15 MEPs denounce Spain’s “misuse” of European arrest warrant to EU
They criticize its “opportunistic” application and ask the Commissioner for Justice how to avoid its use “at will”
meps
ERC reports irregularities in overseas voting
MEPs of the pro-independence party ask the European Commission if voting rights of people abroad "have been violated"
Catalan election results must be respected “whatever the outcome”, say MEPs
A group of members of the European Parliament visit Catalonia on election day encouraging the EU to respect the results
MEPs denied from visiting Catalan leaders in jail
Seven members of four different European Parliament parties gather at the entrance of the prison in Madrid where pro-independence leaders are held
Around 30 MEPs demand release of Catalan “political and social leaders”
Representatives from different European Parliament groups urge EU to mediate in Catalonia to ensure that the fundamental values are respected
Seventeen MEPs to visit Catalan leaders in prison
Representatives from five different European Parliament parties will visit imprisoned pro-independence leaders in Madrid jails
MEPs protest incarceration of civil society leaders in front of European Parliament
European politicians spoke out against Spain’s disregard for “democracy and human rights”
MEPs ask Commission to act against Spanish “threats” to Catalan mayors
President Juncker says that in the event Catalonia were independent, it should go through accession negotiations
Jordi Solé (MEP): ‘We won't ask Brussels for permission to have our referendum’
Member of European Parliament says EU should only "get involved" in Catalonia to help "implement" referendum result
Catalan MEP says Catalonia underestimates strength of Spanish machine
Liberal and Unionist, Teresa Giménez-Barbat, denies removal of ballot boxes on October 1 would reflect badly on Spain and warns many would welcome restoration of ‘order’
MEPs disobey by speaking Catalan in EU Parliament
During his campaign to become President of the EU Parliament, Tajani promised to promote the use of the Catalan
Conservative MEP calls for “mediation” between Catalonia and Spain and considers Forcadells' prosecution a "very hard" reaction
MEPs from different parties have criticized the way the Spanish State has used the court to tackle Catalonia’s pro-independence aspirations, particularly this week as the Parliament’s President, Carme Forcadell, and other members of the Chamber’s Bureau have been brought to court for allowing a debate on independence in the Parliament. According to Sinn Féin’s MEP, Matt Carthy, the Spanish State is “undermining its reputation across Europe” by taking public representatives to court. In a similar vein, European People’s Party MEP, Sipra Pietikäinen, said the reaction from the Spanish judiciary was “very strong” and called for “mediation” instead to overcome the current deadlock. Slovenian MEP Igor Soltes also criticized the EU role regarding these kinds of conflicts and lamented that “sometimes it is easier” for EU institutions to intervene “in foreign countries” such as Venezuela rather than doing so in Catalonia.
Catalan MEPs see EU as success story in need of serious reform
Catalan representatives in the European Parliament from all political parties agree that “there are many reasons to celebrate” Europe Day but warned that the EU should push ahead an ambitious agenda of reforms in order to survive. In the wake of Europe Day and the recent victory of Emmanuel Macron in the French Presidential Elections, the CNA spoke to the MEPs of the Republican Catalan Left (ERC), the Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT), the Green Party (ICV), the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC), the People’s Party (PP) and Ciutadans (C’s) as well as to some independent MEPs about how they see the future of the EU.
MEPs consider Catalan independence vote sentencing “reprehensible” and “worrying”
Former Catalan President, Artur Mas, former Catalan Vice President Joana Ortega and former Catalan Minister for Education, Irene Rigau have received severe fines and have been banned from public office for allowing the 9-N symbolic vote on Catalan independence in 2014. “It’s a matter of regret,” Scottish MEP Alyn Smith, from the Greens/European Free Alliance group told the CNA who lamented Spain “dealing with democracy through the court”. “I find it wrong,” said European Conservatives and Reformists Group MEP Ian Duncan and admitted he was “deeply troubled” by the decision. Co-Chair for the Greens/European Free Alliance, Philippe Lamberts, lamented “the stubbornness of the Spanish authorities toward Catalonia” and insisted that Madrid’s attitude “is making dialogue nearly impossible”.
Catalan MEPs report “disgraceful and anti-democratic” 9-N sentence to the European Parliament
Catalan MEPs from left wing pro-independence party ERC Josep Maria Terricabras and Jordi Solé, and Ramon Tremosa, representing the Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT) sent a letter to the 751 members of the European Parliament condemning Monday’s sentence against former Catalan government figures over the 9-N symbolic vote on independence, which took place in Catalonia in 2014. They consider “disgraceful and anti-democratic” the sentencing to a two year-ban from holding public office for former Catalan President, Artur Mas and the 21-month and 18-month bans for former vice president Joana Ortega and former Catalan Minister for Education Irene Rigau for allowing the non-binding referendum to take place. The Catalan MEPs assured in their joint letter that the court’s decision “will not deter the Catalans' will to express their views at the ballot box”.