Joan Rosell: "In Catalonia there's been a political, economic and social problem for centuries"

BarcelonaThis Friday CEOE (1) chairman Joan Rosell has asked the political parties to "hold talks" and suggest solutions, because "in Catalonia there is a political, economic and social problem that has not just arisen this year. I would say that [the problem] comes from the last century, or the one before that. The problem exists and must be solved", he added.

After participating in the annual meeting of the Cercle d'Economia (2) (Economy Circle), Rosell was asked if he supports a constitutional reform that could provide a new role for Catalonia within Spain. "Anything is possible" he replied. "Just like when Europe pressured us and we were able to reform the Constitution in virtually 24 hours, there are many legal possibilities for changing things. It's not difficult, but nor is it easy".

"Laws are not immortal and what we need is to make good laws that adapt to reality", he stressed.

The Catalan president of the Spanish employers' association did not want to take a position on the need for the consultation that the Catalan government wishes to hold. "We'd like so many difficult things", he replied enigmatically.

"If there is good will to stay together, then we will find a solution in which there are no winners or losers", he concluded.

_______________

1 CEOE stands for Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales (Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations) and is the largest employers’ association in Spain. Catalan Joan Rosell is its chairman at present.

2 The Cercle d’Economia (Economy Circle) is an influential Catalan business club.