The ongoing debate over the status of Catalan as an official language within the European Union could lead to a significant political upheaval in Spain. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government is currently grappling with the ramifications of its commitments to Catalan separatists, which include the recognition of Catalan, Basque, and Galician as official EU languages.
Political negotiations and language recognition
In a strategic maneuver aimed at securing the support necessary to establish a minority government in 2023, Sánchez entered into a complex agreement with separatist lawmakers. This commitment requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states, prompting Spanish officials to engage in extensive lobbying efforts over the past two years.
Next week, Spain is set to present the issue for a vote at the General Affairs Council, the assembly responsible for organizing the periodic meetings of EU leaders in Brussels. However, recent documents from the bloc’s ambassadorial meetings reveal significant reservations regarding Spain’s proposal.
While several countries—including Belgium, Cyprus, Portugal, the Netherlands, Romania, and Slovakia—expressed support for granting EU status to Spain’s additional official languages, opposition arose from nations such as Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, and Sweden. These countries have emphasized the need for greater transparency concerning the financial implications and legal ramifications of the proposed change.
Financial and political implications
Although Madrid has pledged to cover the substantial costs associated with integrating these languages into the EU’s translation and interpretation systems, skepticism remains among some EU officials regarding Spain’s capacity to sustain these expenses long-term. Currently, the EU allocates over €1 billion annually for the translation of all legislative materials into its 24 official languages, and the potential financial burden of adding more languages is a concerning factor.
In addition to financial considerations, political dynamics also play a crucial role in this issue. For instance, France has a longstanding policy against the recognition of minority languages within its borders, which complicates the consensus required for such a significant policy shift.
As Sánchez navigates these challenges, his government faces additional pressures, including the need to finalize a budget amid NATO’s increasing demands for enhanced defense spending. A third EU diplomat indicated that Spain has argued that the recognition of additional official languages could unlock vital national funding needed to bolster its defense capabilities.
However, to advance legislation, Sánchez’s administration requires the support of the Catalan separatist Junts party, which is growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress on the language issue—an essential element of the agreement made with Sánchez’s Socialist Party in 2023. Failure to deliver on this commitment could jeopardize future collaboration.
The Spanish government has not issued a statement regarding these developments, while representatives from the Junts party have opted not to comment further on the matter.