Europol maintains 'extremist' label for Catalan independence movement in latest terrorism report
EU law enforcement agency updates annual review after Spanish government asked for "clarification" on violent extremism
Europol has maintained a reference to the Catalan independence movement in its report on terrorism in the European Union.
In an updated version of the annual report published in June, the EU law enforcement agency continues to describe the Catalan and Basque independence movements as "currently the most active and violent" in Spain, including them in the "extremism" section.
"Their narratives combine separatism with left-wing extremist views, focusing on messaging against the Spanish state and its institutions, as well as against wider themes such as capitalism," the report says.
Catalan politicians demanded explanations after the original report was published, with the Spanish government asking Europol in September to "clarify" violent extremism.
Pro-independence party Junts asked the Spanish executive to make this request as part of the ongoing negotiations to reelect Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez as prime minister.
Esquerra Republicana MEP Diana Riba had also expressed concern about the description of the independence movement in the report and will meet Europol representatives in November to address this issue.
The European Parliament's Europol scrutiny group is considering changing the methodology of the report on extremism and terrorism, something the European Greens are calling for.
Europol executive director Jean-Philippe Lecouffe told Riba at a European Parliament committee that the report assembles "data" supplied by member states.