Europe Day: President calls for leadership and abandonment of 'strategic naivety'

Catalan president Salvador Illa has called for "political leadership" so that Europe "takes a step forward and abandons strategic naivety."

He made these comments in a speech during the institutional event for Europe Day at the government headquarters building in Barcelona, in which he affirmed that Catalonia will contribute and do its part to "strengthen" Europe.

This will be a particularly pertinent objective, given it is made at a time when the European model is "threatened" by the tariff war, the military conflict with Russia, and social inequalities, as the president pointed out.

Illa also referred to the election of Leo XIV as the new Pope and pledged to "build bridges," as the pontiff requested in his first public speech. Illa said that they share "the same goal", which is "a more just and peaceful world."

"The next two years are key," according to Illa, in order to strengthen the foundations of Europe and to show Catalonia's willingness to "contribute" to achieving this. The president said that Europe is "a model of success" that must be "maintained and improved."

"We must avoid complacency, but we cannot fall into defeatism or false modesty," he insisted. According to the head of the executive, the best way to strengthen Europe is to advance federalism to "preserve and protect" diversity while also seeking to unite. 

Foreign minister warns of "coordinated attack by radical extremism"

Jaume Duch, Catalonia's Minister for European Union and Foreign Action, opened the event, giving a stark warning of a "coordinated attack by the most radical extremism" which aims to "sow division, hatred of those who are different, and the weakening of democracy."

According to the minister, the only way to deal with it is to "recover and defend European values."

"The international context is a challenge: we must act proactively and move from reactions to action," Duch urged.

The minister pointed out that European values ​​are "more necessary than ever in times of difficulty" and assured that "in the face of crises, the EU reacts, grows and becomes stronger."

Duch referred to the tariff war with the United States and pointed out that there is "a paradigm shift" in international relations. In fact, he pointed out that this "change in the rules of the game" shows Europe that "it must take its own future into its own hands."

Mayors highlight role of municipalities

The Barcelona city council organized their own institutional event in Plaça Sant Jaume, the square that separates both the council offices from the Catalan government headquarters.

The event included a delegation of various mayors who signed a manifesto in which they highlight the role of municipalities as the "front line of European democracy," and reaffirm the cities' commitment to the EU project "against the underlying currents."

First to speak was the mayor of Barcelona, ​​Jaume Collboni, who defended that municipalities are "the bulwark of defense of democracy."

"We Europeans are not and will not be a colony of any foreign autocratic power," Collboni said, insisting that Europe "only advances if it is made to progress together."

President of the Federation of Municipalities of Catalonia, David Bote, highlighted the role of municipalities in the construction of Europe and affirmed that the local world plays "an essential role."

"We are the first step of democracy," he echoed, adding that Europe "is not only made in Brussels or Strasbourg, but begins in every square and every street of every town and city."