30 MEPs ask to meet with Spanish president in Strasbourg

Some 30 MEPs from a variety of political parties and countries have asked for a meeting with Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, to discuss the political situation in Catalonia.

In a letter sent on Wednesday, the EU-Catalonia Dialogue Platform asked for the meeting during the Spanish president's visit to the European Parliament next week.

Suggesting a meeting on Wednesday January 16, the platform says it is of the "utmost importance" that Sánchez understand the deep concern the political conflict has caused in the EU.

Also in the letter, the MEPs point out that "healthy democracies need dialogue to evolve," and they deny their goal is to "interfere" in Catalonia's political future, as that is for the Catalans to decide "for themselves."

The letter is signed by MEP and former Slovenian foreign affairs minister, Ivo Vajgl, who is the spokesman for the platform set up in November 2017.

Platform's members and aims

Among the members of the EU-Catalonia Dialogue Platform are representatives from social democrat, liberal, green, socialist and conservative parties, from such countries as Slovenia, France, Ireland, the UK, Italy and Belgium.

The platform also includes Catalan MEPs,  Jordi Solé  and Josep Maria Terricabras (ERC) and Ramon Tremosa (PDECAT), as well as Basque representatives, Izaskun Bilbao (PNB) and Josu Juaristi (Bildu).