highlights
Puigdemont seeks support to report Spain’s failure to build the Mediterranean Corridor to the EU
Barcelona reaches an agreement with Athens to initially host 100 refugees
Exhibition of Dalí's set and costume designs for a Visconti Shakespeare play opens at the Castle of Púbol
Rome, 1948: artist Savador Dalí and director Luchino Visconti, introduced by Coco Chanel, collaborate on a unique rendition of Shakespeare´s pastoral play ‘As You Like It’. The exhibition ‘Dali, Shakespeare, Visconti’ features photos and material from the scenography of the staging, and is on exhibition at the Castle of Púbol, a town in the region of Girona in Catalonia. The exhibition, which was also created in commemoration of the 400-year anniversary of Shakespeare´s death in 1616, will run from Tuesday the 15th of March until the 6th of January.
Puigdemont warns Sánchez that the roadmap towards independence remains “unchanged”
The leader of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) says the plans are “illegal and unilateral” but that he could offer a better fiscal settlement to Catalonia. The Catalan President and the Spanish presidential hopeful met on Tuesday in Barcelona in the first of what they hope could be a series of meetings to restart the dialogue between Madrid and Barcelona. The Catalan President thanked Sánchez for his willingness to talk to him, but regretted his comments about a potential “coexistence crisis” in Catalonia.
Barcelona El Prat airport serves 2.6 million passengers in February, an increase of 20.4%
The Barcelona airport at El Prat de Llobregat registered an increase in almost all aspects in the month of February. Thanks to the Mobile World Congress (MWC), international passengers registered an increase of 22% while the number of domestic passengers rose by 16.9%. These numbers contributed to the 20.4% overall growth in total passengers for the month, along with a 13.3% growth in the number of operations. Compared to the same period in 2015, the amount of cargo and merchandise transported also grew, registering an increase of 18.3% and 18.6% respectively. The Catalan airport also saw an increase in annual terms, with 17.4% more passengers and 9.4% more operations than before.
The Catalan Government sees as “very worrying” the decision to send the 9-N case to the Spanish Supreme Court
The Catalan Vice president and Government Spokeswoman, Neus Munté, told CNA that the case against the celebration of the 9-N participatory process should already be “closed”. “It is a political trial”, she criticised after the Catalan Supreme Court decided on Monday to refer the case to the Spanish Supreme Court. The decision was prompted by the fact that one of the public figures being investigated in the trial is current member of the Spanish Congress and former Spokesman of the Catalan Government, Francesc Homs. “Following the law’s logic and democracy, no one should be prosecuted for putting the ballot boxes out there and allowing people to express their voice”, Munté said.
Puigdemont and Pedro Sánchez to meet on Tuesday
The leader of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) and Spanish president hopeful Pedro Sánchez asked the Catalan President to meet in Barcelona to discuss his investiture. The talks will include issues such as the Catalan and the Spanish political situation, a source from the Catalan Government has revealed to CNA. The Socialist leader, who was twice defeated in Congress, wants to present to Puigdemont his government proposal, which includes an agreement with unionist Ciutadans. The Catalan President will defend during the meeting the belief that allowing a referendum in Catalonia is essential to passing the investiture vote. Ciutadans has already warned Sánchez that they will walk away if he grants a referendum to Catalonia.